Reading Comprehension and Textual Evidence Flashcards

Two articles cover the same oil spill. Article A calls it 'a devastating environmental catastrophe.' Article B calls it 'a significant incident requiring cleanup.' What does comparing these descriptions reveal?

Answer: The authors have different perspectives on the severity of the event.

Word choice like 'catastrophe' versus 'incident' signals that the authors hold different views on how serious the event is.

Read: 'The athlete trained for years, sacrificed countless weekends, and endured grueling injuries — all for a single gold medal.' The author's use of a three-part list here most likely serves to:

Answer: emphasize the magnitude of the athlete's dedication through accumulation

A series of sacrifices listed together creates a cumulative effect that underscores the depth of commitment required.

Which of the following is the STRONGEST evidence that a non-fiction author is credible?

Answer: The author cites peer-reviewed studies and names expert sources.

Citing peer-reviewed research and named experts shows the author grounds claims in verifiable, authoritative sources.

A poem repeats the line 'Nothing gold can stay' at the beginning and end. This repetition most likely functions to:

Answer: emphasize the poem's central theme about impermanence

Repeating a line at the start and close frames the poem and signals that this idea is its core thematic statement.

A student wants to summarize a passage. Which approach is BEST?

Answer: Restate the main idea and key supporting points in your own words.

A summary condenses the central idea and key support using the reader's own language, without personal opinion or exhaustive detail.

Read: 'The committee, despite months of debate, reached no conclusion.' A reader asks: 'Why did the committee fail to decide?' The text does NOT answer this directly. What should the reader do?

Answer: Make an inference using context clues and prior knowledge.

When a text implies something without stating it, readers use context clues and background knowledge to form a reasonable inference.

Which sentence uses context to help the reader determine the meaning of the underlined word? 'The physician prescribed a regimen — a strict daily schedule of diet, exercise, and medication — for her patient.'

Answer: The dash introduces a definition that explains 'regimen' directly.

The dash signals that what follows is an appositive definition, directly explaining the meaning of 'regimen.'