A four-step method
- Read the questions first so you know what to look for.
- Read the passage once, at a steady pace, noting the main idea of each paragraph.
- Go back to the passage for each question and find the sentence that answers it.
- Choose the answer that the passage supports, and eliminate the rest.
Question types and what to do
- Main idea: the answer covers the whole passage, not just one detail. Check the first and last sentences.
- Detail: find the exact sentence in the passage and compare it word for word.
- Inference: choose what must be true based on the passage, not what could be true.
- Vocabulary in context: reread the sentence and replace the word with each choice.
- Tone or purpose: look at the words the author uses. Are they critical, neutral, or approving?
Common traps
- A choice that is true in real life but is not stated in the passage.
- Extreme words like “always,” “never,” “all” and “only,” which are usually too strong.
- A choice that repeats words from the passage but changes the meaning.
- A detail that answers a different question than the one asked.
Reading faster
Read in phrases instead of word by word and do not whisper or sound out the words in your head. Reading news articles every day trains both speed and understanding.
Practice
Try the reading passages in our free Verbal Ability reviewer, and after each one, find the sentence in the passage that proves the correct answer.