Reading Comprehension Questions Type

Main Point

What is the point?

This will ask you to sum up all the content in the passage.

• Predict the answer choice, and match it.

• Look at the first and last sentences of each paragraph.

• Wrong choices will be:

  • Too narrow (only describe one part of the passage);

  • Be too strong or extreme

  • Go beyond the scope

  • Choices that have language that goes against what is in the passage.

Recognition

What does it say?

Recognizing things that the passage text states in a literal or explicit sense.

• Usually a paraphrase of some part of the passage. 

• Identify the idea (not exact wording).

  • Will be more of the concept illustrated by the author.

• Try finding matching keywords (underline or circle key claims or unusual words, this maybe useful later when they come up.

Recognition EXCEPT

Information not present in the passage

Only one choice should not be in the passage, which is the answer.

Pay attention to the stems and words like NOT and EXCEPT.

Clarifying Meaning

Find a Synonym 

What does it mean?

This will be asking what the author means by this. Will need to be able to interpret words and ambiguity, and define their context. 

1. Cover and predict another meaning for the word or phrase.

2. Or reread the sentence with each choice and see what plugs in.

Synonym means one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses.

1. Make sure the word works within the context of the passage.

2. Be careful with obvious meanings, as it may be used in a different context in the question.

Clarifying the Meaning

Find the Referent

What does it mean?

Test your ability to identify what earlier part of the passage phrase is referring to.

The task is to clarify the ambiguous, narrow the vague or supply a definition for an unusual use of an expression.

Clarifying the Meaning

Comparative Reading Passage Pairs Variation

What does it mean?

Predict the possible correct answer. This can save time.

“The author of passage A used the phrase X to refer to which one of the following ideas / concepts mentioned in passage B?”

Purpose of Reference

What is the function?

Identify why the author included something in a certain part of the text.

1. Predict why it was used and try to match an answer.

2. Read around the reference (reread immediate context around it for clues).

3. Read the first and last sentence.

4. Most likely is evidence that supports the main claim (e.g. studies, other forms of evidence used to prove a point).

5. Wrong choices: May accurately reflect information in the passage, but not exactly what is being asked.

Organizing Information

How does the passage or paragraph make its point?

Asks you to understand and analyze how a passage works to make an argument.

What is the progression of ideas in the passage? Or:

What is the purpose of a specific paragraph?

• Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph.

  • Natural breaks and shifts can help understand the progression.

• How does the author order information?

• Broad characterizations of how the main point is developed.

• Wrong choices will:

  • Include right elements but wrong order

    • Mischaracterize the role a paragraph plays

    • Does not answer exactly what is being asked in the stem.

Organizing Information

Both passages

"Which one of the following is an approach used by both passages to help make a point about X?”

Have to identify a specific strategy used by both passages.

• Rights answer will be an approach used by both passages.

• Eliminate choices that at least one passage does not use.

Organizing Information

Relationship Between Passages

Which one of the following accurately describes a relationship between the two passages?

Asking you to pick a choice that sums up the relationship between the two passages.

Identify how the passages relate to one and other.

• Is one narrower?

• Does one make a recommendation?

  • Try to come up with a general answer on what the information is doing on each side, and the purpose of the author including it.

Inferences About Views

Agree & Disagree

What would they agree with?

Ask you to make an inference about the views of the author or people in the passage.

1. Get rid of inferences that are not supported.

2. Pick a choice that has the most support in the passage.

3. Wrong choices will: Be the wrong viewpoint that is being asked, take it further than what is supported by the passage, or use extreme language (all, never, always).

Inferences About Views

Comparative Readings

“If the author of passage A were to read passage B, he or she would most likely agree to which one of the following?”

Task is to find common ground on viewpoints.

1. Look to see what information overlaps and is similar that both arguers would agree with.

Inferences About Information

What is implied? Or: What else is likely to be true?

Choosing an answer that may not be directly stated in the passage but that is supported by the content of the passage.

1. Use the process of elimination; Get rid of inferences that cannot be supported.

2. Answer choice is always supported by the information.

3. Wrong choices:

   1. Will be out of scope (unrelated);

   2. Use language that is too extreme (always, all, never, every).

Inferences About Information

Comparative Reading

Find an inference that is supported by both passages

“Which one of the following statements is strongly supported by both passages.”

1. Same strategies as other inference questions, just additionally, that both passages must support the choice.

2. Even if the two passages have contrasting points, there will be some basic common ground that they both acknowledge.

Inferences About Attitudes

How does the author feel about this? 

Attitudes can be found in the way that the author writes the paragraphs. 

1. Determine is the language positively or negatively charged?

2. What words, tone and attitude are used? 

3. Tone can change as they discuss different topics, so monitor that tone. 

4. Wrong choices: Inaccurately reflect the author’s tone (too positive, negative, etc).