Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension means truly understanding what you read — not just saying the words, but grasping the meaning, the structure, and what the author is trying to tell you.
Main Idea and Details
The main idea is what a paragraph or passage is mostly about. Supporting details are facts, examples, or reasons that back up the main idea.
Strategy
Ask: "What is almost every sentence in this passage talking about?" That is the main idea. Ask: "What details did the author give to explain it?" Those are supporting details.
The main idea is often in the first or last sentence of a paragraph (topic sentence / concluding sentence), but not always — sometimes you must infer it.
Making Inferences
An inference is a conclusion you draw by combining what the text says with what you already know. Authors don't always state everything directly — good readers read between the lines.
Example
Text: "Maya grabbed her umbrella and rain boots before heading outside."
Inference: It is raining (or is expected to rain). The text never says "it is raining," but the details tell us.
Formula: Clue from text + Background knowledge = Inference
Context Clues
When you encounter an unfamiliar word, look at the words and sentences around it for hints about its meaning.
| Type | What to look for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Word is defined nearby | "The tundra, or frozen treeless plain, …" |
| Synonym | Similar word nearby | "The child was timid — shy and afraid" |
| Antonym | Opposite clue | "Unlike his calm brother, Jake was frantic" |
| Example | Specific examples given | "Reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, …" |
Text Structure
Authors organize writing in predictable patterns. Recognizing the structure helps you understand the content.
| Structure | Signal Words |
|---|---|
| Sequence/Chronological | first, next, then, finally, after |
| Compare & Contrast | both, similarly, however, unlike, on the other hand |
| Cause & Effect | because, so, therefore, as a result, since |
| Problem & Solution | the problem is, one solution, resolved by |
| Description | for example, consists of, appears to be |
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned. Choose the best answer for each question.