Reading Comprehension
Inference & Conclusions
Drawing logical observations based strictly on the provided text, not outside knowledge.
Passages cover government reports, policy summaries, and office administration scenarios.
What the exam tests
Direct Inference Questions
Ask specifically 'What can you infer from the details?' These test whether you can make logical connections based on observations found strictly in the text.
Implied Meaning Questions
Test your ability to understand information not explicitly stated but clearly implied by the passage.
Author Viewpoint and Tone Questions
Require you to determine the author's feelings or beliefs about a subject based on textual evidence.
Application Questions
Present a specific situation and ask how the passage relates to it. The answer must be based solely on the provided data.
Exclusion of Outside Knowledge
Key rules
- ›Ignore your personal beliefs, prior knowledge, or assumptions about the topic. Answer based only on what the passage states or implies.
- ›If the passage mentions snow, you can conclude the temperature is below freezing, but only use what the text gives you.
Common traps
- !Do not import real-world facts that are not present in the passage, even if they are true.
Distinguishing Viewpoints
Key rules
- ›Identify the author's perspective versus other viewpoints mentioned in the passage.
- ›Use keyword analysis to find words that define terms, signal main ideas, or support a valid conclusion.
Common traps
- !A common wrong answer reflects a viewpoint mentioned in the passage but not the author's own. Read carefully to separate who is saying what.
Eliminating Traps and Extremes
Key rules
- ›Filter out extreme viewpoints or unlikely conclusions unless explicitly stated in the text.
- ›Identify 'truth trap' answers: they are factually accurate per the passage but do not actually answer the specific question asked.
Common traps
- !Extreme language (always, never, impossible) in an answer is usually a red flag unless the passage uses the same extreme language.
Try one
Read the passage below and answer the question. Passage: Hiring agencies for federal and state positions are 'sticklers' for paperwork and will not permit anyone to take an exam unless prerequisites and photo identification are in order. What can be inferred about an applicant who arrives at the test center without a valid photo ID?
The passage states agencies 'will not permit anyone' without proper prerequisites and ID in order. B is the logical inference. No ID means no exam. A, C, and D all describe accommodations the passage gives no basis for assuming.
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