English Language and Scientific Reading Comprehension
The English section is a scientific reading paper: short passages adapted from abstracts, public-health reports or methods sections, each followed by multiple-choice items on main idea, explicit detail, inference, vocabulary in context, reference and author's attitude. It also tests control of scientific English - hedging, quantifiers, connectives and reported findings.
Core rules
- Read the questions first. Locate the keyword or a synonym in the passage. The correct option paraphrases the text; it rarely repeats its wording.
- Separate the levels. A detail is stated; an inference is logically forced but unstated; the main idea covers the whole passage, not one paragraph.
- Handle hedged science. Verbs and modals such as suggests, may, is associated with, indicates and appears to signal caution. An option saying proves, always or never usually contradicts the passage.
- Resolve reference words. For 'this', 'it' or 'these findings', return to the nearest matching noun phrase and substitute it to test the reading.
- Vocabulary in context. Use the surrounding clause, not the dictionary's first sense.
Worked example
Passage: 'In a randomised trial of 400 patients, 40% of those given drug X reported headache, compared with 12% of those given placebo; the authors suggest that headache may be a common adverse effect.' An item asking what can be concluded offers: (a) drug X always causes headache; (b) drug X is associated with more reported headache than placebo; (c) headache proves the drug is absorbed; (d) the trial was unblinded. Option (b) is correct: comparing 40% with 12% in a randomised trial supports an association. 'Always' and 'proves' overstate the hedged conclusion, and blinding is never described - (d) is an outside-knowledge trap.
Traps
Picking a scientifically true statement that the passage never makes; missing 'EXCEPT' or 'NOT' in the stem; confusing the author's claim with an opposing view the author quotes.