Supporting
Evidence

Master the skill of selecting evidence that supports a claim: the foundation of every strong reading comprehension answer.

ISEE Middle Level

What Is Supporting Evidence?

When you read a passage and answer a question, you are often asked to prove something. Supporting evidence is the specific detail, fact, quote, or example from the text that backs up a claim or answer choice.

Why It Matters on the ISEE

Common Question Type

Many ISEE reading questions ask you to identify which line or detail supports an idea.

Eliminates Guessing

When you can point to a specific part of the passage, you stop guessing and start proving.

Boosts Accuracy

Students who use evidence answer correctly 2 to 3 times more often than those who rely on memory alone.

The Claim-Evidence Connection

Types of Evidence

Direct Quote

The author's exact words, often in quotation marks: "The river was dangerously high."

Specific Fact

A concrete number, date, or statistic: "Temperatures rose by 15 degrees."

Example or Detail

A scene, action, or description that illustrates a point: "She donated her entire savings."

Evidence vs. Opinion

	Evidence	Opinion
Source	Found in the passage	Comes from your own feelings
Verifiable	✓ Can be pointed to	✕ Cannot be proven from text
Language	Facts, numbers, quotes	"I think...", "probably..."
ISEE value	Always a valid choice	Almost always a trap answer

The Evidence Test Strategy

1

Read the claim. What is the question asking you to prove or support?

2

Return to the passage. Scan for keywords related to the claim.

3

Underline specific details. Find a fact, quote, or example that directly connects to the claim.

4

Match to an answer choice. The correct choice will paraphrase or reference what you underlined.

5

Eliminate distractors. Cross out choices that are true but do not support this particular claim.

Applying the Strategy: Step by Step

Worked Example: Easy

Claim: The Arctic fox is well adapted to its environment.

Question: Which detail best supports this claim?

✕ Weak Choice

"The Arctic fox lives in cold places." This is true but too vague: it does not explain how the fox is adapted.

✓ Best Evidence

"It changes its fur from brown to white to blend in with the snow." This is a specific detail that directly shows adaptation.

Worked Example: Medium

Claim: Maria was dedicated to science.

1

Identify the claim: Maria was dedicated to science.

2

Find evidence: "spent every afternoon at the library, poring over science journals" shows consistent effort.

3

Additional evidence: "won first place" and "received a scholarship" show results of dedication.

4

Best choice: The answer that mentions her daily library habit is the strongest evidence because it shows the action, not just the outcome.

Worked Example: Hard

Claim: The council believed the park would benefit the town economically.

Trap answer: "Several residents wrote letters." This is a true detail from the passage, but it supports the opposition, not the council's economic argument.

Beware the Distractor Trap

Strong vs. Weak Evidence

	Strong Evidence	Weak Evidence
Specificity	Precise facts, numbers, quotes	Vague generalizations
Relevance	Directly connected to the claim	Related to the topic but not the claim
Source	Clearly stated in the passage	Inferred or assumed
Example	"Sales increased 40%"	"The company was doing well"

Signal Words That Point to Evidence

Certain phrases in questions tell you to look for supporting evidence. Watch for these:

Question Signals

"Which detail best supports..." "According to the passage..." "The author includes ... in order to..."

Passage Signals

"For example..." "In fact..." "Specifically..." "This is shown by..." "As evidence..."

Common Mistakes

✕ Choosing "True but Irrelevant"

A detail may be factually correct and from the passage, but if it does not support the specific claim, it is wrong.

✕ Relying on Memory

Never answer from what you "remember." Always go back and reread the specific lines. Memory distorts details.

✕ Picking the Most Dramatic Detail

Dramatic or emotional details feel important, but the best evidence is the most relevant, not the most exciting.

Quick Reference Summary

Concept	Key Idea	What to Do
Claim	The main idea you must support	Identify it before looking at choices
Evidence	A specific detail from the passage	Underline it in the text
Distractor	True but supports the wrong claim	Ask: "Does this prove this claim?"
Signal words	"Best supports," "according to"	Tells you to find evidence
Strategy	Read, Return, Underline, Match, Eliminate	Follow all 5 steps every time

Question 1 of 5

"The population of monarch butterflies has declined by nearly 90% over the past two decades. Scientists point to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change as the main causes. Milkweed, the only plant on which monarchs lay their eggs, has been disappearing from farms at an alarming rate."

▼ Tap to read passage

Claim: Habitat loss is a major threat to monarch butterflies. Which detail from the passage best supports this claim?

The disappearance of milkweed is a specific example of habitat loss. Choices A and B are true but support different claims. Choice D is not stated in the passage.

Question 2 of 5

"After the earthquake, the town rebuilt its school in just four months. Volunteers from across the state donated supplies, and local businesses provided free construction materials. The new school featured earthquake-resistant walls and an expanded library."

▼ Tap to read passage

Claim: The community worked together to rebuild after the earthquake. Which evidence best supports this?

Volunteers and businesses working together is direct evidence of community collaboration. Choice C shows speed but not teamwork. Choices A and D describe the building, not the community effort.

Question 3 of 5

"Thomas Edison is often called the greatest inventor in American history. He held 1,093 patents, more than any individual of his era. Among his inventions were the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a practical long-lasting light bulb."

▼ Tap to read passage

Claim: Edison was an exceptionally productive inventor. Which detail is the strongest evidence?

The specific number (1,093 patents) is the strongest evidence because it quantifies his productivity. Choice B is an opinion. Choices C and D are single examples, not as powerful as the total count.

Question 4 of 5

"The ancient Romans built a vast network of roads that stretched across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. These roads allowed soldiers to move quickly from one region to another. Merchants also used the roads to transport goods, helping trade flourish throughout the empire."

▼ Tap to read passage

Claim: Roman roads helped the economy grow. Which detail from the passage supports this claim?

Trade and merchants relate directly to the economy. Choices A and B describe the roads' scope, not their economic impact. Choice C supports a military claim, not an economic one.

Question 5 of 5

"Dr. Hernandez noticed that students who ate breakfast scored an average of 12 points higher on math tests than those who skipped it. She also observed that breakfast-eaters were more attentive during morning lessons and less likely to visit the nurse for headaches."

▼ Tap to read passage

A student claims: "Eating breakfast improves academic performance." Which detail is the weakest evidence for this claim?

Visiting the nurse for headaches is about health, not academic performance. Choices A and B directly relate to school performance. Choice D describes the study method, not a result: but C is the weakest because it is least relevant to the specific claim about academics.

SupportingEvidence

What Is Supporting Evidence?

Why It Matters on the ISEE

The Claim-Evidence Connection

Types of Evidence

Evidence vs. Opinion

The Evidence Test Strategy

Applying the Strategy: Step by Step

Worked Example: Easy

Worked Example: Medium

Worked Example: Hard

Beware the Distractor Trap

Strong vs. Weak Evidence

Signal Words That Point to Evidence

Common Mistakes

Quick Reference Summary

Question 1 of 5

Question 2 of 5

Question 3 of 5

Question 4 of 5

Question 5 of 5

Supporting
Evidence