Reading Comprehension
What the section tests
Angola's 12th-grade English paper asks you to read a passage (often a short article, letter, or narrative) and answer questions that test literal understanding, inference, vocabulary in context, and the writer's purpose. You must show you can locate information, distinguish main idea from supporting detail, and read between the lines.
Concepts to master
- Main idea vs. detail: the main idea is what the whole passage is about; details support it.
- Explicit vs. implicit information: some answers are stated directly; others must be inferred from clues.
- Reference words: it, they, this, these, the former, the latter point back to earlier nouns. Track them carefully.
- Vocabulary in context: a familiar word may carry an unusual meaning in the passage.
- Writer's purpose and tone: is the writer informing, persuading, warning, or narrating? Is the tone neutral, ironic, or critical?
Traps to watch for
- Options that are true in general but not stated in the passage.
- Options that repeat words from the text but distort the meaning (especially with always, never, all, only).
- Questions asking what is NOT mentioned - read the negative carefully.
- Confusing the writer's opinion with a quoted opinion.
Rule of thumb
Answer only from the text, not from your own knowledge. Underline the sentence that supports your choice. If you cannot find support, the option is probably wrong.
Worked example: Passage: "Although the rains came late, the farmers still harvested enough to feed their families." Question: What does the sentence suggest? (A) The harvest failed. (B) The farmers coped despite a problem. (C) The rains came early. Answer: B - although signals contrast, and still shows success despite difficulty.