Reading: Finding Evidence in Short Passages
The Reading domain tests how well you understand short passages written for students near the end of grade 3. Each passage is followed by multiple-choice questions about main idea, important details, sequence, word meaning in context, and simple inference.
Core rules
- The answer must be supported by the passage. A choice that sounds true in real life but is not stated or implied is wrong.
- Main idea means what the whole passage is mostly about; a detail question asks for one specific fact.
- For 'in context' vocabulary, replace the word with each answer choice and check whether the sentence still makes sense.
- Inference questions ask what the passage suggests without saying it directly. Use clues, not guesses.
- Sequence words such as first, then, after, and finally signal the order of events.
Worked example
Passage: 'Maya packed a flashlight, a water bottle, and a map. She checked the sky and tied her boots. "We will be home before dark," she told her brother.' Question: What does the passage suggest Maya is doing? A. Going to school B. Preparing for a hike C. Cooking dinner D. Cleaning her room
Reasoning: The flashlight, water bottle, map, boots, and plan to return before dark are clues. School, dinner, and cleaning do not need these items. The best answer is B because the details point to an outdoor activity; the passage does not say 'hike' directly, so this is an inference.
Traps
- Choosing a true statement that the passage never mentions.
- Confusing a small detail with the main idea.
- Ignoring the exact wording of a vocabulary question.
- Overreading: an inference must be a small step from the text, not a wild guess.