1.7. Tips for Tackling Comprehension Questions

1. Read the Questions First: Before reading the passage, quickly scan the questions. This helps you know what information to look for as you read.

Before you even start reading the passage, take a moment to read the questions that will follow. This initial step is crucial because it sets the purpose for your reading. By knowing what you're looking for, you can focus on finding relevant information, which can save time and enhance your comprehension of the passage.

Imagine you're going on a treasure hunt. If you first read the treasure map, you'll know where to look for clues instead of wandering around aimlessly. Scanning the questions is like checking the map before you start; it guides your search within the text.

2. Read the Passage Thoroughly (First Read): Read the passage once to get a general understanding. Don't worry about details yet.

In this step, you read the entire passage without getting bogged down in specific details. The goal is to understand the general ideas, themes, and flow of information. This initial reading gives you an overview and helps you grasp the context, which is essential for answering questions accurately.

Think of this phase like watching a movie for the first time. You want to understand the plot and main characters without worrying about every line of dialogue. The more you understand the general story, the better you’ll appreciate the details later.

3. Read the Passage Actively (Second Read): Read the passage again, more slowly, and annotate or make mental notes of important points, main ideas, and potential answers to the questions you scanned earlier.

On this second reading, you engage more deeply with the text. As you read slowly, you should annotate—this means writing notes in the margins, underlining key points, or summarizing important sections. Active reading helps solidify your understanding and makes it easier to remember details needed to answer the questions.

This is like studying for a test. When you review your notes a second time, you’re more likely to notice the key points and connections that you might have missed the first time around, ensuring you remember the vital information when needed.

4. Answer Questions Systematically: Go through each question. For factual questions, scan to locate the specific information. For inferential questions, combine text clues with your reasoning.

Now, focus on answering each question one at a time. For questions that ask for factual information, you can go back to locate specific details quickly. For questions that require inference or a deeper level of understanding, use your reasoning skills alongside clues from the text to formulate an answer.

Think of this step like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle. You first find the corner pieces (factual questions) that are easy to identify. As you progress, you use your intuition and the shape of the pieces (text clues) to fit together the more complex middle parts (inferential questions) of the puzzle.

5. Re-read Relevant Sections: If you're unsure about an answer, go back to the specific part of the passage where the information is located and read it carefully again.

If you find yourself uncertain about a specific answer, don't hesitate to revisit the relevant parts of the passage. This focused re-reading helps reinforce your understanding and can clarify any doubts. It’s an essential step to ensure accuracy in your responses.

This is similar to revising for a quiz in school. If you don’t remember a certain topic well, you’d look back over your notes to clarify it before answering questions, ensuring you are fully informed.

6. Avoid Outside Information: Only use the information provided in the passage to answer the questions. Do not bring in external knowledge unless explicitly asked for, especially for literary passages where the author's specific context is key.

It's important to rely solely on the text to support your answers. Using outside information can lead to misunderstandings, especially in literary passages, where the author’s intentions and context significantly affect meaning. Your focus should be on what the passage communicates.

This can be likened to following a recipe strictly while cooking. Adding your own ingredients or methods that aren’t part of the recipe could ruin the dish. Similarly, using only the text ensures that your ‘answer’ is accurate and tailored to what was presented.

7. Check Your Answers: Before moving on, quickly review your answers to ensure they are logical and directly supported by the text.

Before you finalize your responses, take a moment to go back over your answers. Ensure each is reasonable and backed by evidence from the passage. This last step can help catch any mistakes and bolster your confidence in your answers.

This step is like proofreading an essay you’ve written. You check to make sure everything flows logically and confirm that there are no mistakes or unsupported claims. It’s your final quality check to ensure everything is just right before submission.

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