SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) Reading Comprehension Syllabus

What is an inference question asking you to do?

To draw a logical conclusion that is suggested but not directly stated—reading 'between the lines.' The answer must be supported by clues in the text, not by outside knowledge or wild guessing.

What distinguishes a correct inference from a wrong one on the SSAT?

A correct inference is firmly backed by evidence in the passage and requires only a small logical step; wrong inferences go too far, contradict the text, or rely on information not given.

What does a vocabulary-in-context question test, and how do you answer it?

It tests the meaning of a word as it is used in that specific sentence. Substitute each answer choice into the sentence and pick the one that preserves the intended meaning; beware of a word's common but contextually wrong meaning.

Why can a vocabulary-in-context answer differ from a word's dictionary definition?

Many words have multiple meanings; the question asks for the meaning in that sentence's context, so a less common or figurative sense may be correct even if a more familiar definition is offered as a trap.

Define 'tone' as tested in reading comprehension.

Tone is the author's or speaker's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice (e.g., admiring, critical, humorous, nostalgic, objective). It is detected from connotation and diction.

What is the difference between tone and mood?

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject; mood is the emotional atmosphere the passage creates in the reader (e.g., suspenseful, cheerful, gloomy). Tone is the writer's stance; mood is the reader's feeling.

How do you determine an author's tone or attitude?

Examine connotative word choices and descriptive details: positive, negative, or neutral language signals approval, disapproval, or objectivity. Look for emotionally charged adjectives and verbs.

What does an 'author's purpose' question ask?

It asks why the author wrote the passage or a particular part of it—commonly to inform, persuade, entertain, describe, or explain. The answer reflects the author's intent and the passage type.

What does 'point of view' refer to in author's-purpose questions?

The author's perspective or position on the topic—whether they favor, oppose, or stay neutral—and the lens (first person, third person) through which the material is presented.

What are common text-structure (organization) patterns to recognize?

Chronological/sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem and solution, classification, and order of importance. Signal words reveal each pattern.

Which signal words indicate a cause-and-effect structure?

Words like because, since, therefore, as a result, consequently, thus, and leads to—they show that one event produces another.

Which signal words indicate a compare-and-contrast structure?

Comparison: similarly, likewise, both, in the same way. Contrast: however, but, on the other hand, whereas, in contrast, unlike.

What is a simile and how is it formed?

A simile is a comparison of two unlike things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'brave as a lion'). It highlights a shared quality between the two things.

What is a metaphor and how does it differ from a simile?

A metaphor compares two unlike things by stating one IS the other, without 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'time is a thief'). A simile uses 'like' or 'as'; a metaphor makes a direct identification.

Define personification.

A figure of speech that gives human qualities, actions, or emotions to non-human things or abstract ideas (e.g., 'the wind whispered through the trees').

Define hyperbole.

Deliberate, obvious exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant literally (e.g., 'I've told you a million times').

What is imagery in a literary passage?

Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) to create vivid mental pictures and set mood.

What is alliteration?

The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words (e.g., 'wild and windy winter'). It is a sound device common in poetry.

What is symbolism?

When an object, person, or action represents a larger idea or meaning beyond its literal sense (e.g., a dove symbolizing peace).

What is onomatopoeia?

A word that imitates the natural sound it describes (e.g., buzz, hiss, crash, clang). It is a sound device that adds sensory effect.

What is irony, and name a basic type tested on the SSAT.

Irony is a contrast between expectation and reality. Verbal irony: saying the opposite of what is meant (often sarcasm); situational irony: an outcome opposite to what is expected.

When a passage compares and contrasts two ideas, what should you track?

The specific points of similarity and difference between the two ideas, and which paragraph or sentence addresses each, so you can answer questions about how they relate.

How do compare/contrast questions differ from main-idea questions?

Compare/contrast questions focus on the relationship (similarities and differences) between two specific elements within the passage, while main-idea questions ask about the overall point of the whole passage.

What does a 'drawing conclusions' question require?

Combining stated facts and clues from the passage to reach a logical end-point or judgment that follows from the evidence, even if it is not stated word-for-word.

What does a 'making predictions' question ask, and how do you answer it?

It asks what would most likely happen next or what the author would probably say. Base your answer on the established patterns, tone, and logic of the passage—not on personal opinion.

On the SSAT, why should answers to inference and conclusion questions stay 'close to the text'?

Because correct answers must be supported by evidence in the passage; the SSAT rewards minimal, well-grounded logical steps and punishes answers that bring in outside assumptions or overreach.

What is a common trap (distractor) in SSAT reading answer choices?

Choices that are true in the real world but not stated/supported by the passage, choices that are too extreme (always, never, only), and choices that distort a detail by changing one word.

How can extreme words like 'always,' 'never,' or 'only' help you eliminate answers?

They make a choice easy to disprove; reading passages rarely support absolute claims, so an answer with extreme wording is often (though not always) incorrect unless the text clearly states it.

What should you do first when you encounter an 'EXCEPT' or 'NOT' reading question?

Note that you are looking for the choice that is false or unsupported; verify the other three as true/supported by the passage, and the remaining one is the answer.

Why is identifying the passage type early useful for answering questions?

Because each type (narrative, expository, persuasive, poetry) tends to ask predictable question kinds—e.g., persuasive passages emphasize author's purpose and tone, expository passages emphasize main idea and detail—so you can anticipate the focus.

What is the recommended order of steps for tackling an SSAT reading passage?

Preview/skim for type and structure, read actively while annotating the main idea and key details, then answer questions by returning to the text for evidence—doing detail questions by line reference and inference questions by logical, text-supported reasoning.