SSC CGL Preparation – Day 20

Reading Comprehension (Extended)

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🔍 What is Reading Comprehension (RC)?

Reading Comprehension tests your ability to read, understand, interpret, and analyze a passage and answer questions based on it.

In the extended version, passages are longer, questions are more inferential, and vocabulary-based or tone-based questions are added.

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🎯 Why RC Is Important in SSC CGL

• Appears in both Tier I and Tier II
• 5–10 marks can be easily scored with strong comprehension
• RC questions assess:
  • Main idea identification
  • Logical inference
  • Vocabulary meaning in context
  • Author’s tone or purpose
  • Fact vs. opinion detection

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📚 Types of Passages You’ll Encounter

Passage Type	Description
Factual/Informative	Based on history, economy, or science
Opinion-based	Argumentative or persuasive
Narrative/Descriptive	Stories or descriptions (people, events)
Analytical	Compares or contrasts two ideas

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🔑 Types of Questions in RC

Question Type	Example
Main Idea	What is the central theme of the passage?
Inference	What can be concluded from the passage?
Tone/Purpose	What is the author’s tone – critical, sarcastic, appreciative?
Vocabulary in Context	What does “resilient” mean in the passage?
Fact/Opinion	Which of the following is a fact, not an opinion?
Detail-Based	According to the passage, why did the protest start?

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🧠 How to Approach RC Passages

1. Skim the Passage (First 30 Seconds)
   • Get a rough idea of the topic and tone
2. Read Questions First (Optional)
   • Helps if the passage is long or dense
3. Read the Passage Fully
   • Underline keywords (names, dates, opinions, transitions)
4. Eliminate Wrong Options
   • Use logic, not guesswork – many options are traps
5. Go Back and Confirm
   • For detail-based questions, revisit the passage

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🧩 Common Traps in RC Questions

Trap Type	Example
Extreme Language	“Always, never, entirely” – usually wrong
Out of Scope	Not even mentioned in the passage
Distorted Meaning	Twisting author’s words subtly
Too General/Too Specific	Doesn’t match the focus of the question

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✍️ Tips to Master Extended RC

✅ Read editorial articles daily (e.g., The Hindu, Indian Express)
✅ Practice 2 long RCs per day with a timer
✅ Maintain a log of difficult words + meanings
✅ Highlight transitional words (however, therefore, moreover)
✅ Summarize passages in your own words
✅ Practice tone identification (critical, sarcastic, optimistic)

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🎯 Common Transition Words and What They Indicate

Word	Type
However, but, although	Contrast
Therefore, hence, thus	Cause and effect
In addition, moreover	Addition
For example, such as	Illustration
To conclude, in summary	Conclusion

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📖 Sample Passage Types with Ideal Strategy

1. Opinion-based (e.g., Environment vs Development)
   🔹 Read carefully to catch bias or tone
   🔹 Questions will test author’s view
2. Historical or Factual
   🔹 Focus on dates, facts, and events
   🔹 Questions are direct or detail-based
3. Philosophical/Abstract
   🔹 Focus on main idea
   🔹 Questions may test inference and interpretation

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💡 Tone Vocabulary You Must Know

Tone Word	Meaning
Critical	Finding faults
Sarcastic	Mocking or ironic
Appreciative	Showing praise
Objective	Neutral, fact-based
Persuasive	Trying to convince
Humorous	Funny or witty
Pessimistic	Negative outlook
Optimistic	Positive outlook

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📝 Example Question (Vocabulary in Context)

📄 Passage excerpt:
“The CEO’s demeanor was often abrasive, which made employees hesitant to approach her.”

Q: What does “abrasive” mean in this context?
A) Gentle
B) Harsh
C) Slow
D) Confused

✅ Answer: B) Harsh
🧠 Explanation: The sentence suggests people were hesitant due to her unfriendly or harsh behavior.

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✅ Final Summary Checklist

✔ Skim, then read carefully
✔ Identify tone, purpose, main idea
✔ Eliminate extremes and out-of-scope options
✔ Practice vocabulary in context
✔ Focus on accuracy + time management
✔ Learn from explanations (not just answers)