Worked examples
Two examples
Example 1
A passage written for this example
According to the passage, what happens to water when it freezes?What kind of question is this?Water expands, or takes up more space, when it freezes. A glass bottle filled to the top with water, closed tight and left in a freezer, can crack as the water turns to ice.
- There are three kinds of question. What does it say? The answer is written down. What does it mean? The answer follows from what is written. What would happen? You use what is written on a new case.
- Look for the signal words. “According to the passage” tells you the answer is written down.
- And it is: the first sentence says water expands when it freezes. Nothing needs to be worked out; you point to the sentence.
Answer: What does it say?
Example 2
A passage written for this example
Suppose a water pipe in an empty house fills with water, and the temperature drops far below freezing. Based on the passage, what would most likely happen to the pipe?What kind of question is this?Water expands, or takes up more space, when it freezes. A glass bottle filled to the top with water, closed tight and left in a freezer, can crack as the water turns to ice.
- “Suppose” brings in a new case. The passage never mentions pipes.
- You take the rule from the passage (water expands when it freezes and can crack a closed container) and apply it to the new case.
- So the answer would be: the pipe could crack, or burst. But first, recognize the kind of question: it asks what would happen.
Answer: What would happen?
Where this is taught: Science Practices, part 2: Reading a science passage · Look Again Quiz 1: Reading Science
In your Kaplan book: Unit 4, Chapter 1, Lesson 1: Comprehend Scientific Presentations · Map of the Terrain, topic 1: Reading science
The drill
Ten questions
How many:
Read what is in the box first, if there is one. Then tap your answer; a few questions ask you to choose words from a drop-down instead, the way the GED test does. Press Check my answers at the bottom.Read what is in the box first, if there is one. Circle your answer; where there are brackets, circle the choice that fits. The answer key, with the reasoning, is on the last page.