Text Organization Patterns - SSAT Middle Level: Reading
Card 1 of 22
Identify the organization: The author describes a process from beginning to end using step numbers.
Identify the organization: The author describes a process from beginning to end using step numbers.
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Chronological order. Numbered steps outline a sequential progression from start to finish, aligning with time-ordered presentation of information.
Chronological order. Numbered steps outline a sequential progression from start to finish, aligning with time-ordered presentation of information.
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Identify the organization: The passage alternates between two subjects to show how they differ.
Identify the organization: The passage alternates between two subjects to show how they differ.
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Compare and contrast. Alternating between subjects to underscore differences employs a structure focused on juxtaposition for clarity in distinctions.
Compare and contrast. Alternating between subjects to underscore differences employs a structure focused on juxtaposition for clarity in distinctions.
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Which signal phrase most strongly indicates sequence: after the interview, the committee voted?
Which signal phrase most strongly indicates sequence: after the interview, the committee voted?
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Chronological order. The phrase 'after' specifies temporal succession, indicating a sequence of events in time-ordered text structures.
Chronological order. The phrase 'after' specifies temporal succession, indicating a sequence of events in time-ordered text structures.
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Which signal phrase most strongly indicates contrast: on the other hand, the second plan costs less?
Which signal phrase most strongly indicates contrast: on the other hand, the second plan costs less?
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Compare and contrast. The phrase 'on the other hand' introduces opposition, key in structures that delineate differences between ideas or subjects.
Compare and contrast. The phrase 'on the other hand' introduces opposition, key in structures that delineate differences between ideas or subjects.
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Which signal phrase most strongly indicates an effect: as a result, crops failed?
Which signal phrase most strongly indicates an effect: as a result, crops failed?
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Cause and effect. The phrase 'as a result' denotes a consequence following a cause, integral to texts organized around causal explanations.
Cause and effect. The phrase 'as a result' denotes a consequence following a cause, integral to texts organized around causal explanations.
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Which signal phrase most strongly indicates a cause: due to the drought?
Which signal phrase most strongly indicates a cause: due to the drought?
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Cause and effect. The phrase 'due to' attributes an event to a preceding factor, signaling a causal relationship within the organizational pattern.
Cause and effect. The phrase 'due to' attributes an event to a preceding factor, signaling a causal relationship within the organizational pattern.
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Which organization is signaled by because, therefore, as a result, and consequently?
Which organization is signaled by because, therefore, as a result, and consequently?
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Cause and effect. These transitional phrases connect reasons to outcomes, emphasizing the explanatory nature of causal relationships in the text.
Cause and effect. These transitional phrases connect reasons to outcomes, emphasizing the explanatory nature of causal relationships in the text.
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Which organization best fits a passage that examines two characters' motives side by side?
Which organization best fits a passage that examines two characters' motives side by side?
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Compare and contrast. Examining motives side by side highlights parallels and divergences, employing a relational structure for character analysis.
Compare and contrast. Examining motives side by side highlights parallels and divergences, employing a relational structure for character analysis.
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Which organization best fits an essay that argues one policy causes several social outcomes?
Which organization best fits an essay that argues one policy causes several social outcomes?
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Cause and effect. Arguing that a policy generates specific outcomes structures the essay around causal relationships and their implications.
Cause and effect. Arguing that a policy generates specific outcomes structures the essay around causal relationships and their implications.
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Which organization is most consistent with a biography that traces a subject's life from birth to later years?
Which organization is most consistent with a biography that traces a subject's life from birth to later years?
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Chronological order. Biographies often use time-based sequencing to trace life events from beginning to end, providing a coherent historical account.
Chronological order. Biographies often use time-based sequencing to trace life events from beginning to end, providing a coherent historical account.
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Identify the organization: The author recounts childhood, then adolescence, then adulthood in order.
Identify the organization: The author recounts childhood, then adolescence, then adulthood in order.
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Chronological order. Recounting life stages in sequence from early to later years follows a temporal framework typical of biographical narratives.
Chronological order. Recounting life stages in sequence from early to later years follows a temporal framework typical of biographical narratives.
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Identify the organization: The author describes two solutions and evaluates how they are alike and different.
Identify the organization: The author describes two solutions and evaluates how they are alike and different.
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Compare and contrast. Evaluating likenesses and differences between solutions structures the text to facilitate comparative analysis.
Compare and contrast. Evaluating likenesses and differences between solutions structures the text to facilitate comparative analysis.
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Which signal words most strongly indicate chronological order: first, next, then, finally?
Which signal words most strongly indicate chronological order: first, next, then, finally?
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Chronological order. These transitional words denote a progression of steps or events in temporal sequence, characteristic of time-based organization.
Chronological order. These transitional words denote a progression of steps or events in temporal sequence, characteristic of time-based organization.
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Identify the organization: The author explains what happened, then explains why it happened.
Identify the organization: The author explains what happened, then explains why it happened.
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Cause and effect. Explaining an event followed by its reasons reverses typical order but still focuses on causal connections and outcomes.
Cause and effect. Explaining an event followed by its reasons reverses typical order but still focuses on causal connections and outcomes.
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Which organization is most likely if a passage uses leads to, results in, and due to?
Which organization is most likely if a passage uses leads to, results in, and due to?
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Cause and effect. Phrases such as 'leads to' and 'due to' establish causal links, organizing the text around explanations of origins and results.
Cause and effect. Phrases such as 'leads to' and 'due to' establish causal links, organizing the text around explanations of origins and results.
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Which organization is most likely if a passage uses both, unlike, similarly, and in the same way?
Which organization is most likely if a passage uses both, unlike, similarly, and in the same way?
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Compare and contrast. Words like 'both' and 'unlike' draw parallels and distinctions, structuring the text around relational analysis of subjects.
Compare and contrast. Words like 'both' and 'unlike' draw parallels and distinctions, structuring the text around relational analysis of subjects.
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Which organization is most likely if a passage uses time markers such as in 1998, later, and afterward?
Which organization is most likely if a passage uses time markers such as in 1998, later, and afterward?
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Chronological order. Time markers like specific years and adverbs such as 'later' organize content by historical or sequential progression.
Chronological order. Time markers like specific years and adverbs such as 'later' organize content by historical or sequential progression.
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Identify the organization: The passage explains a problem and then describes its consequences.
Identify the organization: The passage explains a problem and then describes its consequences.
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Cause and effect. Describing a problem followed by its outcomes establishes a causal chain, typical of explanatory texts on consequences.
Cause and effect. Describing a problem followed by its outcomes establishes a causal chain, typical of explanatory texts on consequences.
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What text organization presents events in time order, often using dates or sequence words?
What text organization presents events in time order, often using dates or sequence words?
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Chronological order. This structure sequences events or steps in the order they occur, using temporal indicators to guide the reader through time.
Chronological order. This structure sequences events or steps in the order they occur, using temporal indicators to guide the reader through time.
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What text organization highlights similarities and differences between two or more subjects?
What text organization highlights similarities and differences between two or more subjects?
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Compare and contrast. This pattern examines subjects by pointing out shared traits and distinctions to enhance understanding of their relationships.
Compare and contrast. This pattern examines subjects by pointing out shared traits and distinctions to enhance understanding of their relationships.
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What text organization explains why something happens and what results from it?
What text organization explains why something happens and what results from it?
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Cause and effect. This pattern links actions or events to their origins and subsequent impacts, illustrating causal relationships.
Cause and effect. This pattern links actions or events to their origins and subsequent impacts, illustrating causal relationships.
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Which organization is signaled by however, similarly, in contrast, and on the other hand?
Which organization is signaled by however, similarly, in contrast, and on the other hand?
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Compare and contrast. These words highlight oppositions and parallels, guiding the reader to discern similarities and differences between ideas or subjects.
Compare and contrast. These words highlight oppositions and parallels, guiding the reader to discern similarities and differences between ideas or subjects.
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