Reading Comprehension Exercizes

READING COMPREHENSION EXERCISES... you get in shape for the test. Reading comprehension exercises are a breeze when you know how to proceed.

Since we've been learning about eliminating answer choices, let's continue with what I call opposites.

If you've just landed on this page... click Reading at the top to follow this lesson from the beginning.

‘Opposites’ may be mentioned in the text; however, they are not the answer to the question. In other words, they may give information that is similar to that in the text, but have nothing to do with the question.

Answer choices like these often give ‘extra’ information. Answer choice D is an example of an ‘opposite’ answer choice. Notice that the wording “highly sensitive whiskers” is exactly the same as in the text; however, the answer choice gives additional information not related to the question.

Remember our example:

California Sea Lions feed on a wide variety of seafood including fish, shellfish and squid. They are excellent predators with a streamlined body and highly sensitive whiskers to detect food. California Sea Lions are highly sociable and gather in large numbers on beaches and coasts.

According to the text, California Sea Lions…

a. are playful

b. eat many different kinds of food

c. are found only in California

d. have highly sensitive whiskers to help identify each other

What is the result?


Congratulations! You’ve raised a guessing score from 25, to 33, to 50 per cent without even knowing the right answer!


By eliminating wrong answers.

Now, (after the elimination of two answer choices like opposites or not mentioned) I usually tell students to go back to the text and prove the right answer by choosing between the two remaining choices.

However, there’s still a bit more you can do about eliminating answer choices. As we develop this skill, our test scores will increase.

As we conclude these reading comprehension exercises. I'll show you how to eliminate your way to success in the reading comprehension portion of the test.