ISEE Reading Comprehension cheat sheet

Main idea = the central point the whole passage supports; theme = the broader insight about life or human nature the passage reveals.

Test a candidate main idea by asking whether every paragraph contributes to it; if a paragraph is irrelevant, the statement is too narrow or off-topic.

The main idea is often stated in the first or last sentence of the passage, but it may be implied and require synthesis of several paragraphs.

A theme is expressed as a general statement, not a summary of plot events; avoid answer choices that merely restate details.

Distractors often are true statements from the passage but too narrow to cover the whole text; eliminate them by scope.

When two choices seem plausible, choose the one that accounts for the most text without adding unsupported claims.

For paired passages, the shared main idea must be supported by both passages, not just one.

Signal words such as 'therefore,' 'in short,' and 'the point is' often introduce or restate the main idea.

Explicit details are directly stated in the passage; the correct answer must be verifiable by locating the exact words or a direct paraphrase.

For detail questions, scan for a keyword from the question stem, then read the surrounding sentence and the sentence before and after.

Beware of answer choices that combine a detail from one part of the passage with a detail from another, creating a false relationship.

Chronological, compare-contrast, and cause-effect passages organize details in predictable patterns; use the pattern to locate information.

Numbers, dates, and proper nouns are easy to scan for and are common targets of explicit-information questions.

A detail may be restated with synonyms; match meaning, not exact wording.

If an answer choice includes an absolute word such as 'all,' 'never,' or 'only,' verify that the passage uses equally absolute language.

A valid inference follows necessarily from stated evidence plus common knowledge; it is not a guess or a personal opinion.

The correct inference is usually a small, logical step beyond the text, not a large leap requiring outside facts.

Look for implied cause-effect, implied contrast, and implied attitude; these are frequent inference targets.

Avoid choices that are merely plausible in real life but unsupported by the passage's specific wording.

Words such as 'suggest,' 'imply,' 'most likely,' and 'probably' signal an inference question.

When a passage describes an action, infer the motive or feeling only if the text provides clear clues.

For paired passages, an inference may require combining information from both texts.

Context vocabulary questions ask for the meaning of a word as it is used in the passage, not its most common dictionary meaning.

Substitute each answer choice into the original sentence and check whether the sentence retains its logic and tone.

The surrounding sentence, especially contrast or cause-effect signals, often defines the word implicitly.

A word may have a technical meaning in the passage's subject area that differs from everyday usage.

Eliminate choices that are the right part of speech but create an illogical or awkward sentence.

For paired passages, the same word may carry different shades of meaning in each text; answer according to the specific passage cited.

Words like 'but,' 'although,' and 'however' often signal that the meaning is the opposite of a nearby word.

Purpose is the author's reason for writing: to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain; identify it from the overall effect of the passage.

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice, imagery, and sentence structure.

Attitude choices must match the intensity of the passage; 'mildly concerned' differs from 'alarmed,' and only one will fit.

Persuasive passages often include emotional language, rhetorical questions, and calls to action.

Informative passages tend to use neutral diction, factual statements, and balanced presentation.

Irony and sarcasm occur when the author says the opposite of what is meant; look for contrast between words and content.

For paired passages, compare the authors' tones; one may be critical while the other is admiring of the same subject.

Common structures include chronological, cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution, and description; identify the signal words that mark transitions.

Paragraph function questions ask why a paragraph is included; answer with its role in the passage's overall argument or narrative.

Rhetorical devices include analogy, repetition, rhetorical question, hyperbole, and anecdote; each is used for a specific effect.

An analogy clarifies an unfamiliar idea by comparing it to a familiar one; the correct answer explains the comparison's purpose.

Transitions such as 'however,' 'therefore,' and 'for example' reveal the logical relationship between ideas.

A passage may use more than one structure; choose the answer that describes the primary organization.

The introduction often sets up a problem or question, and the conclusion often resolves or restates it.

Paired-passage questions may ask how the passages relate: agreement, disagreement, or one illustrating the other.

Identify each passage's main idea and tone separately before comparing them.

A common question type asks how the author of Passage 1 would respond to Passage 2; answer using only views expressed in Passage 1.

Within a single passage, integration questions ask how one paragraph or example supports the main idea.

When passages disagree, locate the specific point of conflict rather than assuming total disagreement.

Evidence for cross-passage answers must come from both texts, not from one passage alone.

Synthesis questions may ask for a conclusion drawn from combining details in two different parts of one passage.