www.dictionary.com, www.yourdictionary.com, or www.m-w.com) so you can quickly find the definition of words you find confusing. Your reading will become more enjoyable, and you’ll be adding to your vocabulary knowledge to boot.
Build your confidence
Another reason people read slowly is that they don’t have confidence in themselves. They’re not convinced that they understand what they’re reading, so they read a passage several times, trying to make sure they haven’t missed anything. But just like people who check that the front door is locked 15 times before leaving for vacation and still lie awake at night wondering whether they locked the door, you’ll find that reading and rereading a passage doesn’t give you confidence that you understand the text. You get confidence from proving that you understand it.
Get out a textbook or reference book (preferably one that contains some subject matter that interests you) and read one or two paragraphs straight through without going back and rereading anything. Then set the book aside (keeping your place marked) and write, in your own words, a brief description of what you’ve read. Finally, turn back to the passage and compare your description to the information on the page.
Play the 20-questions game. Read an article from a magazine, reference book, or textbook. Then ask someone to pick out facts from the article and ask you questions.
Create motivation and interest by reading the daily newspaper or news magazines. Discuss the news events with your classmates, friends, or co-workers. Stronger interest equals greater comprehension.
Is your written version of the article close in meaning to the original? Are you getting most of the 20 questions correct? Do you feel comfortable discussing current events with others? If so, you understand what you’re reading, and that should build your confidence. If not, don’t toss the book or magazine aside in frustration or go ballistic on your mom for asking you tough questions. Keep working on it, and your comprehension will improve. Do the preceding confidence-building drills a few times a day until you feel like you can read any paragraph or two and understand the content without having to reread the information.
Test-Taking Tips for Reading and Gleaning
Although no shortcuts exist for improving your reading comprehension skills (besides practice), you can do a few things on test day to make sure you score as high as possible on this part of the ASVAB.
Read first, ask questions later. Read the passage all the way through before glancing at the question and answer options.
Take it one question at a time. Some passages have more than one question associated with them, but look at only one question at a time.
Understand each question. What’s the question asking you to do? Are you supposed to find the main point? Draw a conclusion? Find a word that’s nearest in meaning? Make sure you know what the question is asking before you choose among the answer options. This tip may seem obvious, but when you’re in a hurry, you can make mistakes by misunderstanding the questions.
Read each answer option carefully. Don’t just select the first answer that seems right. Remember, on the Paragraph Comprehension subtest, one answer is often most right and others are almost right. You want to choose the most right answer, not the almost right answer. And to do that, you have to read all the answers.
Check your feelings at the door. Answer each question based on the passage, not your own opinions or views on the topic.
Don’t choose vague answer options. They’re incorrect 99.99 times out of 100. (Oh heck, call it 100 times out of 100.) If an answer strikes you as not quite true but not totally false, that answer is incorrect. The ASVAB test authors have put those answers in there to throw you off. Don’t give them the satisfaction of falling for their trap!
(Almost) never select never. For the most part, answer options that are absolutes are incorrect. Never, always, and related words are often a sign that you should select a different answer. Words like generally and usually are more likely to be correct.
Paragraph Comprehension Practice Questions
The following questions are designed to present you with an opportunity to practice your Paragraph Comprehension skills. Read each short paragraph, followed by one or more questions regarding information contained in that passage. Make sure to read the paragraph carefully before selecting the choice that most correctly answers the question.
Passage one
Mercedes was dismayed to find out that her final exam fell on her birthday — and Russian exams were hard. Still, after nearly a year at the Defense Language Institute, she was ready to wrap things up and begin her Air Force career outside the schoolhouse. The whole day would be a mess, though. The test began at 8:00 a.m., and each airman was allowed exactly 90 minutes to complete all the questions. Then, at 10:00 a.m., everyone had to begin writing a 1,000-word essay. Mercedes pressed her fingers to her temples; just thinking about what kind of topics were in the pool (and the fact that she had to finish the essay by noon) conjured a familiar ache. She knew she was ready, and she knew the language inside and out, but test-taker anxiety started to creep in.
1. How does Mercedes feel about taking her final exam?
(A) She is anxious.
(B) She’s angry.
(C) She’s over-confident.
(D) She wants to celebrate her birthday instead.
2. Why did Mercedes press her fingers to her temples?
(A) It helps her concentrate.
(B) She was beginning to get a headache.
(C) It’s an old habit.
(D) All of the above.
Passage two
Some people argue that baking is an art, but Chef Debra Dearborn says that baking is a science. She says that if you follow a recipe carefully, assembling the ingredients accurately, cooking at