TSI exam practice reading
Questions and Answers
analysis - ANSWER✔✔-To analyze means to break something down into smaller parts
and examine how each of those parts work, both individually and together.
Plot - ANSWER✔✔-What happens in the story and the order in which it occurs. In
short, the storyline.
Characterization - ANSWER✔✔-A method by which an author conveys information
about a character (both human and non-human) to the reader. A critical reader should
always question what the function and significance of each character is. Pay particular
attention to appearance, personality, actions, beliefs, motivations, and connections with
other characters.
Conflict - ANSWER✔✔-A struggle between two opposing forces. Without conflict,
there is no story. There is always a problem or challenge of some sort that must be
resolved. (Man vs. Self, Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society, Man vs. Fate)
Setting - ANSWER✔✔-When and where the story takes place. (location, time period,
time of day, weather, social atmosphere, economic conditions)
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, Themes - ANSWER✔✔-The main idea or message of the writing. There may be several
themes within one piece of writing. Themes are typically abstract ideas about people,
society, or life in general.
Structure and organization - ANSWER✔✔-How all parts of the writing are arranged
and connected to each other. In essence, how the plot is developed.
Point of view - ANSWER✔✔-Refers to who is telling the story and how it is being told.
The eyes through which the author tells the story.
Narrator - ANSWER✔✔-The person telling the story. He or she may or may not be an
actual character in the story.
First-person - ANSWER✔✔-The narrator participates in action but sometimes has
limited knowledge or vision.
Second person - ANSWER✔✔-The narrator addresses the reader directly as though he
or she is part of the story.
Third Person (Objective) - ANSWER✔✔-he narrator is unnamed, unidentified, and is a
detached observer. The narrator is not a character in the story. The narrator reports on
events and lets the reader supply the meaning.
Third Person (Omniscient) - ANSWER✔✔-The narrator knows the thoughts and
feelings of all of the characters in the story
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Questions and Answers
analysis - ANSWER✔✔-To analyze means to break something down into smaller parts
and examine how each of those parts work, both individually and together.
Plot - ANSWER✔✔-What happens in the story and the order in which it occurs. In
short, the storyline.
Characterization - ANSWER✔✔-A method by which an author conveys information
about a character (both human and non-human) to the reader. A critical reader should
always question what the function and significance of each character is. Pay particular
attention to appearance, personality, actions, beliefs, motivations, and connections with
other characters.
Conflict - ANSWER✔✔-A struggle between two opposing forces. Without conflict,
there is no story. There is always a problem or challenge of some sort that must be
resolved. (Man vs. Self, Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Society, Man vs. Fate)
Setting - ANSWER✔✔-When and where the story takes place. (location, time period,
time of day, weather, social atmosphere, economic conditions)
COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, Themes - ANSWER✔✔-The main idea or message of the writing. There may be several
themes within one piece of writing. Themes are typically abstract ideas about people,
society, or life in general.
Structure and organization - ANSWER✔✔-How all parts of the writing are arranged
and connected to each other. In essence, how the plot is developed.
Point of view - ANSWER✔✔-Refers to who is telling the story and how it is being told.
The eyes through which the author tells the story.
Narrator - ANSWER✔✔-The person telling the story. He or she may or may not be an
actual character in the story.
First-person - ANSWER✔✔-The narrator participates in action but sometimes has
limited knowledge or vision.
Second person - ANSWER✔✔-The narrator addresses the reader directly as though he
or she is part of the story.
Third Person (Objective) - ANSWER✔✔-he narrator is unnamed, unidentified, and is a
detached observer. The narrator is not a character in the story. The narrator reports on
events and lets the reader supply the meaning.
Third Person (Omniscient) - ANSWER✔✔-The narrator knows the thoughts and
feelings of all of the characters in the story
COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED