Reading Comprehension
What this section tests
Reading items check main idea, explicit detail, vocabulary in context, inference, and the author's purpose or tone. Passages range from short notices to multi-paragraph articles, and you must locate and interpret information quickly.
Concepts to master
- Main idea vs. supporting detail: the main idea covers the whole passage; details support it.
- Inference: a conclusion the text strongly implies but does not state outright.
- Reference words: it, this, they point back to a specific noun phrase; track the antecedent.
- Vocabulary in context: choose the meaning that fits the sentence, not the most common dictionary sense.
Traps to expect
Options that are true in general but not stated in the passage. Extreme words (always, never, all) that overstate a cautious text. Detail questions that swap two entities (the passage says X caused Y; the option says Y caused X). Answer choices that copy exact wording from the passage but answer a different question.
Rule of thumb
Read the question first, then scan for the relevant sentence and read that sentence plus one before and after. For main-idea questions, ask: what single point do all the paragraphs support?
Worked example
Sentence: "The new policy reduced delays, though staff reported more paperwork." Question: The word though signals that the passage... Reasoning: though introduces a contrast, so the author balances a benefit against a drawback. An option saying the policy was a total failure is too extreme.