59
Sequential, Comparative, and
Cause-Effect Relationships
Table 1: The Standards and the Pathways for Transition
Meanings of Words Generalizations and Conclusions
■ Determine when (e.g., first, last, before,
after) or if an event occurred in
uncomplicated passages
■ Recognize clear cause-effect
relationships described within a
single sentence in a passage
■ Understand the implication of a
familiar word or phrase and of
simple descriptive language
■ Draw simple generalizations and
conclusions about the main characters
in uncomplicated literary narratives
■ Use context to understand basic
figurative language
■ Draw simple generalizations and
conclusions about people, ideas, and
so on in uncomplicated passages
■ Identify relationships between main
characters in uncomplicated literary
narratives
■ Recognize clear cause-effect
relationships within a single paragraph
in uncomplicated literary narratives
■ Order simple sequences of events in
uncomplicated literary narratives
■ Identify clear relationships between
people, ideas, and so on in
uncomplicated passages
■ Identify clear cause-effect relationships
in uncomplicated passages
■ Use context to determine the
appropriate meaning of some
figurative and nonfigurative words,
phrases, and statements in
uncomplicated passages
■ Draw generalizations and
conclusions about people, ideas, and
so on in uncomplicated passages
■ Draw simple generalizations and
conclusions using details that support
the main points of more challenging
passages
■ Use context to determine the
appropriate meaning of virtually
any word, phrase, or statement in
uncomplicated passages
■ Use context to determine the
appropriate meaning of some
figurative and nonfigurative words,
phrases, and statements in more
challenging passages
■ Draw subtle generalizations and
conclusions about characters, ideas,
and so on in uncomplicated literary
narratives
■ Draw generalizations and conclusions
about people, ideas, and so on in
more challenging passages
■ Order sequences of events in
uncomplicated passages
■ Understand relationships between
people, ideas, and so on in
uncomplicated passages
■ Identify clear relationships between
characters, ideas, and so on in more
challenging literary narratives
■ Understand implied or subtly
stated cause-effect relationships in
uncomplicated passages
■ Identify clear cause-effect relationships
in more challenging passages
Descriptions of the PLAN Reading Passages
Uncomplicated Informational
Passages
refers to materials that
tend to contain a limited amount of
data, address basic concepts using
familiar language and conventional
organizational patterns, have a clear
purpose, and are written to be
accessible.
More Challenging Informational
Passages
refers to materials that
tend to present concepts that are not
always stated explicitly and that are
accompanied or illustrated by more—
and more detailed—supporting data,
include some difficult context-
dependent words, and are written in
a somewhat more demanding and
less accessible style.
Complex Informational Passages
refers to materials that tend to include
a sizable amount of data, present
difficult concepts that are embedded
(not explicit) in the text, use
demanding words and phrases
whose meaning must be determined
from context, and are likely to include
intricate explanations of processes
or events.
Skills representing increasingly advanced levels of preparation