Reading Comprehension Strategies

Tips and strategies to help you succeed on the reading comprehension portion of the Electrical aptitude test.

Overview

The reading comprehension section tests your ability to:

Understand and analyze written passages
Identify main ideas and supporting details
Make inferences and draw conclusions
Understand vocabulary in context
Recognize author's purpose and tone

General Reading Help

Practicing these types of problems will make them easier.
Read the passage. I sort of skim, making a mental note of where things are so I can come back and answer specific questions. It's unlikely I will remember the answer from reading it once; I'm reading it so I know where to find the information quickly.
Sometimes the best way to approach is to eliminate answers that don't make sense, and then make a best guess from the remaining options- sometimes choices are ambiguous.
Identify the main idea and key points as you read. Loosely figuring out the topic of each paragraph makes it easy to come back and answer specific questions.
Pay attention to topic sentences and concluding statements
Don't rely on prior knowledge - base answers only on the passage
At the 1 minute remaining mark, I think it's best to start guessing and make sure that every question is answered.
When guessing, you have two good options. Pick the same letter choice for each question (usually B or C), or pick the longest answer. Picking the longest answer if it seems sensible is an old ACT test trick I learned and it has served me pretty well. I don't advise guessing or selecting the longest answer when practicing, you're cheating yourself out of the practice you need to succeed.

Question Types

You'll encounter several types of questions:

Main Idea: Identify the central theme or primary purpose
Detail Questions: Find specific information stated in the passage
Inference Questions: Draw conclusions based on implied information
Vocabulary: Determine word meaning from context
Author's Purpose: Understand why the author wrote the passage

I'll go over each type of question in more detail below, as well as my best strategies for answering them.

Example Passage and Questions

Reading Passage: The French Revolution and the Power of Collective Action

The French Revolution, which began in 1789, marked one of the most tumultuous periods in European history. Sparked by widespread discontent with the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI, economic hardship, and the influence of Enlightenment ideas, the revolution would fundamentally reshape French society and politics. The initial phase saw the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, an event that has since become France's national holiday. This symbolic act represented the people's rejection of royal authority and their determination to claim power for themselves through collective action.

As the revolution progressed, the National Assembly worked to dismantle the old feudal system and establish a constitutional monarchy. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted in August 1789, proclaimed that all men were born free and equal in rights. This document, inspired by Enlightenment thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, established principles that would become foundational to left-leaning political movements for centuries to come. The declaration challenged the divine right of kings and asserted that sovereignty belonged to the people, not to a hereditary ruling class.

The working classes of Paris, known as the sans-culottes, played a crucial role in pushing the revolution in more radical directions. These artisans, shopkeepers, and laborers organized themselves into political clubs and neighborhood assemblies, demanding not just political rights but economic justice. They called for price controls on bread and other necessities, limits on property ownership, and greater representation for common people in government. The sans-culottes demonstrated the power of organized working-class movements to influence political change, showing that when workers unite and act collectively, they can challenge even the most entrenched power structures.

The Jacobin Club emerged as one of the most influential left-leaning political organizations of the revolution. Originally a moderate group, it became increasingly radical as members like Maximilien Robespierre, Georges Danton, and Jean-Paul Marat gained influence. The Jacobins advocated for universal male suffrage, the abolition of slavery, and policies that favored the common people over the aristocracy. They established networks of political clubs throughout France, creating a nationwide organization that could coordinate action and spread revolutionary ideas. collective organizing.

The period known as the Reign of Terror, which lasted from September 1793 to July 1794, represents a complex chapter in the revolution's history. Led by Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, this era was characterized by extreme measures designed to protect the revolution from both internal and external enemies. While the methods used during this period were harsh, the Committee also implemented progressive policies: price controls to help the poor, the abolition of slavery in French colonies, and attempts to redistribute land from the aristocracy to common people.

The execution of Louis XVI in January 1793 marked a point of no return, transforming France from a constitutional monarchy into a republic. This act, carried out by the National Convention, demonstrated that the people, when organized and determined, could hold even the highest authorities accountable. The trial and execution were conducted through democratic processes, with elected representatives voting on the king's fate.

Women played significant roles in the revolutionary movement, organizing marches, forming political clubs, and demanding rights. The Women's March on Versailles in October 1789, where thousands of women marched to demand bread and bring the royal family back to Paris, showed the power of collective action by those who were officially excluded from political participation. Figures like Olympe de Gouges wrote declarations calling for women's rights, challenging the revolution to live up to its ideals of equality for all people, not just men.

The Reign of Terror came to an end with the execution of Robespierre himself on July 28, 1794, in what became known as the Thermidorian Reaction. This marked a shift toward more moderate policies, but the revolutionary principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity had already taken root. The revolution had shown that organized people could overthrow centuries of aristocratic rule and establish new forms of government based on popular sovereignty.

The French Revolution's legacy for left-leaning politics and labor movements is profound and enduring. It demonstrated that collective action by ordinary people could fundamentally transform society. The principles of equality, workers' rights, and popular sovereignty that emerged from the revolution would inspire labor movements, socialist movements, and democratic struggles for generations. The revolution showed that when workers and common people organize, unite, and act together, they possess the power to challenge entrenched elites and create more just societies. This legacy continues to inspire union organizing and left-leaning political movements today, reminding us that history is made not by kings and aristocrats alone, but by the collective action of organized people fighting for their rights and dignity.

Main Idea Questions

These questions are about the overarching idea and theme of the passage. You should be able to answer these types of questions with an initial reading. Rule out answers that seem off.

1. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. The French Revolution was a peaceful transition from monarchy to democracy

B. The French Revolution demonstrated how collective action by organized people can transform society

C. The French Revolution was entirely about the guillotine and executions

D. Robespierre was the sole cause of all changes during the French Revolution

Answer: B - The passage focuses on how collective action and organized movements transformed French society.

Choice A can be ruled out because the revolution was not peaceful. C is ruled out because the passage doesn't focus on the guillotine- it focuses on collective action and organizing. D is ruled out because it's too specific and the passage talks about many different groups and movements, not just Robespierre.

2. Which statement best summarizes the primary theme of the passage?

A. The French Revolution was entirely negative and should never have happened

B. The revolution's legacy shows how organized people, through collective action, can challenge entrenched power and create more just societies

C. Only wealthy people participated in the French Revolution

D. The French Revolution had no lasting impact on modern politics

Answer: B - The passage emphasizes how collective organizing during the revolution created lasting change and continue to inspire movements today.

Choice A can be ruled out because the passage clearly shows the revolution had positive impacts- it brought about democracy and inspired movements. C is ruled out because the passage specifically talks about working-class people like the sans-culottes participating. D is ruled out because the passage explicitly states the revolution's legacy "continues to inspire union organizing and left-leaning political movements today."

Detail Questions

It's unlikely you'll remember the exact answers for these, more the general location of the info. If it's asking for a number, I like to skim and look for numbers because they stand out in the text.

3. According to the passage, when did the Reign of Terror occur?

A. 1789 to 1792

B. September 1793 to July 1794

C. 1792 to 1795

D. The passage does not specify dates

Answer: B - The passage explicitly states that the Reign of Terror lasted from September 1793 to July 1794.

These kind of detail questions, especially asking about numbers, just require you to go back and find the answer. If you can remember loosely where it was stated, start by looking there. When I answer questions about dates or numbers or percentages, I'm skimming looking for numbers to save time. The numbers stand out from the text.

4. According to the passage, what did the sans-culottes demand?

A. The restoration of the monarchy

B. Price controls on bread and other necessities, limits on property ownership, and greater representation for common people

C. The abolition of all political clubs

D. The return of the aristocracy to power

Answer: B - The passage explicitly states that the sans-culottes "called for price controls on bread and other necessities, limits on property ownership, and greater representation for common people in government."

This is one of those detail questions that you would have to make an approximate note of where the answer is. If you can remember it- great. What I'll usually do is remember that it said it somewhere in the middle section about the sans-culottes, and start skimming for that section. Try not to skim so fast that you overlook it, and when you find it double check that it's correct.

Inference Questions

These are the ones that require you to draw conclusions based on the information in the passage. Typically you should be able to rule out some of the oddball answers, and go with what seems most likely after that.

5. The passage states that during the Reign of Terror, the Committee of Public Safety "implemented progressive policies that reflected left-leaning ideals: price controls to help the poor, the abolition of slavery in French colonies, and attempts to redistribute land from the aristocracy to common people." However, the passage also notes these policies occurred during a period "characterized by extreme measures." Based on this, what can be inferred about the relationship between these types of policies and the methods used to implement them during the revolution?

A. This is a clear-cut example of how these types of socialist policies can only be effectively implemented through violent means

B. The passage suggests that progressive policies aimed at helping workers and common people were implemented alongside harsh measures, showing that progressive ideals and the methods used to achieve them can exist simultaneously but are not necessarily dependent on each other

C. Progressive policies can only be effectively implemented through violent means, and without the use of extreme measures the policies would have never been adopted by France.

D. The Committee of Public Safety only implemented policies that helped wealthy people

Answer: B - The passage presents both the progressive policies and the extreme measures as occurring during the same period, but doesn't claim they are necessarily connected. The passage shows they happened together but doesn't say one requires the other.

This is a difficult inference question because the answer isn't directly stated- you have to think about what the passage implies about the relationship between policies and methods. Choice A can be ruled out because the passage doesn't say violence is the ONLY way- it just shows what happened in this case. C can be ruled out because it's too absolute- the passage doesn't say ALL progresssive policies require extreme measures. D can be ruled out because the passage explicitly says the policies helped "the poor" and "common people," not wealthy people. B is the best answer because it acknowledges what the passage shows (both happened) without making a claim the passage doesn't support (that they're necessarily connected). The passage presents them as coexisting but doesn't argue one requires the other.

6. Based on the information in the passage, what can be inferred about voting in France prior to the French Revolution?

A. All men could vote

B. There was no voting system- only the monarchy

C. Only certain people could vote- like wealthy men

D. Some women could vote, but only if they were wealthy

Answer: C - This is a difficult inference question that also requires you to understand the meaning of the phrase "universal male suffrage". Suffrage is the right to vote, and based on the desire to implement universal male suffrage, we can infer that some men could vote but not all of them.

Choice A can be ruled out because if the goal is universal male suffrage, we can infer that some men could not vote. B can be ruled out because if the goal was to establish universal male suffrage, that implies that there was already some voting body present- otherwise they would want just suffrage or some kind of voting body. D can be ruled out because of the paragraph discussing women seeking the right to vote. That leaves C as the most likely answer.

Vocabulary Questions

These require you to determine the meaning of a word based on the context of the passage. If I know what the word means I go with that. I think this is the exception to the rule of "not trusting prior information." If I am not familiar with the word, I skim the passage to find the word, look at the context, try to rule out some of the oddball answers, and then make my best guess.

7. In the context of the passage, what does the word "tumultuous" most likely mean?

A. Peaceful and orderly

B. Characterized by confusion, disorder, and violence

C. Highly successful and prosperous

D. Boring and uneventful

Answer: B - The context describes a period marked by revolution, violence, and dramatic changes, indicating disorder and confusion.

Tumultous is right at the beginning: "The French Revolution, which began in 1789, marked one of the most tumultuous periods in European history." There aren't a lot of clues as to what the word means there, so the best thing to do is make an informed decision based on the rest of the passage's tone. A and D can definitely be ruled out, and between B and C, I think B is the better choice.

8. The passage mentions that the Declaration of the Rights of Man "challenged the divine right of kings and asserted that sovereignty belonged to the people, not to a hereditary ruling class." In the context of this statement, what does "sovereignty" most likely mean?

A. The right of kings to rule by divine authority

B. Supreme power or authority

C. The right to vote

D. Economic control over property and land

Answer: B - The passage states that "sovereignty belonged to the people, not to a hereditary ruling class" and connects this to the idea that organized people have power, making B the clearest answer.

Choice A can be ruled out because the passage states that sovereignity belonged to the people, not to kings. Choice B sounds pretty good, substituting that definition into the passage: ""challenged the divine right of kings and asserted that supreme power or authority belonged to the people...." Let's look and see if another choice seems better. Choice C can be ruled out because it seems weaker than choice B. Choice D can be ruled out because the passage does not mention economic control over property and land. Choice B is the best answer because it captures the definition of sovereignty as supreme power or authority.

Author's Purpose Questions

These type questions are really similar to main idea type questions. Typically you should be able to rule out some of the oddball answers, and go with what seems most likely after that.

9. What is the author's primary purpose in writing this passage?

A. To convince readers that the French Revolution was entirely positive and had no negative effects

B. To demonstrate how collective action and organizing during the French Revolution transformed society and continues to inspire labor and political movements today

C. To argue that the French Revolution was very difficult for some people and to garner sympathy for them, particularly the aristocracy and the King

D. To argue that the only way to change things politically is through violent means

Answer: B - The passage focuses on collective action, organizing, and how these principles from the revolution continue to inspire movements today, as stated in the final paragraph.

Choice A can be ruled out because the passage acknowledges the Reign of Terror had harsh methods, so it's not saying everything was positive. C can be ruled out because the passage does not go into detail about the struggles of the aristocracy and the King. D can be ruled out because the passage is not about the power of violence. B is the best answer because it captures the main focus on collective action and its ongoing inspiration.

10. The passage describes how the revolution's legacy "continues to inspire union organizing and left-leaning political movements today" and states that "history is made not by kings and aristocrats alone, but by the collective action of organized people fighting for their rights and dignity." Why does the author emphasize this connection between the French Revolution and contemporary movements?

A. To argue that modern unions should use the same methods as the French Revolution

B. To show that the principles of collective action and organized movements that emerged from the revolution remain relevant and inspiring for people fighting for workers' rights and social justice today

C. To suggest that the French Revolution was the only successful example of collective action in history

D. To argue that collective action is a dangerous thing to pursue, that it is better for a stable and orderly society to be governed by a single person or a small group of people than by a collective of people

Answer: B - The author explicitly states that the revolution's legacy "continues to inspire" modern movements, showing the connection between historical and contemporary organizing, which supports the passage's theme about the power of collective action.

This is a difficult author's purpose question because you have to understand why the author is making this connection to modern times. A can be ruled out because the passage doesn't say modern unions should use the same methods- it just says the principles continue to inspire. C can be ruled out because the passage doesn't say it was the ONLY example- it says it's an example that continues to inspire. D can be ruled out because it is in opposition to the passage's theme about the power of collective action. B is the best answer because it captures what the passage explicitly states about the legacy continuing to inspire, and connects it to the broader theme about organized people having power.

Ready to Practice?

Apply these strategies to some practice questions.

Reading Practice Exam 1 Exam 2