Supporting Evidence - ISEE Upper Level: Reading Comprehension

“One is preventive; the other is reactive”. Highlighting contrasting natures explicitly shows how the approaches vary in their fundamental strategies.

“Errors dropped from 20 to 3”. The significant reduction in errors provides measurable proof of the solution's success in improving outcomes.

“Orders doubled within two months”. The rapid increase in orders quantifies rising interest, directly supporting the conclusion of heightened demand.

Relevance to the conclusion. Relevance ensures the detail directly connects to and substantiates the conclusion, unlike length or emotional appeal.

The more specific detail. Specific details offer precise, targeted support that strengthens the conclusion more effectively than general ones.

A direct quote from the passage. Direct quotes offer unambiguous textual proof, surpassing personal beliefs or external knowledge in evidential strength.

A specific fact. Specific facts provide concrete, verifiable support, unlike vague opinions or unrelated examples that lack direct relevance.

Charged word choice that reveals tone. Charged words convey the author's emotional stance and tone, offering stronger insight than neutral plot events.

A repeated central point. Repeated points highlight the core message, providing robust support unlike isolated minor details.

Specific passage details that directly justify the stated conclusion. Evidence in reading comprehension must consist of precise textual elements that logically validate the inferred conclusion.

An explicit causal statement (cause leads to effect). Explicit statements clearly link cause to effect, offering direct evidence beyond mere temporal indicators.

A stated similarity or difference. Stated comparisons explicitly highlight parallels or contrasts, providing targeted support unlike random facts.

Cited data and sources. Cited data and sources lend objective credibility, far outweighing subjective insults in validating claims.

Concrete sensory description of the environment. Sensory descriptions vividly establish the setting through tangible details, unlike subjective character opinions.

The central problem stated or shown. The central problem directly illustrates the conflict, offering core evidence beyond peripheral background details.

A pattern across the passage. Patterns reveal recurring ideas that embody the theme, providing comprehensive support unlike singular events.

Surrounding context clues in the passage. Context clues within the passage offer immediate, text-specific insights into word meaning, superior to external definitions.

“Boarded windows and stocked food”. These preparatory actions demonstrate the town's fear through proactive behaviors in response to the impending storm.

“Perhaps”. This word indicates hesitation and doubt, directly evidencing the speaker's lack of certainty in the statement.

“No reaction occurred despite heating”. The absence of the expected outcome despite proper conditions confirms the experiment's lack of success.

“Brilliant and tireless”. Positive descriptors express the narrator's high regard, revealing admiration through complimentary language.

“Spending fell by 15% after adoption”. The quantifiable decrease post-policy implementation directly demonstrates its cost-reducing impact.

“Shared her lunch with strangers”. The act of sharing illustrates selflessness, providing behavioral evidence of the character's generous nature.

An action described in the text. Actions provide behavioral evidence that demonstrates the trait through showing rather than merely labeling it.