Reading: Comprehension Strategies and Question Types
What the reading test measures
NAPLAN reading passages include narratives, information reports, persuasive articles and procedural texts. Questions test literal comprehension, inference, vocabulary in context and understanding of the writer's purpose. You must read closely and return to the text to check answers rather than relying on memory.
Concepts to master
- Main idea and purpose: ask why the writer wrote the text and what the overall message is.
- Literal detail: find information stated directly, such as a date, a name or a sequence of steps.
- Inference: work out ideas that are implied but not stated. Look for clues in character actions, tone and word choice.
- Vocabulary in context: a familiar word may have an unusual meaning in the passage. Read the whole sentence before choosing.
- Text structure: headings, captions, diagrams and bullet points in information texts; dialogue and description in narratives.
- Sequencing and cause and effect: track what happens first and why.
Traps to watch for
- Choosing an answer that is true in real life but not supported by the passage.
- Confusing a character's thoughts with the narrator's views.
- Ignoring words like not, except or most likely in the question.
- Picking the first plausible option without checking the others.
Rule of thumb
Use the question, locate, compare method: read the question carefully, locate the relevant lines, then compare each option against the exact wording. Eliminate options that go beyond the text or contradict it.
Worked example
Passage line: Maya clutched the envelope, her fingers trembling, and slid it under the pile of books. Question: How does Maya feel about the envelope? An option saying she is excited is not supported. The clues clutched, trembling and hiding it suggest anxiety or dread. The best answer is the one the evidence supports, not the most dramatic one.