Kaplan Reading Comprehension Strategies 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary benefit of reading the question stem BEFORE reading a passage in a timed exam?
- It allows you to read faster without marking anything
- It helps you focus on relevant information while reading (Correct answer)
- It eliminates the need to re-read the passage
- It lets you guess the answer before reading
Correct answer: It helps you focus on relevant information while reading
Reading the question first primes your brain to look for relevant details, making your passage reading more targeted and efficient.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'active reading' in a Kaplan test prep context?
- Reading silently at maximum speed without stopping
- Engaging with the text by marking key ideas and summarizing paragraphs mentally (Correct answer)
- Skipping difficult sections and returning to them later
- Reading only the first and last sentences of each paragraph
Correct answer: Engaging with the text by marking key ideas and summarizing paragraphs mentally
Active reading means interacting with the passage — annotating, summarizing, and identifying structure — rather than passively scanning words.
Question 3: A 'main idea' question on a reading comprehension test is most directly asking you to identify:
- A specific detail mentioned in the second paragraph
- The central argument or purpose of the entire passage (Correct answer)
- The author's personal background and credentials
- A vocabulary word used in an unusual way
Correct answer: The central argument or purpose of the entire passage
Main idea questions ask for the overarching point or thesis of the passage, not a supporting detail.
Question 4: When using the Process of Elimination (POE) on reading comprehension questions, what is the most reliable criterion for eliminating an answer choice?
- The answer choice uses complicated vocabulary
- The answer choice introduces information not supported by the passage (Correct answer)
- The answer choice is longer than the other options
- The answer choice mentions a topic covered in only one paragraph
Correct answer: The answer choice introduces information not supported by the passage
Correct answers must be supported by the passage; any choice that goes beyond or contradicts the text can be eliminated.
Question 5: An 'inference' question in reading comprehension asks you to:
- Find an exact quote from the passage
- State what is directly defined in the passage glossary
- Draw a logical conclusion that is implied but not explicitly stated (Correct answer)
- Identify which paragraph contains the most facts
Correct answer: Draw a logical conclusion that is implied but not explicitly stated
Inference questions require you to use evidence in the passage to reach a conclusion the author implies but does not directly state.
Question 6: When you encounter an unfamiliar word in a reading passage during a timed exam, the best Kaplan-recommended strategy is to:
- Skip the question entirely and move on
- Use surrounding context clues and word roots to deduce the meaning (Correct answer)
- Assume the word is used in its most common everyday sense
- Immediately look for a definition in another part of the passage
Correct answer: Use surrounding context clues and word roots to deduce the meaning
Context clues and word roots are reliable tools for deducing meaning when the word is unknown, keeping you on pace without skipping.
Question 7: What is the purpose of building a 'roadmap' or 'passage map' while reading a test passage?
- To write out the passage in your own words completely
- To record a brief note about the purpose of each paragraph for quick reference (Correct answer)
- To identify every factual detail for memorization
- To outline the passage for a summary essay
Correct answer: To record a brief note about the purpose of each paragraph for quick reference
A passage map captures the gist and function of each paragraph so you can quickly locate information when answering questions.
Kaplan Reading Comprehension Strategies 1
What is the primary benefit of reading the question stem BEFORE reading a passage in a timed exam?