Reading Comprehension Overview

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What is the main idea of a text?

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The main idea is the central point or message that the author wants to convey, summarizing the overall theme of the text.

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What are main idea questions also known as?

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Main idea questions are also called critical questions.

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What should you do when a question contains the words NOT or EXCEPT?

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You should underline, circle, or highlight those words to pay special attention to them.

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What is a literal question?

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A literal question, also known as a supporting detail question, asks for specific information directly stated in the text.

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What strategy should you use for literal questions?

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The best strategy is to reread the passage to find the specific information.

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What type of question asks you to sum up the text?

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A main idea question asks you to sum up the text.

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How can prior knowledge help in answering main idea questions?

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Prior knowledge can provide context and help you understand the text better, allowing you to identify the main idea more easily.

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What is the importance of supporting details in a text?

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Supporting details provide evidence and examples that reinforce the main idea, helping to clarify and elaborate on it.

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What is an inferential question?

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An inferential question requires you to make conclusions or inferences based on the information provided in the text.

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How can you identify the main idea in a paragraph?

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Look for the topic sentence or the sentence that summarizes the paragraph's content.