Capítulo 3 de 812% del examen

Paragraph Comprehension

Paragraph Comprehension measures how well you understand written passages. Each question gives a short passage followed by a question about its meaning, main idea, or details. This subtest is part of the AFQT, so careful reading pays off. The goal is to answer based only on what the passage states or clearly implies, not outside knowledge.

Finding the Main Idea

Every passage has a central point. Identifying it helps you answer both direct and inference questions and keeps you from being distracted by minor details.

Locate the topic sentence
The main idea often appears in the first or last sentence of a short passage.
Summarize in one sentence
Put the passage's point in your own words to confirm you understand it.
Distinguish main from supporting
Separate the central idea from the examples and details that back it up.
Ignore outside knowledge
Answer from the passage alone, even if you know more about the topic than it states.

Locating Specific Details

Detail questions ask about facts stated directly in the passage. The answer is usually a restatement of a sentence you can point to.

Scan for keywords
Match important words from the question to the same words in the passage to find the relevant sentence.
Read the full sentence
Read around the keyword so you capture the complete meaning, not a fragment.
Match the restatement
The correct choice often paraphrases the passage rather than quoting it word for word.
Verify against the text
Confirm your choice by pointing to the exact place in the passage that supports it.

Making Inferences

Some questions ask what the passage suggests but does not state outright. A valid inference must be firmly supported by the text.

Stay close to the text
A correct inference follows directly from the stated information without a large leap.
Avoid overreaching
Reject choices that could be true in general but are not supported by the passage.
Watch signal words
Words such as because, therefore, and however show relationships that guide inferences.
Test each option
Ask whether the passage gives evidence for a choice before selecting it.

Understanding Purpose and Tone

Certain questions ask why the author wrote the passage or how the author feels. Recognizing purpose and tone sharpens your reading.

Identify the author's purpose
Decide whether the passage aims to inform, persuade, or explain.
Sense the tone
Notice word choice that reveals a positive, negative, or neutral attitude.
Recognize cause and effect
Track how one idea leads to another to follow the author's reasoning.
Manage your time
Read efficiently and answer from the passage so you keep pace across all questions.
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Last updated: September 2026

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