About Paragraph Comprehension

Paragraph Comprehension evaluates your reading comprehension skills through short passages followed by questions. You will need to identify main ideas, draw conclusions, determine word meaning from context, and understand the author's purpose. On the CAT-ASVAB, you have approximately 22 minutes for 10 questions. Like WK, PC is weighted double in the AFQT formula, making it extremely important for your overall score. The passages are typically 1-4 paragraphs long and cover diverse topics. Strong reading skills developed through regular practice will serve you well on this section.

Topics Covered

Main Idea Identification
Supporting Details
Drawing Conclusions
Making Inferences
Author's Purpose & Tone
Vocabulary in Context
Fact vs. Opinion
Cause and Effect
Sequence of Events
Summarization

Sample Questions

Study Tips for Paragraph Comprehension

Read the Questions First

Before reading the passage, quickly scan the questions. This helps you know what to look for while reading, saving valuable time.

Practice Active Reading

As you read each passage, mentally note the main idea, key details, and the author's tone. This makes answering questions faster.

Eliminate Wrong Answers

If you are unsure, use process of elimination. Cross out answers that are clearly wrong or not supported by the passage text.