VPT English: Reading Comprehension - Overview
The VPT English covers a number of reading comprehension skill areas with each skill area addressing a number of sub-skills. An outline showing these skill areas and their major sub-skills is shown below.
Determine the meaning of words and phrases in context
- Use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words or words with multiple meanings
- Recognize the correct use of commonly misused pairs (e.g., affect/effect) in a passage
- Determine the meaning of figurative or colloquial language in a passage
- Identify appropriate synonyms or antonyms for words in a passage.
Understand the main idea and supporting details in written material
- Identify the stated main idea of a paragraph or passage
- Establish the sequence of events or steps presented in a passage
- Recognize information that supports, illustrates, or elaborates the main idea of a paragraph or a passage
- Identify the meaning of a figurative expression in a passage.
Apply skills of inference and interpretation to a variety of written materials
- Recognize a writer's implied purpose for writing (e.g., to persuade, to describe)
- Identify the statement that best expresses the implied main idea of a paragraph or passage
- Recognize implied cause-and-effect relationships in a passage
- Interpret the content, word choice, and phrasing of a passage to determine a writer's opinions, point of view, or position on an issue.
Analyze relationships among ideas in written material
- Recognize similarities and differences among ideas in a passage
- Analyze relationships between ideas in opposition (e.g., pro and con)
- Select solutions to problems based on information presented in written material
- Draw conclusions from information stated or implied in a passage.
Use critical reasoning skills to evaluate written material
- Recognize stated or implied assumptions on which the validity of an argument depends
- Determine the relevance of specific facts, examples, or graphic data to a writer's argument
- Recognize fallacies in the logic of a writer's argument
- Recognize qualifying language and distinguish between fact and opinion in written material
- Assess the credibility, objectivity, or bias of the author of a passage or the author's sources.
Apply skills for outlining and summarizing written materials and interpreting information presented in graphs or tables
- Organize the main ideas in a passage into an outline or another form of graphic or tabular organization
- Identify an accurate summary of a passage
- Interpret information presented in charts, graphs, or tables.
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