Passage-Based Reading Skills Content

Description:
For passage-based reading questions, you will be presented with passages ranging from about 100 to 850 words long. Some questions are based on a single passage and some are based on a pair of related passages.

There are three basic kinds of questions in this section.

• Extended reasoning questions require you to extrapolate information or come to conclusions based on information in the passage. The correct answer is not explicitly stated in the passage, but can be inferred from the information provided.
• Vocabulary-in-context questions require you to demonstrate that you understand the meaning of a word as it is used in the passage.
• Literal comprehension questions test how well you understand information that you have read.

Basic Strategies for Passage-based Reading Questions:

• Read the passages actively and critically. Ask yourself questions as you read the passage. What is the author's purpose? What is the main point of the passage? How is it structured?
  
• If you find yourself having a difficult time with a specific passage, quickly read through the questions and then finish reading the passage. Reading the questions can help you identify the type of information you should be looking for as you read. Note that it helps to start reading the passage before looking at the questions, so you have some context for understanding the kinds of questions that are asked.
  
• Don't project your viewpoint onto the passage. If a passage covers a topic you are familiar with, make sure you answer the questions carefully based on the information within the passage. Some passages may represent a specific viewpoint.
  
• This is one of the most useful times for marking in your test booklet. Make notes as specific ideas or important features strike you, and flag keywords. But be careful not to over-mark-if you circle or underline every sentence in the passage, everything will blend together. You may even want to write a very short summary of key ideas in the margins.
  
• Pay attention to the phrasing of questions. Questions that contain phrases like "the passage suggests" or "it can be inferred" indicate that this is an extended reasoning question, and that the correct answer is not explicitly stated in the passage but rather must be inferred.
  
• Vocabulary-in-context questions may ask you about a word that has multiple meanings. Pay careful attention to the context of the passage and the sentence in which the word is used. If you read this kind of question too quickly, you may be tempted to select the wrong usage of the word. Before selecting your answer, go back to the passage and read the sentence in which the word appears.
  
• The correct answer for literal comprehension questions is usually explicitly stated in the passage. Go back to the place where the information is discussed and quickly re-read it with the question in mind.

Learning Resources:
Review the CollegeBoard's overview of passage-based reading questions