2. Reading Past the Surface

Harder reading questions reward attention to how a passage is built, not just what it says.

• Author's purpose and stance -- is the author informing, persuading, or reflecting, and what attitude do the word choices reveal?
• Tone -- the feeling behind the words (cautious, wistful, urgent, ironic).
• Text structure -- does the passage compare two things, trace a cause to an effect, or present a problem and a solution?
• Evidence and counterargument -- which detail supports the claim, and how does the author handle the other side?
• Figurative language -- similes, metaphors, and images that carry meaning beyond the literal.