HiSET Reading Study Guide: Informational Texts Part 4
Our final section on informational texts will ensure that you understand how to:
- Analyze graphics
- Compare and contrast paired passages
Analyzing Graphics
You may come across an informational text that uses graphics, such as pie charts or bar graphs. Here are the steps to gathering the most important information from graphics:
- Read the title and any labels to learn what the graph is about
- Skim the graphic and take note of any trends
- Check the source to make sure the graphic presents valid information
- Consider how the information relates to the text to understand the graphic’s purpose
Paired Passages
Expect paired passages (two passages presented alongside one another for a single question) on the HiSET language arts: reading test. These pairs will fall into one of two categories: those with a similar point of view and those offering opposing arguments.
There are a few important things to note about passages sharing a theme or idea:
- You will need to identify the shared idea between the passages
- Some questions will be about an individual passage and other questions about how they relate to one another
- Challenging questions will ask you to synthesize information gained from both passages
When it comes to opposing argument passages, here’s what you need to know:
- Both passages will deal with the same topic
- The passages may discuss different evidence to draw unique conclusions
- The passages may discuss the same evidence but still draw unique conclusions
- Don’t forget that an author’s bias about a topic can affect their point of view and tone
Approach the passages with an open mind, and don’t let any personal bias influence your interpretation of the issues at hand.
Informational Texts Part 4 Review Quiz
Diversity in Film
Passage 1
People sometimes get frustrated with representation in movies – frustrated that studios are making more of an effort to make movies with female and minority protagonists. Unless you belong to one of these marginalized groups, it can be difficult to understand the importance of representation. Regardless of the complaints of some, however, the movie industry is making incredible strides in telling more diverse stories, and fans are showing the demand for such content with their money. The biggest movie of 2018 was “Black Panther,” a movie about an African country starring mostly black actors. “Crazy Rich Asians” showed that not only can a movie with an Asian cast do well, but it can revitalize an almost-dead genre. In fact, 8 of the 20 top-grossing movies of 2018 featured non-white and/or female protagonists. As long as fans are rewarding them, studios will continue to cast more women and people of color in major roles.
Passage 2
Movie studios would like you to think that they are making amazing strides toward more diverse representation in films, but the truth is that their efforts are laughably feeble. In 2017, “Wonder Woman” was a huge hit, and Warner Bros and DC patted themselves on the back for having the guts to release such a big-budget movie with a female director and star. While “Wonder Woman” was a step in the right direction, in the 17 years from when “X-Men” introduced our current era of superhero movies and “Wonder Woman” premiered, only 1 other female-driven superhero movie was released. The reboot of “Ghostbusters” proved that a female cast could bring in big money, but there’s no talk of a female-led sequel. If it had been led by male stars, the movie studio would have made two more of them by now. We can keep congratulating ourselves when a female-led movie is released once a year, but true representation is only going to happen if we can accept how poorly our movie industry is still treating women, despite the small steps they’ve made.