SHSAT Reading Question Types

SHSAT Reading Question Types

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Points on the SHSAT Reading section come from answering the questions, not simply reading the passages. This doesn’t mean that it is not important to approach the passage strategically—it is. However, if you do not answer the questions correctly, the passage hasn’t done you much good. In order to increase your chances of getting the most points, you should approach Reading questions strategically. Part of this is understanding the various types of questions you’ll encounter on test day. There are five basic question types in the SHSAT Reading section: Global, Detail, Function, Inference, and Infographic. Keep reading to learn about the SHSAT Reading question types and how to tackle each one.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

How to Roadmap SHSAT Reading Questions

The first step for every SHSAT Reading passage is active reading, which means not just passively reading the words in a passage, but rather thinking about and interacting with the passage as you go. An important part of active reading is to create a Roadmap of the passage. A Roadmap puts the passage into your own words and is an invaluable tool to help you answer the questions. Creating a Roadmap helps keep you focused on the big ideas rather than the small details of a passage. You can also use your Roadmap to help you locate the information you need to answer each question. 

Your SHSAT Reading Roadmap should include:

  • A short summary note about the topic of each paragraph
  • A summary of the passage’s main idea

The passages you’ll encounter on the SHSAT are well-developed and follow a clear structure. The ideas will be logically organized into paragraphs, making it possible for you to gain a good understanding of the author’s ideas if you create a Roadmap as you read. 

As you create your Roadmap, keep in mind the following active reading questions:

  • What is the main idea of the passage?
  • What do the keywords indicate?
  • What is a good summary of each paragraph?
  • What specific information is provided in the passage?

SHSAT Reading: Global Questions

SHSAT Global questions ask about the big picture of the passage. You can recognize Global questions because they often use phrases like “the central idea,” “theme,” or “overall structure.” 

To answer SHSAT Global questions successfully:

  • Identify the central idea or theme of the passage
  • Use your Roadmap as a brief summary (do not reread the entire passage)

Global questions that simply ask for the central idea are rare on the SHSAT. While you may not see a question that asks you to identify the main idea, you will see questions that ask you how a portion of the passage conveys or supports the central idea of the passage. You must know how to identify the passage’s main idea in order to answer these questions correctly.

Expert SHSAT Tip

A key strategy for Global questions is to look for a choice that summarizes the entire passage—not just a detail that’s mentioned once or discussed in a single paragraph. The information should be present throughout the whole passage.

SHSAT Reading: Detail Questions

Detail questions ask you to track down a piece of information directly stated in the passage or to identify which of several details best addresses a particular task. Remember that you will not (and should not!) remember every detail from your reading of the passage. Your Roadmap can help you find the location of the detail in question; then you should research the passage text to find the answer. You can recognize Detail questions because they often ask for a specific piece of information or use the words “which sentence/detail supports the idea.”

To answer SHSAT Detail questions that ask for a particular piece of information:

  • Use paragraph references or specific phrasing in the question to find the relevant section of the passage
  • Quickly skim through the relevant section to find specific evidence for your prediction; you should be able to put your finger on the exact information required to answer the question
  • Rephrase the evidence in the passage in your own words to make a prediction and find a match among the answer choices

To answer Detail questions that ask which sentence/detail addresses a particular task:

  • Evaluate each sentence/detail in the answer choices to determine if it addresses the task
  • If needed, use your Roadmap notes to help you review the paragraphs in which the sentences/details appear

SHSAT Reading: Function Questions

Function questions ask about the purpose of a particular part of the passage. They can ask about the purpose of any of the following: a word, a sentence, a paragraph, a detail, a quote, or punctuation.

To answer SHSAT Function questions successfully:

  • Focus on the author’s reason for including the cited feature
  • Read around the cited text, and take note of any transition words to get context and understand the author’s reasoning

SHSAT Reading: Inference Questions

These questions use phrases such as “most likely” or “suggests,” and they may ask with what the author would most likely agree. Once you’ve located the relevant details, you need to go one step further: figure out the underlying point of a particular phrase or example. The correct answer to an Inference question will not be directly stated in the passage, but it will be supported by the information in the passage.

To answer Inference questions successfully:

  • Look for clues that show how the author connects relevant details within the passage
  • Consider how the author’s point of view limits the range of what could be true

SHSAT Reading: Infographic Questions

An SHSAT Reading passage may be accompanied by up to two infographics, which are graphs, tables, or images that represent information related to the passage. For example, if a passage discusses the development of trade between two continents, a map of the trade routes or a bar graph showing the number of goods transported each year may accompany the passage. Infographic questions ask you how the information in the graph, table, or image supports ideas presented in the passage. 

To answer Infographic questions successfully:

  • Evaluate the information in the question stem (e.g., “topic,” “central idea,” “paragraph 7”)
  • Identify units, labels, and titles in the infographic
  • Note the parts of the infographic that relate to the question

SHSAT Reading Elimination Strategies

One key strategy for determining the correct answer choice is to eliminate the incorrect choices on SHSAT Reading questions. This can be especially helpful if you encounter a passage or question that you’re not confident about. Most incorrect choices fall into specific categories. Once you know the categories, elimination is much easier!

Incorrect Answer TrapDescription
DistortionThe answer slightly alters details from a passage so they are no longer correct.
ExtremeThe answer takes a stronger position (often more positive or more negative) then the passage takes.
Misused DetailThe answer is a true statement from the passage, but it doesn’t answer the question.
OppositeThe answer contradicts information in the passage.
Out of ScopeThe answer includes information that is not in the passage.

SHSAT Pop Quiz

Are you ready to take the SHSAT? Take our pop quiz to find out!

Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Melissa McLaughlin, Pre-College Content Developer and Heather Waite, Director of Content and Curriculum, Pre-College at Kaplan North America.

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