ATI TEAS Craft and Structure Summary

A fact can be checked or measured. An opinion is a personal judgment. "Most beautiful" is a judgment that people could disagree about, so it is an opinion. Words like *best, worst, beautiful,* and *should* often signal opinions.

Wrong choices

• It has two lanes in each direction.: The number of lanes can be counted, so it is a fact.
• The new bridge opened in April.: The opening date can be checked, so it is a fact.
• It is 1,200 feet long.: Length can be measured, so it is a fact.

The text asks a question about a problem, promises savings, and pushes the reader to act "today" and "before Friday." These are signs of writing meant to persuade (convince someone to do or believe something).

Wrong choices

• To inform readers about how phone networks work: The ad gives a little information, but its goal is to get readers to sign up.
• To entertain readers with a funny story: There is no story or humor here.
• To explain the history of phone companies: No history is given.

Signal words such as "as a result" and "because" show that one event led to another: rain → river rises → road covered → delays. This is a cause-and-effect structure.

Wrong choices

• Problem and solution: The passage describes problems but never offers a solution.
• Compare and contrast: Nothing is being compared.
• Description of a place: The passage explains why things happened rather than describing a place.

Use context clues. Even experienced climbers had to stop often to rest and catch their breath, so the trail must take a lot of effort. "Arduous" means difficult and tiring.

Wrong choices

• Short and pleasant: Climbers would not need to stop often on a short, pleasant trail.
• Crowded with people: The sentence says nothing about crowds.
• Clearly marked: The sentence is about effort, not signs.

The narrator uses "I" and tells about his or her own experience and feelings. That is first-person point of view.

Wrong choices

• Third person: Third person uses "he," "she," or "they" for the main character.
• Second person: Second person speaks to the reader as "you."
• Third person omniscient: An omniscient narrator is outside the story and knows every character's thoughts.

Tone is the author's attitude. Word choices such as "failed," "careless," and "simply unacceptable" show that the author strongly disapproves of the company's behavior.

Wrong choices

• Neutral: Words like "careless" and "unacceptable" show strong feeling, so the tone is not neutral.
• Humorous: Nothing in the passage is meant to be funny.
• Hopeful: The author is criticizing, not looking forward to good things.

Only one sentence can be checked with evidence: oranges do contain vitamin C. The other sentences use judgment words (*most delicious, should, best*), which mark opinions.

Wrong choices

• Orange juice is the best way to start the morning.: "Best" is a judgment, so this is an opinion.
• Oranges are the most delicious fruit.: Taste is a personal judgment, so this is an opinion.
• Everyone should eat an orange every day.: "Should" gives advice or a belief, so this is an opinion.

The passage shows how paper books and e-readers are different ("some people prefer… others prefer…") and how they are alike ("both formats…"). Showing differences and similarities is a compare-and-contrast structure.

Wrong choices

• Cause and effect: The passage does not show one event causing another.
• Sequence: There are no steps or events in time order.
• Problem and solution: No problem is presented and solved.

The author mentions the other side only to answer it ("However…"), gives reasons the noise will not be a problem, and ends with a clear call to approve the park. This shows the author supports the park.

Wrong choices

• The author is neutral and presents both sides equally.: The author answers the worry with "however" and ends by saying the council "should approve" the park.
• The author opposes the park because it will be noisy.: The author argues against the noise concern, not for it.
• The author wants the park moved closer to homes.: The author says being far from homes is a good thing.

"State" has several meanings. Here it follows "asked the patient to," so it is a verb (an action). The patient is asked to say his name and birth date clearly.

Wrong choices

• A condition someone is in: This meaning fits phrases like "a state of shock," not an action the patient does.
• A part of a country, such as Ohio: This is a noun meaning, but here "state" is something the patient is asked to do.
• A government or nation: This noun meaning does not fit an action.