Grade: Grade 3 Subject: SAT/ACT Skills Unit: Introduction to Passages SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Passage Questions

When you read a passage on a test, you will answer different types of questions about it. Learning the question types helps you know exactly what to look for!

What Are Passage Questions?

Questions That Test Your Reading

After reading a passage, you answer questions to show you understood what you read. Each question type asks you to think in a different way!

On tests like the SAT and ACT, you will see four main types of questions about reading passages. Let's learn about each one!

Main Idea
1
What is the passage mostly about?
Detail
2
What does the passage say?
Vocabulary
3
What does this word mean here?
Inference
4
What can you figure out?
Test Tip: When you see a question, first figure out what TYPE of question it is. This helps you know where to look for the answer!

The Four Question Types

🎯 Main Idea Questions Type 1

These questions ask about the big picture - what is the whole passage about?

How to spot Main Idea questions:

  • "What is this passage mainly about?"
  • "What is the best title for this passage?"
  • "The main idea of this passage is..."
  • "What is the author's main point?"
Strategy: Think about what ONE big idea connects everything in the passage. The main idea is not just one detail - it covers the whole passage!

🔍 Detail Questions Type 2

These questions ask about specific information that is stated directly in the passage.

How to spot Detail questions:

  • "According to the passage..."
  • "The author states that..."
  • "Which of the following is true?"
  • "The passage says that..."
Strategy: Go back to the passage and find the exact sentence that answers the question. The answer is written right there - you just need to find it!

📖 Vocabulary in Context Questions Type 3

These questions ask what a word means the way it is used in the passage.

How to spot Vocabulary questions:

  • "As used in the passage, the word ___ means..."
  • "The word ___ most nearly means..."
  • "In line 5, 'bright' most likely means..."
Strategy: Read the sentence with the word. Try putting each answer choice in place of the word. Which one makes the most sense in that sentence?

🧠 Inference Questions Type 4

These questions ask you to figure out something that isn't directly stated but makes sense based on what you read.

How to spot Inference questions:

  • "Based on the passage, you can tell that..."
  • "The author suggests that..."
  • "It can be inferred from the passage that..."
  • "The reader can conclude that..."
Strategy: Use clues from the passage like a detective! The answer isn't written exactly, but the passage gives you hints to figure it out.

How to Find Answers in the Text

Good test-takers always go back to the passage to find their answers. Here's how:

  1. Read the question carefully. Make sure you understand what it's asking.
  2. Look for key words in the question. These help you know what to search for.
  3. Go back to the passage. Scan for those key words or related ideas.
  4. Read that part of the passage again. Read a little before and after to get the full picture.
  5. Choose the answer that matches what the passage says.

Example Passage: The Monarch Butterfly

Every fall, monarch butterflies fly south. They travel from Canada and the United States all the way to Mexico. This incredible journey can be over 2,000 miles long!

The butterflies cannot survive cold winters. Mexico's warm forests give them a safe place to rest. In spring, they fly north again to lay their eggs on milkweed plants.

Question: Where do monarch butterflies go in the fall?

Step 1: Key words = "monarch butterflies" and "fall"

Step 2: Find in passage = "Every fall, monarch butterflies fly south... all the way to Mexico."

Answer: They fly to Mexico.

Eliminating Wrong Answers

Sometimes you're not sure which answer is right. That's okay! You can cross out answers that are definitely WRONG. This is called eliminating wrong answers.

Common Types of Wrong Answers

  • Too Extreme: Uses words like "always," "never," "all," "none" when the passage doesn't say that
  • Not in the Passage: Might sound good but isn't actually stated or supported
  • Opposite: Says the opposite of what the passage says
  • Too Narrow: Only talks about one small detail, not the whole idea
  • Off Topic: Talks about something the passage didn't mention

Practice Eliminating: What is the main idea of the butterfly passage?

A Butterflies are always beautiful insects. Too extreme - "always"
B Milkweed is a type of plant. Too narrow - just one detail
C Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico and back each year. Correct - covers the whole passage!
D Canada is very cold in winter. Off topic - not what passage is about
Remember: Even if you can only cross out ONE wrong answer, you have a better chance of picking the right one!

Worked Examples

Read This Passage:

Maria loved going to the library every Saturday. She would spend hours looking through books about animals, especially dolphins. The librarian, Mr. Chen, always helped her find new books to read.

One day, Mr. Chen showed Maria a special book about how dolphins communicate. She was fascinated to learn that dolphins use clicking sounds to "talk" to each other. Maria decided she wanted to be a marine biologist when she grew up.

Example 1: Main Idea Question

What is this passage mainly about?

Example 2: Detail Question

According to the passage, when does Maria go to the library?

Example 3: Vocabulary Question

As used in the passage, the word "fascinated" most nearly means:

Example 4: Inference Question

Based on the passage, you can tell that Maria:

Interactive Practice

Now try a complete practice passage with all four question types!

Practice Passage

The Amazing Octopus

The octopus is one of the smartest animals in the ocean. It has eight arms and can change color in less than a second! Scientists have watched octopuses solve puzzles and open jars to get food inside.

Octopuses are also great at hiding. When a predator comes near, an octopus can blend into rocks or coral by changing its color and texture. Some octopuses even squirt ink to confuse enemies while they escape.

Unlike most sea creatures, octopuses have blue blood. They also have three hearts! Two hearts pump blood to their gills, and one pumps blood to the rest of their body. These amazing animals continue to surprise scientists with their abilities.

Great Job!

You completed the practice passage!

0/4

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

Which type of question asks "What is this passage mainly about?"

Question 2

If a question says "According to the passage...", what type of question is it?

Question 3

What should you do when you're not sure of the right answer?

Question 4

An inference question asks you to:

What We Learned

🎯

Main Idea

Ask what the whole passage is about

🔍

Detail

Find specific facts stated in the passage

📖

Vocabulary

Figure out word meanings from context

🧠

Inference

Use clues to figure out unstated ideas

Key Strategies to Remember:
  • Always go back to the passage to find or check your answer
  • Look for key words in the question to help you search
  • Eliminate wrong answers when you're not sure
  • Watch out for answers that are too extreme or off topic

Next Steps

  • Practice identifying question types when you read
  • Always go back to the passage - the answer is there!
  • When stuck, eliminate answers that don't match the passage
  • Keep practicing with different types of passages