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Explicit Information
Retrieval

Learn how to find answers that are stated directly in a reading passage. The information is right there in the words.

ISEE Lower Level: Reading

What Is Explicit Information?

The word explicit means something is said clearly and directly. Explicit information is a fact that the passage states using actual words you can point to.

Find the Words on the Page

The dog is brown. Question: What color is the dog?

Why This Skill Matters

Easy Points
Explicit questions are some of the simplest on the test. The answer is already written down.
Build Confidence
Getting these right gives you time and energy for harder questions later.
No Guessing
You can prove your answer by pointing to the exact words in the passage.

Question Words That Signal Explicit Answers

When a question uses these words, the answer is usually stated directly in the passage:

"According to..."
"According to the passage, where did Maria go?"
"The passage states..."
"The passage states that the cake was made of...?"
"Who / What / Where / When"
"When did the storm begin?" — look for the exact detail.

The Golden Rule

Question "According to..." Find Exact Words in the passage

Stated vs. Figured Out

Explicit (Stated)
The passage says: "Sam ate two apples." Question: "How many apples did Sam eat?" Answer: two — written right there.
Implicit (Figured Out)
The passage says: "Sam's stomach growled all morning." You figure out Sam is hungry — not stated directly.

Steps to Find the Answer

1
Read the question carefully. Underline the key word (who, what, where, when).
2
Go back to the passage. Scan for that key word or its topic.
3
Find the exact sentence that answers the question.
4
Match it to a choice. Pick the option that uses the same idea as the passage.

Worked Example One

Question: According to the passage, which vegetable grew the fastest?

Worked Example Two

Question: What did the students see at the museum?

Worked Example Three

Question: According to the passage, what are penguins good at?

Common Mistakes

✕ Using Memory
Answering from what you remember instead of going back to read the exact words.
✕ Picking "Sounds Right"
Choosing an answer that feels true but is never actually stated in the passage.
✕ Wrong Detail
Grabbing a fact that is in the passage but answers a different question.

Quick Summary

Explicit Implicit
Where is it?Written in the passageHidden between the lines
How to answerFind the exact wordsFigure it out from clues
Signal words"According to," "states""suggests," "probably"
DifficultyEasierHarder

Remember the Three R's

1
Read the question and find the key word.
2
Return to the passage and scan for that word.
3
Read the exact sentence and match it to your answer.

Question 1 of 5

According to the passage, what color is Nibbles?

Question 2 of 5

According to the passage, what time does the library open?

Question 3 of 5

According to the passage, what did Maria pack in her bag?

Question 4 of 5

According to the passage, where was the school play held?

Question 5 of 5

According to the passage, how long can a blue whale grow?

Great Work!