Reading Comprehension of Informational Texts
What the questions test
Informational passages are articles, biographies, essays, or how-to texts. Expect questions on central idea, supporting details, author's purpose (to inform, explain, persuade, or entertain), text structure, summarizing, and evaluating evidence.
Finding the central idea
Ask: what is this whole text mostly about, and what does the author want me to understand about it? The central idea is usually stated in the introduction or conclusion and echoed in headings. A single striking fact is a supporting detail, not the main idea.
Traps to watch for
- Too narrow or too broad. Wrong answers often grab one detail (too narrow) or state something far larger than the passage covers (too broad).
- True but irrelevant. An answer can be factually correct yet not answer the question asked. Reread the stem before choosing.
- Purpose confusion. A text full of dates and names is usually to inform; a text full of "should" and reasons is usually to persuade.
- Opinion disguised as fact. Words like best, worst, should, and obviously signal opinion. Numbers, dates, and quotations usually signal fact.
- Summary vs. retelling. A good summary is shorter than the text, covers the whole passage, and leaves out minor details.
Rule of thumb: the headline test
Write a one-sentence headline for the passage. The correct central-idea answer will match your headline in meaning, even if the wording differs.
Worked example
A passage explains how a city added bike lanes, reports a 30 percent rise in cycling, and quotes a planner about safety. The central idea is that bike lanes increased cycling and safety, not "the city has a planner" (too narrow) or "cities should ban cars" (too broad and unsupported).