Foundations of Comprehension Questions (MCAT)

The lecture focuses on the types of questions found in the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section of the MCAT, specifically the foundations of comprehension questions.

Types of Comprehension Questions

These questions assess your basic understanding of a passage and often resemble questions you've encountered in other tests.

Common Question Types

• Main Idea or Theme:

  • Identify the core idea, central purpose, or key theme of the passage.
  • Questions might ask which sentence best captures the main goal of the passage.
  • Example: Replace 'main goal' with phrases like 'key idea', 'core theme'.

• Author's Main Claim or Position:

  • Recognize an author’s thesis statement, often found early in the passage.
  • Example: "Every student deserves one year off to explore the world."

• Conclusion Identification:

  • Determine what conclusion the author is trying to draw, often found at the end of the passage.

• Author's Attitude or Perspective:

  • Infer the author's attitude through specific words or phrases.
  • Example: "Novice vs. Expert" to imply expertise is more valid.
  • Use of connotative language and adjectives/adverbs like 'evil', 'valuable'.

• Specific Word or Phrase Meaning:

  • Determine the intended meaning of specific words or phrases in the context of the passage.
  • Example: Definition of "medical interventions" based on context.

Passage Structure and Signal Words

Understanding the organization of a passage and the use of signal words can aid in answering comprehension questions.

Signal Words

• Indicate thesis statements, main ideas, examples:

  • "Importantly", "The only thing that matters is", "For example".

• Signal minor points or digressions:

  • "By the way", "In a few cases".

• Follow an author’s argument:

  • "In addition to", "Therefore", "Consequently".

Text Structures

• Point-Counterpoint and Compare-Contrast:

  • Identify distinctions using phrases like "on the other hand", "however".

• Listing of Ideas or Chronological Structure:

  • Look for "first", "second", "third", "next", "and then".

• Cause and Effect Structure:

  • Identify causal relationships with words like "because" or "due to".

Rhetorical Devices

Recognize rhetorical devices as methods authors use to convey messages.

Examples

• Repetition and Parallelism:

  • Draw attention to key phrases.

• Metaphor, Sarcasm, Allegory, Symbolism:

  • Not to be taken literally; intended for interpretation.
  • Example: Sarcasm - "Dental work is a joy."
  • Symbolism:
    • Objects representing broader concepts.
    • Example: A flower in a city sidewalk symbolizing beauty in unexpected places.

Conclusion

To excel in these questions, practice with sample questions and understand the common structures and rhetorical devices used by authors.