Reading Study Guide for the CBEST
Questions and Answers
What is expected of you: - Correct Answers -be able to read and analyze written
passages, graphs, and tables. Beyond that you need to be able to analyze the material
presented and make judgements about it, including finding inferences that can be made
from the information or opinions given.
Skill factors tested on the CBEST Reading section - Correct Answers -Critical analysis
and Evaluation
Comprehension and Research
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Comparing and Contrasting - Correct Answers -Comparing involves finding likeness
among two or more things. Words such as "like" and "as" denote that there exists a
relationship of similarity between the objects or ideas in comparison.
Contrasting involves finding differences between two or more things. Words such as
"contrary" and "conversely" indicate there are differences.
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Identifying Supporting Electives - Correct Answers -Finding and identifying supporting
evidence is simple.
When you have determined what the main idea or purpose of a paragraph/paper, you
look for sentences or phrases that support that idea.
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Making Predictions - Correct Answers -Involves creating a future tense (----will be----).
"Will" or "going to" denote the presence of a predictive tense.
Making predictions is a matter of using different verb tenses.
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Determining the Authors Viewpoint - Correct Answers -The authors viewpoint informs
the reasoning and purpose behind the piece.
Look for words that inform the tone of the piece. Is it sarcastic? Urgent? Excited?
, When this is determined search for the slant of the article. Is the author encouraging the
audience to change preconceived notions, or is he/she encouraging the audience to
hold fast to already-expressed ideals?
This will help determine the authors viewpoint and whether the author is for, or against,
the topic of the work.
Analyzing an Argument - Correct Answers -A couple things to pay attention to for every
argument:
Are the facts relevant and supportive of the main idea?If they are not, they aren't
relevant and may be used as diversion tactics, or may simply indicate a weakly
constructed argument.
Is the statement one that strengthens or weakens?
A strengthening statement can be readily debated and supported, and it should be
specific rather than broad. A weak argument relies on generalities or broad spectrums
making it difficult to debate or support claims.
What persuasive techniques are used? Most commonly uses is the emotional appeal.
Others include appeals to logic, fear, or pride, calls to action, and what amounts to peer
pressure.
Analyzing an Argument:
Distinguishing Fact and Opinion - Correct Answers -Creative language or logical
fallacies can be used by people to present opinions as facts. Always ask "is this true?"
or "Is this subjective or objective?"
Subjective= a statement left to interpretation
Objective= a statement without room for interpretation. Can be proven by evidence.
Analyzing an Argument:
Identifying Logical Assumptions - Correct Answers -A logical assumption is a piece of
knowledge that is presupposed, or something that is taken for granted as being a fact.
The depth can vary depending on ones level of education.
"Zebra rule" If you hear hoofbeats, the logical assumption would be to assume its a
horse, not a zebra. Look for information that is considered a "given"
Analyzing an Argument:
Challenging Given Statements - Correct Answers -First look at the support given for a
statement.
Sounding authoritative is an effective tactic that uses authoritative language without
using any solid support. It is hard to identify as faulty because it sounds legitimate.
Questions and Answers
What is expected of you: - Correct Answers -be able to read and analyze written
passages, graphs, and tables. Beyond that you need to be able to analyze the material
presented and make judgements about it, including finding inferences that can be made
from the information or opinions given.
Skill factors tested on the CBEST Reading section - Correct Answers -Critical analysis
and Evaluation
Comprehension and Research
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Comparing and Contrasting - Correct Answers -Comparing involves finding likeness
among two or more things. Words such as "like" and "as" denote that there exists a
relationship of similarity between the objects or ideas in comparison.
Contrasting involves finding differences between two or more things. Words such as
"contrary" and "conversely" indicate there are differences.
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Identifying Supporting Electives - Correct Answers -Finding and identifying supporting
evidence is simple.
When you have determined what the main idea or purpose of a paragraph/paper, you
look for sentences or phrases that support that idea.
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Making Predictions - Correct Answers -Involves creating a future tense (----will be----).
"Will" or "going to" denote the presence of a predictive tense.
Making predictions is a matter of using different verb tenses.
Specific Skills to Practice and Terms to Know:
Determining the Authors Viewpoint - Correct Answers -The authors viewpoint informs
the reasoning and purpose behind the piece.
Look for words that inform the tone of the piece. Is it sarcastic? Urgent? Excited?
, When this is determined search for the slant of the article. Is the author encouraging the
audience to change preconceived notions, or is he/she encouraging the audience to
hold fast to already-expressed ideals?
This will help determine the authors viewpoint and whether the author is for, or against,
the topic of the work.
Analyzing an Argument - Correct Answers -A couple things to pay attention to for every
argument:
Are the facts relevant and supportive of the main idea?If they are not, they aren't
relevant and may be used as diversion tactics, or may simply indicate a weakly
constructed argument.
Is the statement one that strengthens or weakens?
A strengthening statement can be readily debated and supported, and it should be
specific rather than broad. A weak argument relies on generalities or broad spectrums
making it difficult to debate or support claims.
What persuasive techniques are used? Most commonly uses is the emotional appeal.
Others include appeals to logic, fear, or pride, calls to action, and what amounts to peer
pressure.
Analyzing an Argument:
Distinguishing Fact and Opinion - Correct Answers -Creative language or logical
fallacies can be used by people to present opinions as facts. Always ask "is this true?"
or "Is this subjective or objective?"
Subjective= a statement left to interpretation
Objective= a statement without room for interpretation. Can be proven by evidence.
Analyzing an Argument:
Identifying Logical Assumptions - Correct Answers -A logical assumption is a piece of
knowledge that is presupposed, or something that is taken for granted as being a fact.
The depth can vary depending on ones level of education.
"Zebra rule" If you hear hoofbeats, the logical assumption would be to assume its a
horse, not a zebra. Look for information that is considered a "given"
Analyzing an Argument:
Challenging Given Statements - Correct Answers -First look at the support given for a
statement.
Sounding authoritative is an effective tactic that uses authoritative language without
using any solid support. It is hard to identify as faulty because it sounds legitimate.
