So, I should be literally talking to myself as I read the passage?

This is how I kind of implement your read actively strategy. Notice the quotations to show my train of thought as I'm reading.

The introduction of the passage: "Okay, this is going to the topic of the passage. Let's see if the author gives me a clear indication of where the passage is going to go within this topic. If there is an ascription we know the author is going to disagree, the rest of the passage might be further defense of the rejection and possibly a better way to look at it"

I'm trying to show you how I am actually thinking as I read a passage. Like you have said, our reading for school is usually so future oriented that we just highlight details and random facts. I am getting better at actively reading, but can you please go into more specifics. Maybe could you run through a passage and actually vocalize how you are reading actively throughout the passage. That is, pretend like you haven't read the passage and you are approaching it for the first time, read through it explain your thought process about how you are actively engaging. I understand looking back at a passage after the fact and how every answer can come from the passage, but I am more concerned with the actual reading of the passage as it is the key to answering the questions.

I am definitely rambling here, but this is kind of hard to explain. I just need to "see" how you actively read through a passage. So, like I said, if you could read a passage as if you were taking the test and vocalize your active reading, "oh, here is the main point, let's see where it's going", etc. Thanks Dave!