Reading Comprehension (Unseen Passages)
Reading Comprehension tests how well you interpret an unseen passage without relying on remembered facts. Expect questions on main idea, explicit detail, inference, vocabulary in context, tone, purpose, and occasionally sequencing or paragraph completion.
Read for gist, then for evidence
- Read once without stopping to label the topic and the author’s attitude; then scan for question keywords, names, dates, and contrast markers such as but, although, however.
- Treat inference as a short logical step, not a guess: the answer must be implied by a quoted phrase.
- For vocabulary, replace the word with each option in the original sentence and check the surrounding cause, contrast, or example.
- For tone, inspect adjectives, adverbs, modal verbs, and punctuation; “must” and “should” often signal advocacy, while “perhaps” signals caution.
- For main idea, combine topic and author’s claim; a single supporting detail is not enough.
Worked example
Passage: “Although the council approved the cycle lane, shopkeepers argued that it would reduce parking. The council replied that delivery bays would remain.” Question: What concern did shopkeepers raise? Reason: “argued that” marks their objection, and “reduce parking” names the concern. “The cycle lane is unsafe” is not stated, so it is an over-inference.
Traps
Do not choose an option merely because it is true in general. Check negative questions (“EXCEPT”, “NOT”). Do not copy a full sentence when a phrase is requested. Do not confuse the author’s view with a quoted speaker’s view.