Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Paragraph Comprehension (PC) Syllabus

Which transition words signal that an author is showing cause and effect?

Words like because, therefore, since, as a result, consequently, thus, and due to.

Which transition words signal contrast or a change in direction?

Words like but, however, although, on the other hand, yet, nevertheless, and whereas.

Which transition words signal that the author is adding similar/supporting information?

Words like also, in addition, furthermore, moreover, and besides.

Name four common ways (text structures) an author can organize a passage.

Chronological/sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem and solution (also order of importance and spatial).

In a 'compare and contrast' organization, what is the author doing?

Showing how two or more things are alike (compare) and how they differ (contrast).

How can recognizing a passage's organizational structure help you answer questions?

It lets you predict where information is located and understand the relationships between ideas, making detail and inference questions faster to answer.

What is an inference in reading comprehension?

A logical conclusion the reader reaches based on evidence in the passage combined with reasoning — something implied but not directly stated.

What is the basic formula for making an inference?

Text evidence + your reasoning (background knowledge) = inference; the conclusion must be supported by clues in the passage.

What phrases in a question stem usually signal an inference question?

'It can be inferred,' 'the passage suggests,' 'the author implies,' 'most likely,' or 'the reader can conclude.'

What is the key rule for choosing a correct inference answer on the ASVAB?

The inference must be directly supported by evidence in the passage — if you cannot point to text that backs it up, it is wrong, no matter how reasonable it sounds.

Why are inference answers that require outside knowledge usually wrong on the ASVAB?

Correct answers must be grounded in the passage itself; choices needing facts not in the text go beyond what the passage supports.

What is the difference between an inference and an assumption when reading?

An inference is a conclusion drawn from stated evidence; an assumption is something taken for granted as true without direct evidence.

What is meant by the 'author's purpose'?

The author's reason for writing — what they intend the passage to do for the reader.

What are the three most common authors' purposes (often remembered as PIE)?

To Persuade, to Inform, and to Entertain (PIE).

How can you tell when an author's purpose is to persuade?

The passage states an opinion or argument and uses reasons, emotional language, or biased wording to convince the reader to agree or act.

How can you tell when an author's purpose is to inform?

The passage presents facts, explanations, or instructions in a neutral, objective way without trying to change your opinion.

What is 'tone' in a passage?

The author's attitude or feeling toward the subject, revealed through word choice (e.g., serious, humorous, critical, optimistic, sarcastic).

How do you identify the tone of a passage?

Examine the connotations of the author's word choices (diction) — emotionally charged or descriptive words reveal the underlying attitude.

What is the difference between an objective tone and a subjective tone?

An objective tone is neutral and fact-based with no personal opinion; a subjective tone reflects the author's personal feelings, opinions, or bias.

What is the difference between denotation and connotation?

Denotation is a word's literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or implied association the word carries (positive, negative, or neutral).

How does an author reveal bias in a passage?

Through one-sided word choice, loaded/emotional language, omission of opposing views, and presenting opinions as if they were facts.

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion in a passage?

A fact can be verified or proven true; an opinion expresses a personal belief, judgment, or feeling that cannot be objectively proven.

What is the recommended technique for figuring out the meaning of an unfamiliar word in a passage?

Use context clues — the surrounding words and sentences — to infer the word's meaning rather than guessing in isolation.

Name the main types of context clues used to define words in a passage.

Definition/restatement, example, synonym, antonym/contrast, and inference from general context.

What is a 'contrast' (antonym) context clue?

Surrounding text signals an opposite meaning (often with words like 'but,' 'unlike,' or 'however'), letting you infer the word means the reverse of the contrasted term.

When a passage uses a word figuratively, how should you interpret a vocabulary-in-context question?

Choose the meaning that fits how the word is used in that sentence, not its most common dictionary definition.

How can word roots, prefixes, and suffixes help with vocabulary in passages?

Breaking a word into known parts (e.g., 'pre-' = before, '-ology' = study of) can reveal its meaning when context alone is not enough.

What is 'active reading'?

Engaging with the text as you read — questioning, predicting, summarizing, and noting key ideas — instead of passively scanning words.

What is the SQ3R active-reading method?

Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review — a strategy for previewing, engaging with, and reinforcing reading material.

Why is summarizing each passage in your own words a useful active-reading technique?

It confirms you understood the main idea and helps you answer main-idea and inference questions accurately.

What active-reading habit helps most with finding stated details quickly under time pressure?

Reading the question first, then scanning/skimming the passage for the specific keywords related to that question.

What is the difference between skimming and scanning?

Skimming is reading quickly for the general gist/main idea; scanning is searching for specific information or keywords without reading everything.

Why is recognizing the question type before answering important on the PC subtest?

Each type (detail, main idea, inference, vocabulary, purpose/tone) calls for a different approach, so identifying it tells you what to look for and how to answer.

What are the main categories of Paragraph Comprehension questions on the ASVAB?

Main idea/topic, stated/specific detail, inference/implication, author's purpose and tone, sequence/organization, and vocabulary-in-context.

How should you approach a vocabulary-in-context question type once you recognize it?

Reread the sentence containing the word, substitute each answer choice, and pick the one that preserves the sentence's meaning.

About how much time should you spend per Paragraph Comprehension question on the paper ASVAB (15 questions in 13 minutes)?

Roughly 50 seconds per question — under one minute each.

What is a smart time-management strategy when one PC passage is taking too long?

Make your best educated guess, mark/move on, and return later if time allows rather than letting one question consume your time budget.

Why should you never leave a Paragraph Comprehension answer blank on the ASVAB?

There is no penalty for wrong answers, so guessing gives you a chance at points while blanks guarantee zero.

On the CAT-ASVAB, can you skip a question and return to it later?

No — the computer-adaptive test requires you to answer each question before moving on and does not allow returning to previous items.

What is a key time-saving tip when a single passage has multiple questions attached to it?

Read the passage once carefully, then answer all of its questions before moving to the next passage, so you don't reread the same text repeatedly.

What should you do first to manage time efficiently on a PC question with a short passage?

Read the question (and answer choices) before reading the passage so you know what information to look for.

How does the process of elimination improve both accuracy and speed on PC questions?

Removing clearly wrong choices narrows the options, raises your odds on a guess, and helps you focus on the strongest remaining answer quickly.

What is a common trap answer that is partially correct on PC questions?

A choice that is true for part of the passage or contains a true statement but does not fully or correctly answer the specific question asked.

When two PC answer choices seem correct, how do you choose between them?

Pick the one most directly and completely supported by the passage's wording; eliminate the choice that requires extra assumptions or covers less of the question.

What does it mean that a correct ASVAB reading answer must be 'supported by the passage'?

Every correct answer can be justified using information stated or clearly implied in the text — not by personal opinion or outside facts.