English Language and Technical Comprehension
What this domain tests
English Language and Technical Comprehension checks reading accuracy and control of standard English, using technical and workplace passages. Questions may ask for the main idea, a detail, an inference, the meaning of a word in context, or the correct grammatical form.
Core rules
- Read the question first, then locate the exact sentence or phrase that supports the answer.
- Separate main idea from supporting detail; an answer can be true but still not answer the question.
- For inference, choose the smallest conclusion the text actually supports.
- In technical instructions, note sequence words, conditions, warnings, and cause-and-effect links.
- Grammar checks: subject–verb agreement, tense consistency, pronoun reference, and clear modifiers.
- For 'EXCEPT' or 'NOT' questions, eliminate the three options that the passage supports.
Worked example
Passage: 'Before starting the pump, open the suction valve fully. Trapped air in the suction line reduces the pump's ability to draw water and may damage the seal. If the valve is left closed, stop the motor immediately.' Question: Why must the suction valve be opened before start-up? The passage links trapped air to reduced suction and possible seal damage, and it warns against a closed valve. The best answer is that opening the valve allows water to enter and avoids air-locking or seal damage. A choice saying 'because pumps run faster with an open valve' is not stated and is therefore wrong.
Traps
- Choosing a generally true statement instead of one supported by the passage.
- Ignoring qualifiers such as 'may', 'must', and 'only'.
- Missing a pronoun's antecedent in a long sentence.
- Treating a warning as a procedure step without checking sequence.