Close Reading at Depth · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Read it three times, notice more

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 16-18
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which sentence is the central idea rather than a detail?

    • the point the rest backs up
    • the sentence with the hardest words
    • the first sentence no matter what

  2. What is the three pass method?

    • read once slowly, then twice fast
    • read three times, one strand each
    • read three different passages once each

  3. Outside knowledge of the topic may overrule what the passage itself says.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. The opening sets background and the sharp claim lands halfway down. Where is the central idea?

    • always the first sentence
    • in the longest sentence
    • wherever the passage earns it, even halfway down

  5. One word in line 12 will not fit your reading. What do you do?

    • give it weight and test it nearby
    • ignore it and keep the smooth reading
    • replace it with a simpler synonym permanently

  6. Two readings compete. Reading A fits six details, reading B fits two and needs outside facts. Which wins?

    • reading B, since it uses more knowledge
    • reading A, for its wider support
    • neither, since two readings means failure

  7. A choice about the passage feels relevant but adds one small twist the text never says. How do you treat it?

    • accept it for its relevant feel
    • keep it if the twist sounds clever
    • reject it, since the twist is unsupported by the passage

  8. A student reads for half an hour and reports only the first impression. What went wrong?

    • the passes repeated one strand instead of tracking several apart
    • good readers stop at the first reading
    • passages this short hold only one idea
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_FG1xqyBhdk-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Read it three times, notice more W1-mt_FG1xqyBhdk-s1

  1. the point the rest backs up · Details support the point. The point is what they all serve.
  2. read three times, one strand each · Each pass tracks its own strand, with the notes kept apart.
  3. False · Stick to the text. Outside facts cannot carry an unsupported reading.
  4. wherever the passage earns it, even halfway down · The real point sometimes arrives after setup, so track the whole passage.
  5. give it weight and test it nearby · The resisting word often marks where the meaning turns.
  6. reading A, for its wider support · The better supported reading wins, and the deciding factor is nameable.
  7. reject it, since the twist is unsupported by the passage · Small twists fail the support test no matter how relevant they feel.
  8. the passes repeated one strand instead of tracking several apart · Time spent re-reading one strand adds nothing. Sharper strands keep yielding more.
Worksheet · LightMySky