CRITICAL READING TIPS

Tran Viet Hung

1. SENTENCE COMPLETION APPROACH:
Step 0 - Do NOT look at the answer choices to avoid being confused before reading the
sentence.
Step 1 - Spot keywords in 2 main types of i) Content keywords AND ii) Context keywords
to find the clues. Here, content keywords are basically SAT vocabs that have their own
meanings (e.g.: vehement, radical, etc...) while context keywords are that link phrases and
clauses together (e.g.: Although, despite, just as, etc...)
Step 2 - Understand structure and Punctuation to see how words and phrases are linked
together in such a sentence. For example, colons (":") are used to introduce a list, define a
terms, or elaborate on previous clauses/terms.
Step 3 - Find Connotation and Synonymous/Antonymous ideas for the required blank(s) to
assist your choice, using clues obtained from Step 1 & 2.
Step 4 - Anticipate your answer from all evidence obtained from Step 1,2, & 3, before
looking at the available options.
Step 5 - Exercise the Process of Elimination by checking each option with your
understanding of required connotation and necessary synonymous/antonymous wordings
for the blanks.

2. GENERAL APPROACHES TO CRITICAL READING
Method The Careful Reader Skim & Scan The Fast Reader
Summary First 2-5 mins: Read the
whole passage carefully
to grasp the main ideas.
Highlight keywords and
note down main
ideas/topics/tones
Answer the questions in
order, starting with the
first few main-idea
questions. Use the main
ideas obtained to help
answer specific questions
First 1-2 mins: Skim the
whole passage quickly by
reading the first sentences
of each paragraphs and the
last sentence of the
passage. Get a few
keywords highlighted yet
not the topics/tones
Skip main-idea questions
and answer line-specific
ones. Leave main-idea ones
to the end when fully
understanding the passage
First 1 min: Look at all the
questions to find lines that
the questions refer to. Go
back to the passage the
bracket these lines
Start to read the passage
with a slow pace for the
bracketed lines and a fast
pace for the non-bracketed
lines. Make frequent pauses
at these bracketed lines to
answer the corresponding
questions, while leaving the
main-idea ones for the last
Advs Good understanding of
the main ideas and tones
Reduce time to answer
the specific questions,
especially those linked to
the main ideas
Save time in Skimming
Pay enough attention to
each question
Less time pressure
Have better understanding
in answering the main-idea
Good understanding of the
passage and its supporting
evidence for each question
Optimize on reading the
required/not required parts
Keep your reading focus and
questions save time from re-reading
the passage
Disadvs More time pressure
Might waste time reading
some sections that are
not asked in the
questions
Takes more time to answer
specific questions and re-
read the passage
Not able to answer some
specific questions linked to
the main ideas
Much more time pressure
Still require reading all the
passages, some of which
might not be asked

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF RIGHT vs WRONG ANSWERS:
Right answer Wrong answer
o Paraphrase the passage:
It uses synonyms for the adjectives and
verbs, or employs synonymous ideas
Sometimes, when there is no synonym, it
might use the same wordings
Copycat wordings:
It copies exact words/phrases from the passage
BUT i) It expresses opposite ideas OR ii) It talks
about irrelevant information OR iii) It uses
opinionated comparison (E.g.: A equals/better
than B)
o Include all ideas in the passage:
It includes all important ideas from the
cited line, unlike wrong answer that drops
certain portion of the information
Opposite meanings:
It shows ideas that are basically opposite to
the relevant ideas
It takes advantage of your self-doubt in
capturing the correct ideas of the passage
o Usually more general:
It often uses "broad" wordings and "less
specific" language, even "vague"
Note that on occasion, when questions ask
about specific things, right options can be
specific
Extreme answers:
It uses EXTREME wordings such as: all, never,
must, absolutely, complete, outrage, best, etc..
--> rarely a correct answer
Note that NEGATING an extreme word is NO
LONGER extreme, thus could be a correct
answer. E.g.: not always, not fully, not all,
incomplete, etc...
o Can be proved by the passage:
When in doubt, go back to the passage to
find supporting keywords. If you can point
out to a/some specific portion(s) of text
that prove the answer, it is likely the
correct answer.
Remember NOT to read "very far away"
from the mentioned lines. Usually, +/- 2
lines should be enough.
When two options are both supported by
the text, choose the one that is i) more
frequently cited AND ii) more closely related
to the main idea
True but answer different things:
It is based on true statement from the passage
but does not answer the specific question
It uses fact/inference from an earlier OR later
portion of the text, but NOT the line reference
required by the question
In paired passage, it could be true for Passage
1 while the question asks about Passage 2 (or
both Passages)
Half-true answer:
It seems correct initially BUT adds new
opposite/irrelevant information that makes it
wrong
Note that a single "wrong" keyword spoils the
whole option
True to your own assumption:
It makes much sense to YOUR OWN
experiences/assumptions/expectations BUT
actually not supported by the passage
The lesson is NOT to presuppose anything
Note: These characteristics cannot substitute reading the passage for the correct answer.
Moreover, as College Board is fully aware of the such aforementioned characteristics, it is now
trying to formulate various choices with no clear pattern of right and wrong answers.

4. SUMMARY OF TONES: (+ = positive, - = negative, 0 = neutral)
Tone Keywords Category Descriptions
Accusatory - - Charging of wrong doing
Admonishing, admonitory, speculative 0 Telling the future in advance
Argumentative, analytical, balanced,
evenhanded
0 Provide two-sided analysis with pros and cons
Assured, certain, unequivocal,
assertive, confident
+ Writing with lots of sure statements
Apologetic, shame - Regretfully excusing voice
Appreciation, admiration, celebratory,
encouraged, proud,
+ Showing good attitudes with many positive keywords
Apathetic, ambivalent, indifferent,
aloof, detached, uninterested
0

Lacking concern, showing little or no interest
Amused + Entertained, expressed by a smile or laugh
Awe + + Huge wonder
Bitter, outrage, resentful - - Exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief
Cynical - - Questioning the basic sincerity and goodness of people,
asserts that nothing can be changed
Concerned, worried, alarmed, anxious - Showing warning of something
Condescending, patronizing - - A feeling of superiority
Colloquial, Informal 0 Using casual/non-academic words
Callous, cold, uncaring 0 Unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others
Critical, disapproving - Finding fault
Conventional, conservative 0 Lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality
Curious, intrigued + Asking question, wanting to know more
Disdainful, scornful, irreverent,
condemnatory, contemptuous, hostile,
ribald, insolent, dismissive
- - Showing or feeling that something is worthless or lacks
respect
Didactic, instructive 0 Author attempts to educate or instruct the reader
Empathetic, sympathized + Sharing feelings with others
Earnest, sincere, genuine + Being intense, without deceit or pretense
Erudite, scholarly, polished, 0 Using clear, objective, formal, and direct language
Evocative 0 To trigger readers' feelings/thoughts
Factual, informative, objective,
disinterested
0 Providing details with an unbiased view
Forthright, straightforward + Being directly frank without hesitation
Haughty, arrogant - Being proud and vain to the point of arrogance
Hyperbolic, exaggerated - Employ exaggeration technique
Impatient - Unwilling to wait
Indignant - Marked by anger aroused by injustice
Intimate, close-knit + Very familiar
Judgmental - Authoritative and often having critical opinions
Jovial, exuberant, delight, joyous,
ecstatic
+ + Very happy attitude
Mocking, derisive, droll - Treating with contempt or ridicule
Morose, gloomy, sullen, surly,
despondent, solemn, melancholy,
somber
- Tending toward sad reflection
Malicious, hurtful - - Being purposely hurtful
Nostalgic, regretful, wistful, repentant,
penitent, remorseful
- Sentimental or wistful yearning (to a past)
Obsequious, submissive - Polite and obedient in order to gain something
Pessimistic, hopeless - Seeing the worst side of things; no hope
Quizzical, eccentric, puzzled, confused,
bemused, bewildered, baffled,
nonplussed
- Being at odd, not having full understanding
Resigned, frustrated - Being reluctant to accept
Reverent, Respectful + + Treating a subject with honor and respect
Reflective, pensive, thoughtful,
contemplative,
0 Illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions
Sarcastic, caustic, stinging, biting,
sardonic,
- - Express sneering connotations
Satiric, ironic, ridiculing - Making fun of, showing weakness in order to make a
point, using words with non-literal/opposite meaning
Skeptical, incredulous, doubtful,
unconvinced, disbelieving,
- Showing doubts via questions and disbeliefs
Sanguineous, optimistic, cheerful,
hopeful
+ Being positive, believing in positive outcomes
Sentimental, romantic + Reveals feelings but not reasons
Uncertain, equivocal, tentative - Using unsure words such as maybe, perhaps, etc...
Whimsical, wry, witty 0 Being odd, strange, fun

5. SUMMARY OF RHETORICAL PURPOSES:,
Rhetorical Methods Descriptions
Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds or any vowel sounds within a formal
grouping, such as a poetic line or stanza, or in close proximity in prose
Allusion A figure of speech which makes brief, even casual reference to a historical or
literary figure, event, or object to create a resonance in the reader or to apply a
symbolic meaning to the character or object of which the allusion consists.
Allegory Narrative form in which characters and actions have meanings outside themselves;
characters are usually personifications of abstract qualities
Ambiguity Use of language in which multiple meanings are possible
Analogy Comparison of two things that are alike in some respects. Metaphors and Similes
are both types of analogy
Anecdote A brief story or tale told by a character in a piece of literature
Antithesis Juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words or phrases
Appeals to: authority,
emotion, logic/reason
The speaker i) claims to be an expert or relies on information provided by experts
(appeal to authority) OR ii) attempts to affect the listener's personal feelings
(appeal to emotion) OR iii) attempts to persuade the listener through use of
deductive reasoning (appeal to logic/reason)
Aphorism A concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief
Comparison, Simile Use like and as to make explicit comparisons between unlike things
Contradiction, Paradox,
Inconsistency
A direct opposition between things/statements compared
Deductive The reasoning process by which a conclusion is drawn from set of premises and
contains no more facts than these premises
Disclaimer A statement that denies something, especially responsibility
Epiphany A sudden or intuitive insight or perception into the reality or essential meaning of
something usually brought on by a simple or common occurrence or experience
Figurative language Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the
literal interpretation. It includes Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Hyperbole,...
Foreshadowing To hint at or present things to come in a story or play
Hyperbole, Exaggeration An overstatement characterized by exaggerated language to emphasize a point
Idioms Inherited quirks of language that native speakers understand without question
Imagery Sensory details in a work that involves any or all of the five senses
Inductive Conclusion or type of reasoning whereby observation or information about a part of
a class is applied to the class as a whole (Contrast with deductive)
Irony A situation or statement characterized by significant difference between what is
expected or understood and what actually happens or is meant
Juxtaposition Placing of two items side by side to create a certain effect, reveal an attitude, or
accomplish some other purpose
Litotes Form of understatement that negates the negative to achieve emphasis & intensity
Metaphor Compare unlike things without explicitly stating the comparison
Motif Recurrent device, formula, or situation that often serves as a signal for the
appearance of a character or event
Onomatopoeia A word capturing or approximating the sound of what it describes, e.g.: buzz or hiss
Oxymoron A figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements, as in
"deafening silence"
Parallelism Recurrent syntactical similarity where several parts of a sentence or several
sentences are expressed alike to show that the ideas in the parts or sentences equal
in importance. It also adds balance, rhythm, and clarity to the sentence
Parody A satirical imitation of a work of art for purpose of ridiculing its style or subject.
Personification Things, which are not persons, are given a persons abilities
Perspective A character's view of the situation or events in the story
Qualification A statement or assertion that makes another less absolute
Rhetorical Question Questions are not meant to be answered, either unanswerable or clearly yes/no
Repetition, Amplification Conscious and purposeful replication of words or phrases to make a point
Sarcasm A sharp caustic remark. A form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually
bitterly or harshly critical.
Satire A literary style used to make fun of or ridicule an idea or human vice or weakness
Symbolism Use specific things as symbols of abstract concepts
Understatement,
Euphemism
(opposite to Hyperbole) Substitution of a milder or less direct expression for one
that is harsh or blunt