Reading Comprehension Strategies

Question 1

Scope shift argument

Answer 1

The author moves from discussion one thing in the evidence to a different thing in the conclusion

Question 2

Breaking apart a scope shift argument

Answer 2

Look for different terms that the author assumes must be related

Question 3

A conclusion (in an argument)

Answer 3

an opinion, a bold claim, a recommendation, a prediction, or a rebuttal of someone else’s viewpoint

Question 4

Evidence (in an argument)

Answer 4

examples that support a conclusion

Question 5

Assumptions (in an argument)

Answer 5

things the author believes based on the evidence to arrive at the conclusion

Question 6

Representativeness argument

Answer 6

The author draws a conclusion about a different population than the evidence

Question 7

Weakening/strengthening a representativeness argument

Answer 7

Weaken–look for ways the evidence group differs from the conclusion group
Strength–look for important ways the two groups are similar

Question 8

Causal argument

Answer 8

Correlation is confused with causation

Conclusion: “therefore one thing is making another thing happen”

Question 9

Weakening/strengthening a causal argument

Answer 9

Look for examples that support that it was or was not actually a cause

Question 10

Incorrect answer choices (5)

Answer 10

1. outside the scope
2. extreme
3. distortion
4. 180
5. half-right/half-wrong

Question 11

Outside the scope

Answer 11

irrelevant comparison to something not mentioned in the passage

Question 12

Extreme

Answer 12

extreme language (always, never, rarely, etc.)

Question 13

Distortion

Answer 13

specific language from the passage, but twist the context or meaning

Question 14

180

Answer 14

contradict (subtly or explicitly) the statements made in the passage

Question 15

Half-right/half-wrong

Answer 15

first half is correct, second half is not

Question 16

Question types (6)

Answer 16

1. Global
2. Detail
3. Inference
4. Logic
5. Vocab-in-context
6. Reasoning

Question 17

Global questions

Answer 17

Take the passage as a whole (main idea, primary purpose, overall structure)

Question 18

Detail questions

Answer 18

Research the text to ID a specific detail (according to the author, as mentioned in the passage)

Question 19

Inference questions

Answer 19

not explicitly stated, but must be true based on information provided in the passage
(suggests, implies, most likely agrees)

Question 20

Logic questions

Answer 20

Describe why the author included a certain word, phrase, or statement (in order to, primarily serves to)

Question 21

Vocab-in-context questions

Answer 21

Go back to the passage to ID how a word is used in context

Question 22

Reasoning

Answer 22

Analyze reasoning in an argument:

-ID assumptions, point out flaws, strengthen or weaken the reasoning