Reading Detail guide
Reading Detail questions test whether you can retrieve a specific fact from the passage and match it to the option that states it accurately — including where the correct option paraphrases the passage rather than quoting it.
The method
- Locate the sentence in the passage that the question is about.
- Verify the option against it word by word — distinguish a faithful paraphrase from a subtle change of meaning.
- Check the question's exact scope: watch for 'except', 'only', 'unless' and other limiters.
- Resolve pronouns and references ('it', 'they', 'this') back to what they point to in the passage.
Reading comprehension test strategy
A reading comprehension test often mixes detail questions with main idea, inference and author-purpose questions. For detail questions, do not reread the passage from the beginning. Use the wording in the question to locate the relevant sentence, then compare the options against that sentence for scope, time and quantity. A nearly accurate option is still wrong if it changes “some” to “all”, a past fact to a current one, or a possibility into a certainty.
Common mistakes
- Answering from memory instead of re-reading the passage.
- Merging details that come from two different sentences.
- Missing an exception or limiting word.
- Reference-resolution slips — attaching 'it' to the wrong noun.
Worked example
A real question from this category, with the verified answer and the exact evidence that decides it.
All passwords are changed every ninety days. Laptops are locked when left unattended. Guest Wi-Fi is kept separate from the main network. Phishing reports are sent to the help desk. USB drives are not allowed on work machines.
According to the passage, which statement is correct?
Verified answer: D — Phishing reports are sent to the help desk.
The evidence
All passwords are changed every ninety days. Laptops are locked when left unattended. Guest Wi-Fi is kept separate from the main network. Phishing reports are sent to the help desk. USB drives are not allowed on work machines.
The highlighted text decides the answer.
What to notice
The passage states that phishing reports are sent to the help desk.
The rule
Pick the option that restates one stated fact with the same entity, value and destination; reject any option that swaps the destination, widens the scope, mixes two facts, or adds an unstated topic.
Why the others are wrong
- A — Staff connect to internal systems through a company VPN client.: Not stated: the passage never mentions a VPN client — it is outside what the passage covers.
- B — Every device on the network is kept separate from the main network.: Over-generalised: only the guest Wi-Fi is kept separate, not every device on the network.
- C — Laptops are locked when left unattended and their passwords change every ninety days.: Conflation: the lock rule is for laptops and the ninety-day rule is for all passwords; the passage never makes the interval a laptop-specific rule.
- E — Phishing reports are sent to the marketing team.: Contradicts the passage: phishing reports go to the help desk, not the marketing team.
Frequently asked questions
Should I read the whole passage first?
Skim for structure, then locate the specific sentence the question targets. Detail questions reward precise location over full re-reading under time pressure.