Kaplan Reading Comprehension Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In reading comprehension, 'tone' refers to:
- The volume and pace at which a passage should be read aloud
- The author's attitude toward the subject as conveyed through word choice (Correct answer)
- The number of facts versus opinions in the passage
- The chronological structure of events in the text
Correct answer: The author's attitude toward the subject as conveyed through word choice
Tone reflects the author's emotional stance — such as skeptical, enthusiastic, or neutral — revealed through diction and phrasing.
Question 2: When facing a long, dense reading passage under strict time limits, which approach is most effective according to Kaplan strategy?
- Read every word carefully twice before attempting any questions
- Skim for structure and main idea, then read closely only when a question requires it (Correct answer)
- Answer questions from memory without re-reading the passage
- Focus exclusively on the introduction and conclusion paragraphs
Correct answer: Skim for structure and main idea, then read closely only when a question requires it
Efficient test-takers read for structure first, then return to specific sections as needed — balancing comprehension and speed.
Question 3: A 'detail' question in reading comprehension typically asks you to:
- Summarize the author's overall argument
- Locate a specific fact, example, or piece of information stated in the passage (Correct answer)
- Evaluate the strength of the author's evidence
- Make a prediction about what happens after the passage ends
Correct answer: Locate a specific fact, example, or piece of information stated in the passage
Detail questions target explicitly stated information and can always be verified by going back to the relevant section of the passage.
Question 4: When two answer choices both seem correct on a reading comprehension question, the best way to choose between them is to:
- Select the longer, more detailed answer
- Select the answer that is most directly supported by specific evidence in the passage (Correct answer)
- Choose the one that matches your prior knowledge of the topic
- Pick the answer that appears first in the answer list
Correct answer: Select the answer that is most directly supported by specific evidence in the passage
The correct answer must be provably supported by the passage text; the 'almost right' distractor often introduces a subtle twist not backed by evidence.
Question 5: An 'author's purpose' question is asking you to determine:
- Where the author published the passage originally
- Why the author wrote the passage and what they hope to accomplish (Correct answer)
- Which rhetorical devices the author used most frequently
- How long the author spent researching the topic
Correct answer: Why the author wrote the passage and what they hope to accomplish
Author's purpose questions ask you to identify the intent — to inform, persuade, critique, entertain, etc. — behind writing the passage.
Question 6: What is the key difference between a 'supported' inference and an 'unsupported' inference in reading comprehension?
- A supported inference uses long sentences; an unsupported inference uses short ones
- A supported inference follows logically from passage evidence; an unsupported one goes beyond what the text allows (Correct answer)
- A supported inference is stated explicitly; an unsupported one is implied
- A supported inference appears in the first paragraph; an unsupported one appears in the last
Correct answer: A supported inference follows logically from passage evidence; an unsupported one goes beyond what the text allows
Supported inferences are grounded in textual evidence and logical reasoning, while unsupported inferences introduce ideas the passage does not authorize.
Question 7: Which of the following answer choices would most likely be a 'trap' distractor on a reading comprehension question?
- An answer that is completely off-topic and irrelevant to the passage
- An answer that is true in the real world but not supported by the specific passage (Correct answer)
- An answer that directly quotes a sentence from the passage
- An answer that uses the same tone as the passage
Correct answer: An answer that is true in the real world but not supported by the specific passage
Trap answers exploit outside knowledge — they may be factually true but are incorrect because they are not supported by the passage being tested.
Kaplan Reading Comprehension Strategies 2
In reading comprehension, 'tone' refers to: