Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension
What to master
Main idea versus supporting detail, the author's tone and purpose, inference that stays strictly within the text, vocabulary in context, and the logical structure of an argument (claim, evidence, assumption).
Traps that appear
- True but off-topic: an answer that is factually consistent with the passage but does not answer the specific question.
- Overreach in inference: choices that go beyond what the text supports. Valid inference is a small, necessary step, not a leap.
- Extreme wording: options with "always," "never," or "all" are usually wrong unless the passage says so.
- Half-right answers: the first clause is correct but the second is false. Read the whole option.
- Tone confusion: mistaking a cautious, qualified author for a hostile or enthusiastic one.
Rule of thumb
Answer the question in your own words before reading the options, then choose the option that matches your prediction most closely. For inference questions, ask: "Could this be false given the passage?" If yes, it is not a safe inference.
Worked example
A passage says a policy "reduced complaints in the first year, though long-term effects remain unclear." An option claiming the policy "solved the problem permanently" is wrong (overreach); "showed early promise" fits the qualified tone.