GLA GLA Reading Comprehension Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'text-dependent question' as used in GLA assessments?
- A question answered using only personal experience
- A question that can only be answered using evidence from the passage (Correct answer)
- A question based on background knowledge about the topic
- A question that asks for a creative response
Correct answer: A question that can only be answered using evidence from the passage
Text-dependent questions require students to return to and cite specific evidence from the passage rather than relying on outside knowledge.
Question 2: How can students best identify the author's purpose in an informational GLA passage?
- By counting the number of paragraphs
- By considering whether the text informs, persuades, or entertains and what the author wants the reader to understand or do (Correct answer)
- By focusing only on the title
- By reading only the conclusion
Correct answer: By considering whether the text informs, persuades, or entertains and what the author wants the reader to understand or do
Author's purpose is identified by examining the overall message, word choice, and structure to determine whether the goal is to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Question 3: What does 'citing textual evidence' require students to do in GLA reading responses?
- Paraphrase every sentence in the passage
- Reference specific words, phrases, or details from the text to support their answers (Correct answer)
- Write a personal reflection about the topic
- Summarize the entire passage before answering
Correct answer: Reference specific words, phrases, or details from the text to support their answers
Citing textual evidence means pointing to exact words or passages that directly support the student's interpretation or answer.
Question 4: Which pre-reading strategy involves reviewing titles, headings, and subheadings before reading the full text?
- Close reading
- Previewing (Correct answer)
- Skimming for tone
- Annotating
Correct answer: Previewing
Previewing gives readers a structural overview of the text, activating prior knowledge and setting expectations that improve comprehension.
Question 5: What is the difference between literal and inferential comprehension in GLA reading?
- Literal comprehension requires analysis; inferential comprehension uses only stated facts
- Literal comprehension involves understanding explicitly stated information; inferential comprehension involves reading between the lines (Correct answer)
- Both require the same set of skills and strategies
- Inferential comprehension only applies to fiction, not informational texts
Correct answer: Literal comprehension involves understanding explicitly stated information; inferential comprehension involves reading between the lines
Literal comprehension is about understanding what the text directly says, while inferential comprehension involves drawing conclusions from implied information.
Question 6: What is the most effective approach for answering multiple-choice reading questions on the GLA?
- Choose the longest answer option
- Read the question, locate relevant text evidence, eliminate wrong answers, then select the best choice (Correct answer)
- Always pick the middle answer option
- Answer based on what seems most logical without re-reading
Correct answer: Read the question, locate relevant text evidence, eliminate wrong answers, then select the best choice
A systematic approach — reading the question carefully, finding text support, and eliminating distractors — reduces errors on multiple-choice GLA reading items.
GLA GLA Reading Comprehension Strategies 2
What is a 'text-dependent question' as used in GLA assessments?