Reading: Evidence, Inference, and Emphasis
Read for structure, then for evidence
The Reading section measures how well you understand what a passage says, how it says it, and what it implies. Expect questions on main idea, supporting details, inference, vocabulary in context, author's purpose, tone, text structure, and the function of a sentence or paragraph. Some items ask you to compare two passages or evaluate evidence. Strong readers preview the question stems, track the passage's shifts, and return to specific lines rather than relying on memory.
The classic traps are plausible answers that are true in general but not supported by this passage, and answers that are too broad, too narrow, or too absolute. Vocabulary questions often test a familiar word used in an unfamiliar way, so substitute each choice into the sentence and check the surrounding context. Inference questions require a small, defensible step beyond the text, not a leap. When a question says 'most likely' or 'primarily,' the best answer must match the passage's emphasis, not just one detail.
Worked example: A sentence says the mayor's proposal was 'charged' with emotion. Choices include 'accused,' 'priced,' 'filled,' and 'recharged.' The surrounding sentence describes a heated debate, so 'filled' fits: the proposal was full of emotion. 'Accused' is a common meaning of 'charged,' but no one is being accused. Rule of thumb: predict an answer in your own words before reading the choices, then choose the option that matches both the line and the passage's larger point.