Explanation
Evidence or proof questions on the SAT reading section require you to locate and identify specific evidence within the passage that supports or justifies a particular claim, statement, or argument. These questions assess your ability to carefully analyze the passage and find textual evidence to support your answer choice. You need to accurately select the relevant lines or sentences that provide the best support for the given question.
Example question lead-ins for evidence or proof questions on the SAT reading section include:
- “Which line(s) provide the best evidence for the previous statement?”
- “Based on the passage, what supports the author’s claim that…?”
- “Which sentence best supports the idea that…?”
- “According to the passage, what is the main reason for…?”
- “What can be inferred from the evidence presented in lines X to Y?”
These question lead-ins indicate that you will need to find specific evidence within the passage to back up the claims or ideas presented. It’s crucial to closely examine the question and answer choices while referring back to the passage to locate the most accurate evidence. Remember, the evidence should directly support the question being asked, and incorrect answer choices may be taken out of context or not directly supported by the passage.