What comprehension passages test
Every JAMB comprehension passage is followed by a mix of question types: literal (the answer is stated directly), inferential (the answer is implied, not written), vocabulary-in-context, tone/attitude, and main idea/title. Knowing which type you're facing tells you where to look for the answer.
Read the questions first
Before reading the passage itself, skim the questions (not the options). This tells you what to hunt for, so your first read of the passage is already purposeful instead of passive.
The two-pass approach
First pass: read the whole passage at normal speed for the general idea -- don't stop for words you don't know. Second pass: go question by question, scanning back to the relevant part of the passage to confirm your answer. Never answer from memory alone; always verify against the text.
Literal questions
These ask for a fact stated directly in the passage. Scan for keywords from the question -- names, numbers, dates -- and read the sentence around that keyword carefully.
Example 1: A passage states "The festival, first held in 1962, now attracts over ten thousand visitors annually." A question asks when the festival began.
Scan for the number and read its sentence: the passage states 1962 directly, so that is the literal answer -- no interpretation needed.
Inferential questions
These ask what the passage suggests without saying it outright. Look for word choices, contrasts, or cause-and-effect language that point to an unstated conclusion.
Example 2: A passage describes a trader who "counted his coins twice before locking the shop, then walked home by the longer, well-lit road." A question asks what this suggests about the trader.
Nothing states he is careful or cautious, but counting money twice and choosing a longer, well-lit route over a shorter one both imply caution -- that is the inference, built from two small details rather than one stated fact.
Vocabulary-in-context questions
These ask what a word means as used in the passage -- not its general dictionary meaning. A word like "sound" can mean "healthy," "make noise," or "reasonable" depending on context; always re-read the full sentence, not just the word.
Example 3: "Her argument was sound, backed by three independent studies." A question asks what "sound" means here.
The sentence is about an argument backed by evidence, not about noise or health -- so "sound" here means valid/well-founded, not any of its other common meanings.
Tone and the author's attitude
Tone questions ask how the author feels about the subject, shown through word choice rather than direct statement. Common tone words tested: critical, admiring, sarcastic, nostalgic, objective/neutral, sympathetic, mocking. Words like "sadly," "unfortunately," "remarkably," or "predictably" are strong tone signals -- watch for them.
Main idea and title questions
The main idea is usually built or confirmed in the first and last paragraphs -- the opening introduces the topic, the closing often restates or sums it up. A wrong option for a "best title" question is usually too narrow (only covers one paragraph) or too broad (covers more than the passage discusses).
Example 4: A passage spends one paragraph each on causes of soil erosion, its effects on farming, and government prevention efforts. A question asks for the best title.
An option naming only "Causes of Soil Erosion" is too narrow -- it ignores two of the three paragraphs. The best title covers all three: something like "Soil Erosion: Causes, Effects, and Prevention."
Common traps to avoid
Options containing absolute words like "always," "never," or "completely" are often wrong, because passages rarely make such strong claims. An option can also be true in real life but still wrong if the passage itself never says it -- always check the text, not your outside knowledge.