Reading comprehension skills in 6 lessons

The six question types found on most reading tests, with tips for each.

0 of 6 lessons complete

Lesson 1: Finding the main idea

Ask: what is this whole passage mostly about? The main idea is often in the first or last sentence of a paragraph. Details support it.

Detail questions are answered directly in the text. Find key words from the question and scan for them.

An inference is a smart guess using text clues plus what you already know. “Her face turned red and she looked at the floor” suggests embarrassment.

When you meet an unknown word, use the words around it. Look for definitions, examples, synonyms or contrasts nearby.

Signal words (first, then, after, finally) show order. Texts may also use cause–effect, compare–contrast or problem–solution structures.

Authors write to inform, persuade or entertain (PIE). Ask: why did the author write this, and why include this part?

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