Reading Task Summary

How to Read 

Read the the f​ irst sentence of every paragraph 

● Read the question first​ approach. 

● D
​ o not read the answer​ choices; 
● R​ ead the​ corresponding p
​ assage. 

Don't get stuck. 

Breaking Down Long Sentences 

Recognize  Academic  Find verbs   Adjective Clauses  Prepositional phrases 

important details  Wordiness  beginning phrases 

Names, dates and  Don't focus on the  Subjects and  Relative adverbs  Refers to the sentence right 
locations.  embellishments  objects to reduce  ● where, when,  after it. 
  the text.  why, how, 
Information that  whether 
is mentioned in   
the questions.  Relative Pronoun 
● that, who, whom, 
whose, which 

Question Categories

Reference 

Definition  Techniques  Variations/Strategies 

In a ​"Reference"​ question,  Understanding   

you are asked what the  Elimination 
● A ​pronoun only ​can  Two sentences separated by a  One sentence separated by a 
highlighted word refers to.​ If  period   comma  
refer to something 
it's a pronoun then you need 
that comes b ​ efore it. 
to identify w
​ hat word the  Substitution  If the pronoun is a​ subject  In this structure, the sentence is 
pronoun is replacing.  ● look for the words  pronoun like "it" or "they​", the  usually a ​complex sentence 
that will make more  pronoun​ refers to the subject of  which consists of an i​ ndependent 
sense in the passage.  the previous sentence​. However,  clause and a dependent clause. 
  if the previous ​sentence is using  The strategy is simple: Look for 
  "It is .. that S + V" s
​ tructure, the  the​ subject before the comma. 
pronoun refers to the subject​ in 
the​ "that clause​(same phrase)" 

If the ​pronoun is a demonstrative   

pronoun such as ​"these", "those", 
"this", "that",​ the pronoun r​ efers 
to the idea of the previous 
sentence.  
 

 
 
 
 
 
  

Vocabulary  Inference 

Definition  Techniques  Definition  Techniques 

You are asked what a word  Connect to words you already  In an "Inference" question,  Use Keywords 
or phrase is c
​ losest in  know  you will see the question  ● Summarize the passage 
meaning.   ● Connect the unknown  phrased something like the  with keywords. 
word with a word in   
Understand the m ​ eaning of  following: In paragraph 5, 
the same sentence  Eliminate incorrect choices. 
the word as it is used​ in the  that you do know.  what does the author imply   
passage.  Understand through context  about ….?​ or W​ hat can be   
● Read the passage to  inferred​ from paragraph 5?   
find the meaning  ● The a​nswer is not 
through context.  directly stated in 
Type of Word  the reading 
● Check if the word is 
passage 
an ​adjective, adverb, 
verb, or noun.  ● Requires you to 
● Use this strategy to  draw conclusions 
eliminate incorrect  based on 
choices only.  information that is 
given in the 
passage.  
● You need to find 
out the correct 
conclusion from 
the choices.  

Purpose  Negative Factual Information 

Definition  Techniques  Definition  Techniques 

Understand w ​ hy the author  ● Read the passage ● You can recognize  ● Read the question
has i​ ncluded ​pieces of  twice. a negative factual  carefully
information.   ● Read the question. information  ● Eliminate incorrect
● The​ answer is not  ● Locate the ​phrase question by either  choices. 
directly stated in the  needed to answer the word ​“NOT” or   
reading p ​ assage.   the question. “EXCEPT”​ in the   
● Understand the main  ● Read the ​phrases question. The   
poin​t of the paragraph  sorrounding it. question can 
and how the  ● Eliminate the appear like the 
referenced  incorrect following: 
information is related  ● Find the answer. According to the 
to the main point of  passage, ​which of 
the paragraph.   the following is 
● You will see the  NOT true​ of X? 
question phrased 
something ​like ​the 
following: ​Why does 
the author mention 
XXX in paragraph 2? 
 Essential Information  Detail 

Definition  Techniques  Definition  Techniques 

● Choose w ​ hich of  Understand the type of passage ● Detail questions  ● Read the question
the 4​ answer  ● Explanation Sentence ask you about  carefully
option sentences  ● Cause and Effects information that’s  ○ Scan for
is equal to the  ● Conditional specifically stated  synonyms
highlighted  Find Synonyms and Keywords in a small part of  and keywords
sentence.  ● Paraphrase the the passage.   ● Eliminate incorrect
● The ​correct  prompt sentence ● They generally  choices.
sentence​ will be  (make it simpler) focus on the “​ who,”   
paragraphed so i​t  ● Compare and “what,” “when,” 
is different than  Contrast​ all answers. “where,” and “why” 
the highlighted  as explained by the 
one, but still  author. 
convey​ all the 
important 
information.  

Sentence Insertion  Complete the Summary 

Definition  Techniques  Definition  Techniques 

In an "Insert a Sentence"  Find the Anchor Phrase ● You are given a  If an answer choice is a main idea 
question, you will be asked  ● Focus on the new summary 
to​ decide where a new  sentence. statement of the  ● Restates the main idea​ of 
sentence best fits​ into the  Guess reading​ passage  a paragraph or multiple 
reading passage.   ● Find ​linked words. and 6 answer  paragraphs. 
● Tests your  ● General-specific​ or options.  ● The main idea of a 
understanding of  vice versa. ● Drag and drop ​3  paragraph is usually 
the logic​ in the  ● Sharing or answers that  found in t​ he first two 
passage.   contrasting​ ideas. represent major  sentences of the 
● It also tests your  Scan ideas​ or contain  paragraph. 
ability to  ● Test in the other important 
understand the  sentences to make information from  If the answer choice is a detail
grammatical  sure you got the right the passage. 
connections​ from  question  
one sentence to  Check
another.  ● Check the passage to
see if it the passage
make sense

Complete the Table 

Definition  Techniques 

You will see 2 or 3  Find evidence

categories in an empty table.  ● If you find evidence
From the options provided,  that you are confident
you m
​ ust select which ones  about, choose that
correctly belong to each  options immediately.
category.   Eliminate incorrect information
● You will be  ● Don't waste time
categorizing  finding evidence for
minor details  an incorrect answer.
instead of major  Move on to choices
ideas.   that you think are
correct.