ASVAB Practice Test · Paragraph Comprehension
ASVAB Practice Test: Reading Short Passages Concepts
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Written by AI. Only units that passed a separate AI check (re-reading facts and numbers) are published. Tell us if you find a mistake.
Overview
This chapter is about reading a short passage and answering a question about it. The passages are only a few sentences or a short paragraph long. The questions usually ask for the main idea, a stated detail, the meaning of a word in context, or a conclusion you can draw.
The main idea is what the whole passage is about. It is often in the first or last sentence, but not always. A wrong choice may be a true detail from the passage that is too narrow, or a broad idea that the passage never actually covers.
Detail questions ask about something the passage says directly, so go back and find the exact words. Inference questions ask what the passage suggests without saying it outright. The right answer must follow from the passage, not from your own outside knowledge or opinions.
When a question asks about a word in context, reread the sentence and the ones around it. The word may have a different meaning from the one you know best. Read the question first, then the passage, so you know what to look for.
Key concepts
Main idea
The central point of the whole passage. All or most of the sentences support it.
Memory tipAsk: what is this whole passage about?
Stated detail
A fact the passage says directly. The answer can be found in the text, sometimes in slightly different words.
Memory tipPoint to the line that proves it.
Inference
A conclusion that is not stated but must be true based on what the passage says. It should not depend on outside knowledge.
Memory tipIf the passage cannot back it up, it is wrong.
Word in context
The meaning a word has in that specific sentence. A common word may be used in a less common way.
Memory tipPut each choice into the sentence and check the fit.
Author's purpose
Why the passage was written: for example, to inform, to explain how to do something, to persuade, or to entertain.
Memory tipLook at the tone: facts, steps, opinions, or a story.
Often tested
- Answer from the passage, not from outside knowledge.
- The main idea covers the whole passage, not one detail.
- A true detail can still be the wrong main idea.
- Read the question before the passage.
- Recheck the passage for detail questions.
Easy to confuse: Detail vs. inference
| Type | What it asks | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| Stated detail | What the passage says | Find the exact line |
| Inference | What the passage suggests | Make sure the text supports it |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Many back injuries at work happen when muscles are cold and stiff. A few minutes of gentle stretching before a shift warms the muscles and makes them more flexible. Workers who stretch every day report fewer strains. Stretching needs no equipment and can be done in a small space. What is the main idea of the passage?
- ① Stretching requires special equipment.
- ② A few minutes of daily stretching can help prevent injuries at work.
- ③ Back injuries are the most common injury at work.
- ④ Workers should rest instead of stretching.
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ② A few minutes of daily stretching can help prevent injuries at work.
Key point: Main idea covers the whole passage
Every sentence supports one point: short stretching before work helps prevent strains and injuries.
Wrong choices
- (A) Stretching requires special equipment.: The passage says stretching needs no equipment.
- (C) Back injuries are the most common injury at work.: The passage never says back injuries are the most common kind.
- (D) Workers should rest instead of stretching.: The passage does not suggest resting instead of stretching.
Question 2. The Oak Creek Library will change its hours starting March 1. On weekdays, it will open at 8 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. so that workers can stop by before their shifts. Weekend hours will stay the same. The library will still close at 6 p.m. every day. Starting March 1, what time will the library open on weekdays?
- ① 9 a.m.
- ② 8 a.m.
- ③ 10 a.m.
- ④ 6 p.m.
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ② 8 a.m.
Key point: Stated detail: find it in the passage
The passage says that on weekdays the library "will open at 8 a.m. instead of 10 a.m."
Wrong choices
- (A) 9 a.m.: 9 a.m. is not mentioned in the passage.
- (C) 10 a.m.: 10 a.m. was the old opening time.
- (D) 6 p.m.: 6 p.m. is the closing time.
Question 3. Honeybees share information through movement. When a worker bee finds a good patch of flowers, she returns to the hive and performs a "waggle dance." The direction of the dance shows the other bees which way to fly. The length of the waggle tells them how far away the flowers are. According to the passage, what does the length of the waggle tell other bees?
- ① How far away the flowers are
- ② What kind of flowers were found
- ③ How much nectar the flowers hold
- ④ Which way to fly
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ① How far away the flowers are
Key point: Stated detail: match the exact sentence
The last sentence says the length of the waggle tells the bees how far away the flowers are.
Wrong choices
- (B) What kind of flowers were found: The passage does not mention the kind of flowers.
- (C) How much nectar the flowers hold: The passage does not mention the amount of nectar.
- (D) Which way to fly: The direction of the dance, not its length, shows which way to fly.