Passage-based Questions

Questions that must be answered from the passage only

0 practice questionsPage updated 25 Sept 2026Reviewed by AISEA Editorial DeskPractice questions

Passage-based questions ask you to understand an argument, identify what the text states or supports, and select the option that stays within the passage. The current bank uses main idea and crux questions, explicit details, inferences, assumptions, implications, practical suggestions, tone, vocabulary in context and not-mentioned questions. The safest method is to map the passage's topic, claims, evidence and limits before judging the options.

Key formulas and rules

6 rules

Reading Comprehension Derivation: $\text{Valid Deduction} = \text{Direct Textual Statement} \land \text{No Unwarranted Extrapolation}$

Authorial Tone Index: $\text{Tone} = f(\text{Qualifiers}, \text{Diction}, \text{Rhetorical Questions}) \in \{\text{Objective}, \text{Critical}, \text{Advocatory}, \text{Skeptical}\}$

Primary Purpose vs Supporting Detail: $\text{Primary Purpose} = \bigcup_{i=1}^k \text{Paragraph Gists}$ ; individual paragraphs serve as evidence or sub-arguments

Inference Bound: $\text{Text} \models \text{Inference}$ ; if the text asserts $P(\text{event}) > 0.5$ (likely), an option asserting $P(\text{event}) = 1.0$ (certain) is logically invalid

Contextual Meaning Equation: $\operatorname{Meaning}(w, \text{context}) = \operatorname{argmatch}_{m} (m \text{ fits syntax and preserves argument flow})$

VCLA Summary TaskGeorge Mason University Writing Center · Checked 2 Sep 2026Supports: identifying essential content and main ideas without distorting or adding personal ideas

Tips for Active ReadingGeorge Mason University Writing Center · Checked 2 Sep 2026Supports: rereading difficult text, using context and reading with a clear purpose

Active Reading 3: Targeted Reading for Articles TranscriptPurdue Online Writing Lab · Checked 2 Sep 2026Supports: distinguishing ideas from evidence and avoiding selective reading outside context

Passage-based Questions

Key formulas and rules

Key concepts

Answer from the passage only

Build a quick paragraph map

Find the main idea or crux

Separate explicit detail from paraphrase

Test an inference for support

Evaluate assumptions statement by statement

Distinguish implication from recommendation

Read tone and qualifiers precisely

Use context for vocabulary

Recognise common option traps

Solve multi-statement questions efficiently

Worked examples

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 6

Example 7

Example 8

Example 9

Common mistakes and useful habits

Sources and review notes

Ready to test your understanding?

Key formulas and rules

Key concepts

Answer from the passage only

Build a quick paragraph map

Find the main idea or crux

Separate explicit detail from paraphrase

Test an inference for support

Evaluate assumptions statement by statement

Distinguish implication from recommendation

Read tone and qualifiers precisely

Use context for vocabulary

Recognise common option traps

Solve multi-statement questions efficiently

Worked examples

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 6

Example 7

Example 8

Example 9

Common mistakes and useful habits

Sources and review notes

Ready to test your understanding?

Keep building the same skill family.