SAT Reading Comprehension: Answering Specific Information Questions

Of the seven types of SAT reading comp questions, most of my students find the ones asking for specific information the easiest. Why? Because they’re not being asked to interpret the information. Instead, these questions simply ask test takers to dig out facts from the passage. But these are just the sorts of questions that can lull students into a false sense of security, causing them to make silly mistakes. Here are a few tips to help you get these questions right:

1. Read the question carefully. Some specific information questions are very straightforward: “What is the main reason that Vincent Van Gogh’s art did not sell during his lifetime?” However, this is the SAT, and sometimes the questions get a little tricky: “Which of the following is not a reason that Vincent Van Gogh was an unpopular artist during his lifetime?” When you see a negative phrase, remember that you’re looking for the wrong answer.

2. If the question refers to specific lines in the passage, re-read them. Often specific information questions refer to corresponding lines in the passage: “Which of the following people did not have an influence on Van Gogh’s work (72-80)?” Go back and read lines 72-80, identifying the people listed as influences and eliminating them as answer choices. Do it.

3. Be aware that the answer choices won’t match the text word for word. If the passage states that Van Gogh had no interest in the popular artists of his time, and the question asks you to identify who did not have an influence on Van Gogh’s art, then a correct answer might be something along the lines of “his contemporary artists.” While the wording is different, contemporary means “of the same time.” Therefore, it correctly summarizes the information presented in the passage.

4. Don’t overthink it. It’s easy to feel as if the writers of the SAT test are playing mind games with you. But for the most part, the specific information questions are as straightforward as the test gets. This sometimes leads test takers to experience a moment of paranoia: The question is asking who supported Van Gogh, and the passage says right there that his brother was his primary patron. That’s so easy. It can’t be the right answer! But indeed, “Van Gogh’s brother” would be the right answer. Think of specific information questions as a quick break from the mind games, and don’t talk yourself out of choosing the obvious right answer.

Share your thoughts on the reading comprehension section in the comments. And send your questions to testpreptutor@sparknotes.com.

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