Supporting
Evidence

Learn how to find the exact words in a story that prove your answer is right.

ISEE Reading Comprehension

What Is Evidence?

Evidence is proof. In reading, evidence means the exact words or sentences in the passage that show your answer is correct.

Every Answer Needs Proof

Where Does Evidence Come From?

The Text Itself

Real evidence is found inside the passage — never from your own ideas.

Exact Words

The best clue uses words or sentences right from the story.

A Match

The evidence must connect directly to the question you are answering.

The Golden Rule

If you can read a line out loud and it clearly proves your answer, that line is your supporting evidence. If the line is about something else, it is not the proof you need.

Question, Answer, Proof

Real Evidence vs. A Guess

✓ Real Evidence

Comes from the passage. You can point to the exact sentence. It directly matches the question.

✕ A Guess

Comes from your own opinion. It "feels right" but you cannot point to a line. It may sound true but isn't in the text.

How to Find the Best Evidence

1

Read the question carefully. Underline the key word — what exactly is it asking?

2

Decide your answer first. Know what you believe is true before hunting for proof.

3

Go back to the passage. Skim for the sentence that talks about the same idea.

4

Test the line. Does it clearly prove your answer? If yes, that's your evidence!

Example 1: Maya's Garden

Question: How do we know Maya took good care of her garden?

Example 2: The Brave Puppy

Question: Which sentence shows that Pip was brave?

Example 3: Picking the Best Line

Question: What proves Tomas was excited about the museum?

Weak: "The museum opened at nine."

This tells the time, not how Tomas felt.

Best: "had been waiting since seven"

Arriving two hours early shows real excitement!

Common Mistakes

✕ Using Your Own Ideas

Picking what you think instead of what the passage actually says.

✕ True But Off-Topic

Choosing a line that is true but does not answer the question.

✕ Not Going Back

Answering from memory instead of rereading the passage.

Quick Checklist

Ask Yourself	Good Evidence	Bad Evidence
From the text?	Yes, an exact line	No, my own idea
Answers the question?	Yes, directly	Off-topic
Can I point to it?	Yes, right here	Not really
Proves the answer?	Clearly ✓	Just a guess

Let's Remember

Now let's practice. For each question, find the line that best supports the answer. Read carefully and go back to the passage!

Question 1 of 5

Sam had never ridden a bike before. His knees shook as he climbed on. His dad held the back of the seat and ran beside him. After a few wobbly tries, Sam pedaled all the way down the street by himself, grinning the whole time.

▼ Tap to read passage

Which line proves that Sam learned to ride the bike?

This line proves Sam learned, because he rode all by himself. The other lines show he was nervous or being helped — not that he succeeded.

Question 2 of 5

The old oak tree was the tallest in the park. Birds built their nests high in its branches. Squirrels hid acorns in the hollow at its base. On hot days, families spread blankets in its cool shade to eat lunch.

▼ Tap to read passage

Which line proves the tree gave shade on hot days?

This line directly mentions the "cool shade" where families ate, so it proves the tree gave shade. The other lines are about its height, birds, or squirrels.

Question 3 of 5

Lena wanted to win the science fair. Every day after school, she stayed in the lab to test her experiment again and again. She wrote down each result and fixed her mistakes. When the judges came, her project worked perfectly.

▼ Tap to read passage

Which line best shows that Lena worked hard?

Staying every day and testing "again and again" shows hard work. Wanting to win is a goal, not effort, and the project working is the result of her work.

Question 4 of 5

The storm knocked out the power all night. In the morning, the streets were full of broken branches, and one big tree had fallen across the road. Cars could not get through until the workers cleared it away.

▼ Tap to read passage

Which line proves the storm blocked the road?

A tree "fallen across the road" is what blocked it. Power and branches are storm damage too, but they did not block the road. The workers fixed the problem later.

Question 5 of 5

Diego was new to the school and sat alone at lunch. A girl named Priya walked over with her tray and asked if she could join him. Soon they were laughing and sharing snacks. Diego felt happy to have a friend.

▼ Tap to read passage

Which line proves that Priya was kind to Diego?

Priya choosing to sit with the new student who was alone shows her kindness. The other lines tell how Diego felt or what happened after — not Priya's kind action.

Great Detective Work!

You now know how to find the line that proves your answer. Remember: always point to the clue in the text!

SupportingEvidence

What Is Evidence?

Every Answer Needs Proof

Where Does Evidence Come From?

The Golden Rule

Question, Answer, Proof

Real Evidence vs. A Guess

How to Find the Best Evidence

Example 1: Maya's Garden

Example 2: The Brave Puppy

Example 3: Picking the Best Line

Common Mistakes

Quick Checklist

Let's Remember

Question 1 of 5

Question 2 of 5

Question 3 of 5

Question 4 of 5

Question 5 of 5

Great Detective Work!

Supporting
Evidence