STEP Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read: 'The Diriyah Season festival, which showcases Saudi heritage and culture, has become a major international event.' What is the function of the clause between commas?
- It changes the meaning of the sentence
- It provides additional non-essential information about Diriyah Season (Correct answer)
- It is the main clause of the sentence
- It contradicts the main statement
Correct answer: It provides additional non-essential information about Diriyah Season
The clause 'which showcases Saudi heritage and culture' is a non-restrictive (non-essential) relative clause, set off by commas. It adds extra information but could be removed without changing the main meaning of the sentence.
Question 2: What is the difference between 'fact' and 'opinion' in reading comprehension?
- There is no difference
- A fact can be verified with evidence; an opinion expresses a personal belief, judgment, or interpretation (Correct answer)
- Opinions are always wrong
- Facts are always in textbooks; opinions are in newspapers
Correct answer: A fact can be verified with evidence; an opinion expresses a personal belief, judgment, or interpretation
Facts are statements that can be objectively verified (e.g., 'Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia'). Opinions express personal judgments or beliefs (e.g., 'Riyadh is the best city in the world'). Distinguishing between them is critical for STEP reading comprehension.
Question 3: What does 'context clues' mean when reading unfamiliar words?
- Looking up every word in a dictionary
- Using surrounding words, sentences, and ideas to determine the meaning of an unknown word (Correct answer)
- Skipping unfamiliar words entirely
- Asking someone else for the definition
Correct answer: Using surrounding words, sentences, and ideas to determine the meaning of an unknown word
Context clues include: definitions provided in the text, synonyms or antonyms nearby, examples given, the general topic, and the word's grammatical role. Using context clues is an essential strategy for the STEP reading section where dictionaries are not available.
Question 4: In a passage about Saudi Arabia's education reform, the author writes: 'Critics argue that changes are too rapid, while supporters maintain they are long overdue.' What tone does the author use?
- Strongly supportive of reform
- Balanced and objective, presenting both sides (Correct answer)
- Highly critical of reform
- Humorous and lighthearted
Correct answer: Balanced and objective, presenting both sides
The author presents both perspectives ('critics argue' and 'supporters maintain') without explicitly favoring either side. This balanced, objective tone is common in academic and news writing, which the STEP exam frequently tests.
Question 5: What is a 'topic sentence' in a paragraph?
- The last sentence always
- The sentence that expresses the main idea of the paragraph, usually found near the beginning (Correct answer)
- Any sentence with important vocabulary
- The longest sentence in the paragraph
Correct answer: The sentence that expresses the main idea of the paragraph, usually found near the beginning
The topic sentence states the paragraph's central idea and is typically (but not always) the first or second sentence. Supporting sentences provide details, examples, and evidence. Identifying the topic sentence helps quickly understand the paragraph's purpose.
Question 6: When a question asks you to identify the 'author's tone,' what should you analyze?
- The length of the text
- The author's attitude toward the subject as revealed through word choice, style, and presentation (Correct answer)
- The font used in the passage
- The number of paragraphs
Correct answer: The author's attitude toward the subject as revealed through word choice, style, and presentation
Author's tone reflects their attitude: formal/informal, serious/humorous, objective/subjective, optimistic/pessimistic, critical/supportive. Analyze word choice (positive or negative connotations), style (formal academic vs. casual), and how evidence is presented to determine tone.
STEP Reading Comprehension 2
Read: 'The Diriyah Season festival, which showcases Saudi heritage and culture, has become a major international event.' What is the function of the clause between commas?