Basic Information and Inferencing Questions
1. Factual Information Questions
Identify factual information that is explicitly stated in the
passage.
Factual Information questions can focus on facts, details,
definitions, or other information presented by the author.
How to Recognize Factual Information Questions
Factual Information questions are often phrased in one of these
ways:
According to the paragraph, which of the following is true of X?
The author’s description of X mentions which of the following?
According to the paragraph, X occurred because . . .
According to the paragraph, X did Y because . . .
According to the paragraph, why did X do Y?
The author’s description of X mentions which of the following?
2. Negative Factual Information Questions
These questions ask you to verify what information is true
and what information is NOT true or not included in the passage
based on information that is explicitly stated in the passage.
How to Recognize Negative Factual Information Questions
You can recognize negative fact questions because the word “NOT”
or “EXCEPT” appears in the question in capital letters.
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of
X?
The author’s description of X mentions all of the following
EXCEPT . . .
3. Inference Questions
These questions measure your ability to comprehend an
argument or an idea that is strongly implied but not explicitly
stated in the text.
You should think about not only the explicit meaning of the
author’s words but also the logical implications of those words.
How to Recognize Inference Questions
Inference questions will usually include the word infer, suggest, or
imply.
Which of the following can be inferred about X?
The author of the passage implies that X . . .
Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about X?
4. Rhetorical Purpose Questions
You are asked why the author has presented a particular piece of
information in a particular place or manner.
Rhetorical Purpose questions ask you to show that you
understand the rhetorical function of a statement or paragraph
as it relates to the rest of the passage.
How to Recognize Rhetorical Purpose Questions
These are examples of the way Rhetorical Purpose questions are
typically worded:
The author discusses X in paragraph 2 in order to . . .
Why does the author mention X?
The author uses X as an example of . . .
5. Vocabulary Questions
Ask you to identify the meanings of individual words and phrases
as they are used in the reading passage (a word might have more
than one meaning, but in the reading passage, only one of those
meanings is relevant.
How to Recognize Vocabulary Questions
Vocabulary questions are usually easy to identify. You will see one
word or phrase highlighted in the passage. You are then asked a
question like any of the following:
The word “ X ” in the passage is closest in meaning to . . .
The phrase “ X ” in the passage is closest in meaning to . . .
In stating X, the author means that . . .
6. Reference Questions
Ask you to identify referential relationships between the words in
the passage.
How to Recognize Reference Questions
Reference questions look similar to vocabulary questions. In the
passage, one word or phrase is highlighted. Usually the word is a
pronoun. Then you are asked:
The word “ X ” in the passage refers to . . .
7. Sentence Simplification Questions
You are asked to choose a sentence that has the same essential
meaning as a sentence that occurs in the passage.
How to Recognize Sentence Simplification
Questions Sentence Simplification questions always look the same.
A single sentence in the passage is highlighted. You are then asked:
Which of the following best expresses the essential information
in the highlighted sentence? Incorrect answer choices change the
meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
8. Insert Text Questions
you are given a new sentence and are asked where in the passage
it would best fit.
You need to understand the logic of the passage as well as the
grammatical connections (like pronoun references) between
sentences.
How to Recognize Insert Text Questions In the passage
you will see four black squares. The squares are located at the
beginnings or ends of sentences.
Sometimes all four squares appear in one paragraph. Sometimes they
are spread across the end of one paragraph and the beginning of
another.
You are then asked this question:
Look at the four squares [ ] that indicate where the following sentence
could be added to the passage. [You will see a sentence in bold.]
Where would the sentence best fit? Your job is to click on one of the
squares and insert the sentence in the text.
9. Prose Summary Questions
You will be asked to select the major ideas in the passage by
distinguishing them from minor ideas or ideas that are not in the
passage.
The correct answer choice will synthesize major ideas in the
passage.
Because the correct answer represents a synthesis of ideas, it will
not match any particular sentence from the passage
you will be given six answer choices and asked to pick the three
that express the most important ideas in the passage