1. SAT Prep Reading Comprehension*
Strategies for:
-Reading passages
(short, long, double passages)
-Multiple Choice Questions

2. SHORT Passages* Strategy #1- READ QUESTIONS
Short passages are only ONE paragraph with one-two multiple choice questions that follow.
Read the multiple choice questions that proceed the reading selection.
This will give students a better understanding as to what the passage is about and what questions will need to be answered.

3. Strategy #2- Identify Types of Questions
There are six types of multiple choice questions:
Main idea
Specific detail
Inferences
Tone/ attitude
Vocabulary
Technique

4. Main Idea* Questions
Main idea- questions that test one’s ability to find the central thought/ purpose of a passage or to judge its significance
Presented in the following form:
The main point of the passage is to…
The passage is primarily concerned with…
The author’s primary purpose in this passage is to
Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage?
Which of the following titles best describes the content of the passage?

5. Specific detail* Questions
Questions that test students ability to understand what the author states explicitly. A question directly related to a specific idea.
Presented in the following format:
According to the author…
The author states all of the following EXCEPT
According to the passage, which of the following is true of the…
Which of the following statements is (are) best supported by the passage…
In lines 16-19……
Which of the following is NOT cited in the passage as evidence of…

6. Inference* Question
Questions that test a student’s ability to go beyond the author’s explicit statements and see what may be implied/ suggested.
Presented in the following format:
It can be inferred from the passage that…
The passage suggests that the author would support which of the following views?
The author implies that…
The author apparently feels that…
According to the passage, it is likely that…
The passage is most likely directed toward an audience of…
Which of the following statements about… can be inferred from the passage?

7. Tone/attitude* Question
Questions that test one’s ability to sense the author’s or character’s emotional state (attitude/ feelings).
Presented in the following form:
The author’s attitude to the problem can best be presented as…
Which of the following best describes the author’s tone in the passage?
The author’s tone in the passage is that of the person attempting to…
The author’s presentation is marked by a tone of..
The passage indicates that the author experiences a feeling of..

8. Vocabulary* Question
Questions that test one’s ability to work out the meaning of words from their context.
Presented in the following format:
As it is used in the passage, the term _____ can best be described as..
In paragraph 2, the term ____ means…
The phrase ______ is used in the passage to mean that…
In the passage, the word _____ means…..

9. Technique* Question
Questions that test one’s ability to recognize a passage’s method of organization or technique (format in which ideas are presented)
Presented in the following format:
Which of the following best described the development of this passage?
In presenting the argument, the author does all of the following EXCEPT
The relationship between the first and second paragraph can best be described as…

10. SHORT* Reading Passages
Short reading passages are usually
only ONE paragraph long
They are about 100 words or so.
About one-two multiple choice questions proceed a short reading passage.
When completing the short reading passages:
Read the multiple choice questions first, then read the passage.
Try to identify the “type” of question (6)
(Main idea, specific detail, inference, tone/attitude, vocabulary, technique) .
Understanding the questions will give students direction when reading.
Note: There will most likely not be a italicized intro. for short reading passages.

11. *LONG Reading Passages
Read the introduction (background info.) before reading the passages.
Try to read the multiple choice questions- if there are more than five multiple choice questions, quickly skim them to get an idea as to what passage is about- you will not have enough time to thoroughly read them or identify the “types” of questions
Underline key ideas in the passage that may be helpful when answering the M.C. questions

12. *DOUBLE Passages (compare/ contrast)
For the “double” passage section of Reading Comprehension, there will be two passages.
Use the following strategies for double passages:
Read italicized intro. (background info.) if given
Read Passage #1 only (first)
Answer the multiple choice questions pertaining to Passage #1 only
Read Passage # 2
Answer the rest of the multiple choice questions
(some will pertain to passage #2 only, and the others will compare/ contrast both passages)
NOTE: Underline important info. in the passages as you read.

13. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! (in text and on collegeboard.com)
Make sure to apply these reading and multiple choice question strategies for the Reading Comprehension section!
Good Luck! 