Textual Evidence 2 Bank

Textual Evidence Tips and Tricks

• Base your answer only on what the passage says, not on outside knowledge.
• The correct answer must be supported by the text, not just sound reasonable.
• Go back to the exact lines mentioned and read a little before and after them.
• Strong evidence answers are usually direct, specific, and clearly connected to the question.
• Watch for answer choices that are:
  • too broad
  • too extreme
  • only partly true
• If two answers seem possible, choose the one with the strongest proof in the passage.
• When a question asks for the best evidence, look for the line that most directly proves the answer.
• Do not choose an answer just because it repeats words from the passage.
• Focus on the author’s main point, not just isolated details.
• Pay close attention to contrast words such as:
  • but
  • however
  • although
  • instead
    These often reveal the author’s real point.
• If the question asks what a character, speaker, or author believes, find the lines that show that attitude most clearly.
• Evidence should match the claim exactly, not loosely.
• Eliminate answers that require guessing.
• On paired questions, answer the main question first, then find the evidence that supports it.
• The best evidence usually explains why the correct answer is right, not just why the other choices are wrong.
• Stay literal before getting fancy.
  The test usually rewards careful reading more than overthinking.

Quick Test-Day Reminder

Do not ask, “Could this be true?”
Ask, “Where does the passage actually prove it?”
That is how you win textual evidence questions.