What is a common task in the reading comprehension section?

In the reading comprehension section, answering questions based on a provided text passage is a central task. This activity involves several skills, such as recalling information directly from the text, interpreting implicit meanings, and making inferences based on the content presented. These questions often test the reader's understanding of key ideas, details, the structure of the text, and the author's intent.

Engaging with questions ensures that the reader has not only understood the words but can also analyze and synthesize the information effectively. This skill is crucial as it prepares students to interpret various kinds of texts they may encounter in academic and real-world settings. The other options, while related to reading skills, do not capture the typical nature of the questions asked in standardized reading comprehension assessments. For instance, summarizing the entire text or creating an alternate ending requires a level of synthesis and creativity beyond what most comprehension tests usually involve. Identifying the author’s purpose is a valuable skill, but it represents a specific aspect of comprehension rather than the general task of responding to a variety of questions about a text.