Narrative: Text Evidence

Methods in this video

Tap a time to jump to where the video teaches that method.

1. 1

   Find the evidence first

   ▶ 0:29

   When to use it: The first step for every story question: find the one or two sentences the question is about, then look at the options.

   • Circle the key words; every one must match. Pick the most specific one as your locator word.
   • Find the echo in the text: the question often uses other words, so look for the idea.
   • The right answer uses other words too. If an option copies the text, take a second look.
2. 2

   Watch the small words

   ▶ 1:35

   When to use it: The evidence or the question has a small word like although, but, no, only, eventually, when or most.

   • What comes after although or but is what matters.
   • No and not turn the meaning around.
   • When, most and main in the question tell you where to look.
3. 3

   One extra idea makes it wrong

   ▶ 4:03

   When to use it: An option sounds reasonable, but part of it isn't in the text.

   • Every part of the option must be in the text.
   • Sounding right isn't the same as being in the text.
   • Nobody visits doesn't mean nobody knows. Looks like doesn't mean is.
4. 4

   Put it back in the sentence

   ▶ 5:17

   When to use it: The question asks what a word or phrase tells us (The word ... tells us).

   • Don't guess the word. Put it back in the sentence.
   • Read the sentence before and after. Look at what's happening.
   • Choose the meaning that makes the whole sentence work.
5. 5

   Put the clues together

   ▶ 6:37

   When to use it: The question asks what a whole paragraph tells us, or about the whole text: the evidence isn't in one sentence.

   • List what each sentence says.
   • Ask what they add up to.
   • The answer is often bigger than any one sentence.