Reading Comprehension Flashcards

A passage says: 'Sales rose dramatically in Q1 but plummeted in Q2.' Which word best describes the overall business trend?

Answer: Volatile

Sharp rises followed by sharp falls indicate volatility, or unpredictable fluctuation.

An author who uses the first-person pronoun 'I' throughout an essay is writing from which point of view?

Answer: First-person

First-person point of view uses 'I' or 'we,' placing the narrator directly in the story or argument.

Which question best tests literal comprehension of a passage?

Answer: What does the author state happened in 1965?

Literal comprehension questions ask about information explicitly stated in the text, not inferred.

A passage uses mostly short, choppy sentences. What effect does this most likely create?

Answer: A sense of urgency or tension

Short, fragmented sentences create a quick, staccato rhythm that conveys urgency or heightened tension.

If a passage compares two historical events to show their similarities and differences, which text structure is being used?

Answer: Compare and contrast

Compare-and-contrast structure highlights similarities and differences between two or more subjects.

What is the best strategy when encountering an unfamiliar vocabulary word during a timed reading test?

Answer: Use surrounding context clues to determine the most likely meaning.

Context clues—surrounding words, phrases, and sentence structure—are the most reliable strategy for inferring word meaning during a test.