What is the primary purpose of a reading comprehension passage?

The primary purpose of a reading comprehension passage is to convey information, ideas, or arguments on a particular topic, allowing readers to understand, analyze, and interpret the content presented.

What strategies can help improve reading comprehension?

Effective strategies include previewing the text, annotating key ideas, summarizing paragraphs, asking questions while reading, and reviewing the main points after finishing the passage.

What does it mean to identify the main idea of a passage?

Identifying the main idea involves determining the central theme or argument that the author is conveying. It often requires synthesizing details and understanding the author's purpose.

In a reading comprehension question, what is the difference between a 'detail' question and a 'inference' question?

A 'detail' question asks for specific information or facts presented in the passage, while an 'inference' question requires the reader to draw conclusions or make assumptions based on the information provided, even if those conclusions are not explicitly stated.

How can context clues assist in understanding unfamiliar vocabulary in a passage?

Context clues can provide hints about the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary by examining surrounding words, phrases, or sentences that help clarify the word's definition through examples, antonyms, or explanations.

What is a key strategy for identifying the author's tone in a passage?

A key strategy is to pay attention to the choice of words, sentence structure, and any descriptive language used, which can indicate whether the tone is formal, informal, critical, supportive, etc.

When faced with a 'function' question, what should you focus on?

Focus on understanding how a specific part of the passage contributes to the overall argument or narrative, paying attention to its purpose.

What are transitional words, and why are they important in reading comprehension?

Transitional words (e.g., however, therefore, additionally) help indicate relationships between ideas, clarify connections, and guide the reader through the structure of the argument.

In reading comprehension, what does it mean to summarize a paragraph?

Summarizing a paragraph involves distilling the main ideas and supporting details into a concise statement that captures the essence of the text without extraneous information.

What is a common mistake when answering inference questions?

A common mistake is to choose an answer that is too extreme or goes beyond what is supported by the passage. Inference answers should be reasonable and aligned with the text.

Fill in the blank: The author's __________ is inferred from their choice of language and presentation of ideas.

Tone.