Reading Comprehension of Unseen Persian Passages
How unseen passages are built
The passage is short and self-contained, but the questions test different levels: literal detail, pronoun reference, inference, and vocabulary from context. Read once for gist, then scan for the exact phrase each question depends on. Do not import outside knowledge.
Question types
- Detail: who, when, where - find the word, do not infer.
- Reference: what does «او» or «آن» point to?
- Inference: what does the speaker believe?
- Vocabulary: which meaning fits this sentence?
- Main idea: a claim covering the whole passage, not one detail.
Worked example
Passage: «در دهکدهای کوچک، پیرمردی هر روز کنار چشمه مینشست. مردم میپرسیدند چرا. میگفت: آبِ روان به من میآموزد که ایستادن در یک جا مردن است.» Question: What is the old man’s main point? Reasoning: the detail is the spring; the repeated question signals significance; the quoted sentence gives the claim. «آبِ روان» (flowing water) contrasts with «ایستادن در یک جا» (staying in one place). The main point is that growth requires movement, not that springs are pleasant. «میگفت» refers to the old man, not the people.
Traps
Choosing an option because it repeats a familiar word; missing negation; confusing what is stated with what is implied; and answering from general knowledge rather than the text.