General English Comprehension
What the comprehension section tests
General English Comprehension checks reading for main idea, explicit detail, inference, vocabulary in context, tone, and grammar. Passages may be literary or factual; questions often ask what can be inferred rather than what is directly stated.
Core rules
- Read the question stem first, then locate the relevant lines; do not rely on memory of the whole passage.
- Distinguish main idea from supporting detail; the main idea must cover the whole passage, not one example.
- For inference, choose the option that must follow from the text, not one that is merely plausible in real life.
- For vocabulary, substitute each option into the sentence and check tone and collocation.
- In grammar items, identify the tested point: subject-verb agreement, tense sequence, pronoun reference, modifier placement, or preposition.
Worked example
Passage: Although the new library was small, it became the busiest room in the school; students came not only for books but also for quiet conversation. Question: What does the passage suggest about the library? A. It was unpopular because it was small. B. It served purposes beyond borrowing books. C. It was built recently and had many books. D. Students were forbidden to talk there. Answer: B. The phrase not only for books but also for quiet conversation shows multiple uses. A contradicts busiest; C adds many books, which is not stated; D contradicts conversation.
Traps
Extreme words such as always, never, and only often mark wrong options. Do not import outside knowledge. Do not choose a synonym that ignores context. In grammar, read the whole sentence before choosing.