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 10 scored questions with a 27-minute official subtest limit. PC combines with WK to derive Verbal Expression (VE), which is weighted in the AFQT composite, making reading comprehension important for overall AFQT performance. 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

Sample Question 1
Read the passage: 'All new recruits must report to Building C by 0600 hours on Monday. Bring your issued equipment and identification. Failure to appear on time will result in disciplinary action.' When must recruits report?
  • 6:00 PM Monday
  • 6:00 AM Monday
  • 6:00 AM Sunday
  • Noon Monday
0600 hours in military time is 6:00 AM. The passage specifies Monday.
Sample Question 2
Read: 'The scientist's hypothesis was initially met with skepticism. However, subsequent experiments validated her theory.' What happened to the scientist's hypothesis?
  • It was rejected
  • It was proven correct
  • It remained unproven
  • It was modified
'Validated' means confirmed or proven correct through subsequent experiments.
Sample Question 3
Read: 'Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises rapidly into the atmosphere. As this air rises, it cools and the water vapor condenses into clouds. The most severe storms occur when there is a large temperature difference between the rising air and surrounding atmosphere.' Severe storms require:
  • Cold air only
  • Large temperature difference
  • Slow-moving air
  • Dry conditions
The last sentence states 'most severe storms occur when there is a large temperature difference.'

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.