Reading Comprehension and Interpretation
What the questions test
Reading items ask you to locate stated information, infer what is implied, identify main idea and author's purpose, interpret vocabulary in context, recognize text structure, and judge the strength of an argument. Expect paired passages that ask you to compare viewpoints, and expect questions phrased as "the author most likely believes" or "which statement would the author agree with."
Traps to watch
- Topic vs. main idea. The topic is what the passage is about (a city tree-planting program); the main idea is what the author claims about it (the program delivered measurable benefits at real cost).
- True but irrelevant. An answer choice can be factually accurate and still fail to answer the question asked.
- Extreme wording. "Always," "never," "proves," and "impossible" rarely survive in inference items.
- Detail disguised as inference. If the text states it outright, it is not an inference.
- Tone vs. subject. The author's attitude toward a topic is not the same as the mood of the events described.
- Structure questions. Know compare/contrast, cause/effect, chronological, and problem/solution patterns.
Rule of thumb
Cover the choices, phrase the answer in your own words, then find the closest match. If two options survive, keep the one fully supported by the passage with no outside assumptions added.
Worked example
A passage reports that a tree-planting program lowered surface temperatures by four degrees but exceeded its budget. Asked for the main idea, choose "the program produced real benefits along with significant costs." Reject "tree planting is too expensive to justify" (a judgment the author never makes) and reject "trees are four degrees cooler than pavement" (a supporting detail, not the point).