Reading Comprehension—Strategy 4


Strategy 4
In each series of questions, you will see key words in bold (e.g., “most strongly” or “best”). These are called evaluation questions. More than one (or even all) of the alternatives may seem correct. The word or phrase in bold will lead you to the correct answer.

Direct quotations from the passage may be provided in the questions. Highlight those passages in your Readings and Questions booklets. Use the details in the question to guide your selection of the correct answer.

When you see an evaluation question, always do the following:
  • Look at the information provided to you in the question stem.
  • Go back to the passage to reread the portion of the text mentioned in the question before choosing your answer.


Courtesy of ADLC


In this question stem, the phrase “most significantly” appears in bold. These are directing words that tell you to evaluate all alternatives and choose the correct answer. The phrase itself tells you that more than one of the alternatives will be significant, but only one of them is “most” significant.


Courtesy of ADLC
 
What clues do you see in the question stem?

Looking closely, you are directed to focus on only lines 6–8 and 11–15. This means that some of the alternatives might be significant to the rest of the text, but they may not be significant in the lines provided.
  • The stem also directs you to focus on the development of the mother.

Now, you can rule out alternatives that don’t apply to the particular lines mentioned in the question stem or to the mother.


Return to the “Television’s Child” questions. Which questions are evaluation questions? Apply the strategy you have learned here, revisit the questions, and reconsider your initial answers. Compare your findings to the student example.