Reading Comprehension and Textual Evidence Flashcards

A student reads: 'The glacier retreated fifty meters last year alone, a rate scientists call alarming.' Which phrase from the sentence best supports the idea that this change is unusually fast?

Answer: a rate scientists call alarming

'A rate scientists call alarming' is the author's explicit judgment that the pace is abnormal or dangerous.

When an author uses a first-person narrator who misunderstands a situation the reader can see clearly, this technique is called:

Answer: unreliable narration

An unreliable narrator is one whose perception or judgment is flawed, creating a gap between what they believe and what the reader understands.

Read: 'Maria said nothing. She folded the letter slowly, placed it in the drawer, and locked it.' What can the reader BEST infer about Maria?

Answer: She is troubled and wants to conceal the letter.

Her deliberate, silent actions of folding and locking the letter suggest she is disturbed and hiding something.

A passage states: 'Unlike traditional textbooks, digital platforms allow students to revisit lessons at their own pace.' The word 'Unlike' signals which type of text structure?

Answer: Compare and contrast

'Unlike' explicitly introduces a comparison between two different approaches to learning.

Which question would BEST help a reader identify the central idea of an informational article?

Answer: What point is the author repeatedly making throughout the text?

The central idea is the dominant point an author makes throughout a text, so tracking repeated claims leads you to it.

In a literary text, a symbol is best described as:

Answer: an object, place, or event that represents a deeper meaning beyond its literal one

Symbolism occurs when a concrete element in a story carries a broader abstract meaning beyond its surface appearance.

A student claims: 'The author believes technology harms social relationships.' Which piece of textual evidence BEST supports this claim?

Answer: 'Studies show that heavy screen use correlates with increased loneliness among adolescents.'

Only this statement directly links technology use to a negative social outcome — loneliness — supporting the claim about harm.