Reading Comprehension
What the domain tests
Reading Comprehension measures whether you can extract stated information, infer unstated meaning, identify main idea and purpose, trace an author's attitude, and evaluate evidence. You must separate what the passage says from what you already believe, and distinguish a supported inference from a plausible guess.
Traps to watch
- True but irrelevant. An option may state a fact from the passage that does not answer the question asked.
- Extreme wording. Options with always, never, all, or only usually overreach the text.
- Half-right answers. The first half matches, the second half contradicts the passage.
- Scope creep. The main idea must cover the whole passage, not one paragraph.
- Tone confusion. Sarcasm, hedging (arguably, perhaps), and concession (admittedly) shift meaning.
Rule of thumb
Read the question stem first, then return to the passage and find the exact lines that decide the answer. Predict an answer in your own words before reading the options. For inference questions, ask: is this the smallest step beyond the text, or a leap?
Worked example
A passage states that a bridge was repaired twice within five years and that inspections were infrequent. A question asks what the author implies. "The bridge was dangerous" overreaches; "maintenance problems may reflect limited inspection" is the supported inference.