Reading comprehension
A passage followed by questions. The answer is in the passage or inferred from it, never from your general knowledge.
A passage followed by questions. The answer is in the passage or inferred from it, never from your general knowledge.
Method
- Read the question first so you know what to look for.
- Skim the passage: its topic and each paragraph’s idea.
- Locate where the answer is, then compare the choices with it.
- Eliminate choices with the “three NOs” rule below.
Question kinds and how to answer each
Main idea
What is the whole passage about? Find the idea repeated in every paragraph.
Best title
Like main idea, phrased as a title. Avoid titles that are too narrow or too broad.
Detail question
The answer is written almost word for word; go back to the line.
Inference question
What follows logically without being stated. Don’t stretch it.
Word meaning
The meaning is from context; put the choice in place of the word and reread.
Author’s view and purpose
Look for attitude words: but, however, warns, calls for.
“EXCEPT / NOT” question
Find the choice not mentioned; the other three are in the passage.
- The three NOs: no to what is not mentioned, no to what exaggerates, no to what is true in real life but not in the passage.
- Absolute words like always, never, only, all usually make a choice wrong.