Reading Comprehension

The main idea is the single most important point the whole passage is trying to make. It is the 'big picture', not a small detail. To find it, ask: 'What is this passage MOSTLY about?' The main idea usually appears in the first or last sentence of the passage (or the first/last line of each paragraph). Key points to remember: (1) The title or theme should cover the ENTIRE passage, not just one part. (2) A statement that is true but covers only one paragraph is a DETAIL, not the main idea. (3) Avoid options that are too broad (bigger than the passage) or too narrow (only one example). Memory trick: Main idea = the umbrella that covers all the details under it.

Supporting details EXPLAIN, PROVE or give EXAMPLES for the main idea. They answer 'who, what, when, where, how many'. The main idea answers 'what is the overall message?'. In CHSL, 'best title' and 'central theme' questions test the main idea, while 'according to the passage' questions test details. Tip: Cross out any option that is only a fact, an example, or a statistic from the passage — these are details. The correct main-idea answer often paraphrases (uses different words for) the passage's core message rather than copying a sentence word-for-word.

Passage: 'Trees give us oxygen, prevent soil erosion, provide shade, and are home to countless birds and animals. Cutting them down harms all living beings. We must plant more trees and protect the existing ones.' Q: Best title? Options: (A) Birds and Animals (B) The Importance of Trees and Why We Must Protect Them (C) How to Cut Trees (D) Soil Erosion. Answer: (B). Reasoning: Every sentence is about the value of trees and protecting them — (B) is the umbrella covering all points. (A) and (D) are only single details. (C) contradicts the passage.

An inference is a conclusion you reach by reading 'between the lines'. The passage does NOT state it directly, but the clues strongly suggest it. To infer correctly: (1) Use ONLY information given in the passage plus logical reasoning. (2) Do not bring in outside facts or personal opinions. (3) The correct inference must be something that MUST be true (or is most likely true) based on the text — not just possible. Watch out for distractors that are 'too strong' (using words like always, never, all, none) or that go beyond what the passage supports. Memory trick: An inference is a 'safe guess' that the passage's clues guarantee.

STATED information is written word-for-word in the passage — you can point to the exact line. INFERRED information is not written but follows logically. CHSL questions use signal words: 'It can be inferred that...', 'The passage suggests...', 'The author implies...' mean you must INFER. By contrast, 'According to the passage...' or 'The passage states...' mean the answer is directly STATED. Tip: For inference questions, eliminate options that are (a) directly contradicted, (b) not supported by any clue, or (c) too extreme. The remaining safe option is usually correct.

Passage: 'Ravi carried an umbrella and wore his raincoat before leaving home. The sky was dark with heavy clouds.' Q: What can be inferred? (A) Ravi was going to a party (B) Ravi expected it to rain (C) Ravi loves umbrellas (D) It was a sunny day. Answer: (B). Reasoning: The umbrella, raincoat and dark clouds are clues that together point to Ravi expecting rain — even though the passage never says 'he expected rain'. (A) and (C) have no clues. (D) is contradicted by 'dark with heavy clouds'.

In RC passages you will meet words whose meaning must be judged from how they are USED, not just the dictionary. Strategy: (1) Read the full sentence containing the word. (2) Look for CONTEXT CLUES — nearby words, examples, or contrast words like 'but', 'however', 'unlike'. (3) Replace the word with each option and see which keeps the sentence's meaning intact. A contrast word signals an OPPOSITE meaning nearby; words like 'and', 'because', 'so' signal a SIMILAR idea. Memory trick: Let the sentence 'point' you to the meaning — the words around the target word are your road signs.

A SYNONYM means the SAME (or nearly the same) as the given word; an ANTONYM means the OPPOSITE. CHSL asks: 'The word X in the passage means/is similar to...' (synonym) or 'X is OPPOSITE in meaning to...' (antonym). Read the QUESTION carefully — mixing these up is a common careless mistake. Tip: Even if you don't know the exact word, the context tells you whether it is positive or negative. Then pick the option with the matching tone for synonyms, or opposite tone for antonyms. Common easy pairs: happy/sad, brave/cowardly, ancient/modern, rapid/slow, abundant/scarce.

Sentence: 'The desert was so arid that not a single plant could survive there.' Q: 'Arid' is closest in meaning to: (A) wet (B) dry (C) green (D) cold. Answer: (B). Reasoning: The clue 'not a single plant could survive' tells us the land was extremely dry. 'Arid' means dry/lacking water, so (B) fits. (A) and (C) are opposites of the clue, and (D) (cold) is unrelated to plants not surviving in a desert.

These ask about specific information directly stated in the passage — a name, number, place, reason or example. Signal phrases: 'According to the passage...', 'Which of the following is mentioned...', 'The author says that...'. Strategy: (1) Read the question first to know what to hunt for. (2) SCAN the passage for the keyword (a name, year, or noun). (3) Read that line plus the line before and after. (4) Pick the option that MATCHES the text — avoid options with slightly changed numbers or swapped facts (these are traps). The answer is always present in the passage; never use outside knowledge. Memory trick: Detail questions are a 'treasure hunt' — the answer is hidden in the text, so locate it, don't guess.

Reference questions ask what a word like 'it', 'they', 'this', 'he', 'these' refers to in the passage. The reference is almost always the nearest suitable noun mentioned just BEFORE the pronoun. Strategy: replace the pronoun with each option and check which makes sense. Example: 'The students raised their hands because they had the answer.' — 'they' = the students. Tip: Match singular pronouns (it, he, she) with singular nouns, and plural pronouns (they, them, these) with plural nouns. This quick check eliminates wrong options fast.

Tone is the author's FEELING or attitude towards the subject — shown through word choice. Common CHSL tones: optimistic (hopeful), critical (finding fault), humorous (funny), sympathetic (caring), informative/neutral (just giving facts), nostalgic (longing for the past). Strategy: notice emotional words. Praise words ('wonderful', 'hope') = positive tone; fault-finding words ('sadly', 'failed', 'must change') = critical/negative tone; plain facts with no emotion = neutral/informative. Worked tip: If a passage simply explains how something works with no feelings, the tone is 'informative', not 'humorous' or 'angry'. Match the tone option to the strongest emotional clues in the text.