Which type of comprehension involves understanding information that isn't explicitly given but implied in a text?

• A. Literal comprehension
• B. Inferential comprehension
• C. Evaluative comprehension
• D. Metacognitive awareness

Answer: (B)

Inferential comprehension involves understanding information that isn’t explicitly stated but implied in a text. You use clues from the passage and your own background knowledge to draw conclusions about meanings, feelings, motives, or themes that the author hints at without saying directly. For example, if a character avoids eye contact and changes the subject after a question, you infer they’re uncomfortable or hiding something, even though the author doesn’t say it outright.

Literal comprehension, by contrast, focuses on facts directly stated—who did what, when, and where. Evaluative comprehension asks you to judge value or quality—whether an argument is convincing or a character’s actions are justified. Metacognitive awareness is about thinking about your own thinking while reading—monitoring understanding and deciding what strategies to use to improve it.