Reading Comprehension
What the reading section asks
Passages usually include a narrative or personal essay and a practical text such as an email, notice, or poster. Questions test main idea, detail, reference (what does "it" mean?), inference, and sequence. The paper rewards locating evidence, not general knowledge.
Core rules
- Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph first; they usually announce the topic and conclusion.
- Match each question to a paragraph. Detail questions are answered in one or two adjacent sentences.
- For "why" questions, find the reason marker: because, so, that is why, in order to.
- For reference questions, look at the previous sentence and check number and meaning.
- For inference, choose the smallest step beyond the text. If an option needs outside facts, reject it.
- For order questions, track time words: first, then, after that, finally.
Worked example
A passage says: "Ken noticed that many students threw away plastic bottles. He asked his teacher if the school could put a box near the gate. In two weeks, the box was full, and the money from the bottles bought new library books." Question: Why did Ken ask his teacher about a box? Answer: He wanted to collect the bottles that students were throwing away. The text does not say he wanted money for himself or that he liked boxes. "Noticed... threw away" plus "asked... box" gives the purpose; the library books are the result, not the request.
Traps
- Picking a true statement that does not answer the question.
- Confusing the result with the reason.
- Over-inferring motives the passage never states.
- Losing track of two characters' actions.
- Ignoring a contrast word such as however or although.