TX PACT Essential Academic Skills (700) Secrets Study
Guide
TX PACT Essential Academic Skills (700) Secrets Study Guide — Questions 1–30
I. Reading
1. What is the main idea of a passage?
A) The topic sentence
B) The central point the author wants to convey
C) A supporting detail
D) The conclusion only
✔ Correct Answer: B — The central point the author wants to convey
Rationale: The main idea represents the overall message or purpose of the text.
2. Which statement is a fact?
A) Dogs are better than cats.
B) Water boils at 100°C at sea level.
C) Ice cream is the best dessert.
D) Chocolate is more popular than vanilla.
✔ Correct Answer: B — Water boils at 100°C at sea level
Rationale: Facts are objective, verifiable, and supported by evidence.
3. Which is an inference from: “People grabbed umbrellas as the clouds darkened”?
A) It might rain soon.
B) People enjoy cloudy weather.
C) Clouds are always dark.
D) Everyone likes umbrellas.
✔ Correct Answer: A — It might rain soon
Rationale: An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from context clues.
4. What is the author’s tone in a persuasive essay urging students to read daily?
A) Humorous
B) Persuasive/encouraging
C) Sarcastic
D) Indifferent
✔ Correct Answer: B — Persuasive/encouraging
Rationale: Tone reflects the author’s attitude toward the topic or audience.
, 5. A supporting detail is:
A) The main idea
B) Evidence that explains or reinforces the main idea
C) A conclusion
D) A topic unrelated to the passage
✔ Correct Answer: B — Evidence that explains or reinforces the main idea
Rationale: Supporting details give evidence, examples, or explanation.
6. Which sentence summarizes the passage best?
A) Repeats key points in concise form
B) Adds new opinions
C) Provides examples only
D) Describes the first paragraph
✔ Correct Answer: A — Repeats key points in concise form
Rationale: A summary condenses essential information without introducing new content.
7. A passage in first-person point of view uses which pronouns?
A) He, she
B) They, them
C) I, we
D) It
✔ Correct Answer: C — I, we
Rationale: First-person perspective is narrated from the speaker’s viewpoint.
8. Which is an example of cause-and-effect?
A) The alarm rang, so the students woke up.
B) The students studied hard.
C) It was a sunny day.
D) The teacher smiled.
✔ Correct Answer: A — The alarm rang, so the students woke up
Rationale: Cause is why something happens; effect is the result.
9. Which type of passage is informational?
A) A story
B) A textbook excerpt
C) A poem
D) Dialogue in a play
✔ Correct Answer: B — A textbook excerpt
Rationale: Informational passages provide factual information or explanations.
10. An author writing to entertain is using which purpose?
A) Inform
Guide
TX PACT Essential Academic Skills (700) Secrets Study Guide — Questions 1–30
I. Reading
1. What is the main idea of a passage?
A) The topic sentence
B) The central point the author wants to convey
C) A supporting detail
D) The conclusion only
✔ Correct Answer: B — The central point the author wants to convey
Rationale: The main idea represents the overall message or purpose of the text.
2. Which statement is a fact?
A) Dogs are better than cats.
B) Water boils at 100°C at sea level.
C) Ice cream is the best dessert.
D) Chocolate is more popular than vanilla.
✔ Correct Answer: B — Water boils at 100°C at sea level
Rationale: Facts are objective, verifiable, and supported by evidence.
3. Which is an inference from: “People grabbed umbrellas as the clouds darkened”?
A) It might rain soon.
B) People enjoy cloudy weather.
C) Clouds are always dark.
D) Everyone likes umbrellas.
✔ Correct Answer: A — It might rain soon
Rationale: An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from context clues.
4. What is the author’s tone in a persuasive essay urging students to read daily?
A) Humorous
B) Persuasive/encouraging
C) Sarcastic
D) Indifferent
✔ Correct Answer: B — Persuasive/encouraging
Rationale: Tone reflects the author’s attitude toward the topic or audience.
, 5. A supporting detail is:
A) The main idea
B) Evidence that explains or reinforces the main idea
C) A conclusion
D) A topic unrelated to the passage
✔ Correct Answer: B — Evidence that explains or reinforces the main idea
Rationale: Supporting details give evidence, examples, or explanation.
6. Which sentence summarizes the passage best?
A) Repeats key points in concise form
B) Adds new opinions
C) Provides examples only
D) Describes the first paragraph
✔ Correct Answer: A — Repeats key points in concise form
Rationale: A summary condenses essential information without introducing new content.
7. A passage in first-person point of view uses which pronouns?
A) He, she
B) They, them
C) I, we
D) It
✔ Correct Answer: C — I, we
Rationale: First-person perspective is narrated from the speaker’s viewpoint.
8. Which is an example of cause-and-effect?
A) The alarm rang, so the students woke up.
B) The students studied hard.
C) It was a sunny day.
D) The teacher smiled.
✔ Correct Answer: A — The alarm rang, so the students woke up
Rationale: Cause is why something happens; effect is the result.
9. Which type of passage is informational?
A) A story
B) A textbook excerpt
C) A poem
D) Dialogue in a play
✔ Correct Answer: B — A textbook excerpt
Rationale: Informational passages provide factual information or explanations.
10. An author writing to entertain is using which purpose?
A) Inform
