Understand the words
What is reading comprehension?
Reading comprehension means making sense of written text: what it says, how its ideas connect and what the available evidence supports.
You use it when following instructions, reading an email or working through an article. Recognizing the words is part of reading; understanding the message also means noticing details, relationships and context.
This guide uses an invented everyday example for adult self-study. It explains how to approach a question; it does not assess your reading level.
One message · Four kinds of question
Find the words behind the answer
Read the message, then try a question. Each explanation quotes its evidence so you can compare it with the text.
The message
Invented example · Keep the text in view
A supported answer points to this message, not to what happened at another workshop.
Try a question
Open any question to see its answer and supporting words.
Stated detailWhich entrance should you use?
Answer: The courtyard door.
The instruction names the entrance directly. The King Street entrance is closed.
Supporting words
The entrance on King Street is closed for repairs, so please use the courtyard door.
Main purposeWhy was this message sent?
Answer: To explain the changed start time and give instructions for arriving and joining.
The message covers the time, entrance, confirmation email and help for late arrivals. Repairs explain one detail, not the whole message.
Supporting words
half an hour later than originally planned
please use the courtyard door
Bring your confirmation email
a volunteer at the courtyard door will help you join the group.
Combining cluesWhat was the original start time?
Answer: 10:00.
10:30 minus 30 minutes is 10:00. The original time is not stated directly; the two time clues let us calculate it.
Supporting words
The workshop will now begin at 10:30 on Saturday, half an hour later than originally planned.
This is an arithmetic inference from the message, not a test of general reading ability.
What remains unknownWhat else might a late arrival miss after the introduction?
Answer: The message does not say.
Someone arriving after the introduction has missed that introduction. We are not told their arrival time or what follows it, so we cannot name any additional part they miss. A volunteer will help them join.
Supporting words
If you arrive after the introduction, a volunteer at the courtyard door will help you join the group.
either a printed copy or the email on your phone is fine.
By contrast, the email rule is explicit: showing it on a phone is allowed. Printing is not required.
Questions, answers and evidence
01. Stated detail
Which entrance should you use?
Answer: The courtyard door.
The instruction names the entrance directly. The King Street entrance is closed.
Supporting words
The entrance on King Street is closed for repairs, so please use the courtyard door.
02. Main purpose
Why was this message sent?
Answer: To explain the changed start time and give instructions for arriving and joining.
The message covers the time, entrance, confirmation email and help for late arrivals. Repairs explain one detail, not the whole message.
Supporting words
half an hour later than originally planned
please use the courtyard door
Bring your confirmation email
a volunteer at the courtyard door will help you join the group.
03. Combining clues
What was the original start time?
Answer: 10:00.
10:30 minus 30 minutes is 10:00. The original time is not stated directly; the two time clues let us calculate it.
Supporting words
The workshop will now begin at 10:30 on Saturday, half an hour later than originally planned.
This is an arithmetic inference from the message, not a test of general reading ability.
04. What remains unknown
What else might a late arrival miss after the introduction?
Answer: The message does not say.
Someone arriving after the introduction has missed that introduction. We are not told their arrival time or what follows it, so we cannot name any additional part they miss. A volunteer will help them join.
Supporting words
If you arrive after the introduction, a volunteer at the courtyard door will help you join the group.
either a printed copy or the email on your phone is fine.
By contrast, the email rule is explicit: showing it on a phone is allowed. Printing is not required.
A simple way to review an answer
- Identify what the question asks: a detail, the main point or a conclusion from clues.
- Find the relevant words in the text.
- Explain why they support your answer and why other choices may be unsupported.
- Open the explanation and revisit anything you missed.
If an unfamiliar word blocks the meaning, look at the surrounding sentence and check a dictionary when needed. Rereading a short section is a reasonable way to check understanding.
Comprehension and reading speed answer different questions
Words per minute describes pace. Answering questions gives a limited view of how you interpreted one passage. Reading faster does not, on its own, demonstrate better understanding. Our research guide explains why group reading-speed averages are context rather than targets.
Try a complete passage
Our adult reading exercises have five questions each and explained answers. Choose A map that helps for an informational example about choosing useful details, or print reading passages and explained answer keys for personal practice.
These materials are informal and AI-assisted, not a standardized assessment. A five-question score cannot diagnose a difficulty or prove improvement. Read our methods and limitations.
More reading practice
The British Council's reading resources offer English practice organized by level and everyday text types. Those external level labels do not apply to our uncalibrated passages.
Written for My Reading Pace using an original illustrative message. AI-assisted editorial review; no independent educator review claimed.