SAT Reading: Command of Evidence – Textual (Literary)

📘 What Are These Questions?

These questions ask you to identify which sentence or part of a literary passage best supports a claim, interpretation, or answer to a previous question. They usually follow an analysis or inference question and require you to cite the best textual evidence.

🎯 Purpose of These Questions

Support an inference with direct evidence.
Match the claim to the most relevant sentence or phrase.
Deepen understanding of literary techniques and structure.

🔍 Strategy to Answer

1. Understand the First Question: Don’t look at the evidence choices yet. Solve the inference or analysis question first.
2. Predict the Evidence: Ask yourself: “What exact part of the passage made me think this?”
3. Eliminate Distractors: Remove lines that are too vague, unrelated, or off-topic, even if they contain similar words.
4. Be Precise: Choose the line that directly supports your interpretation, without requiring assumption.

📖 Example (Literary Passage)

“She wandered the hallway, her fingers trailing along the dusty picture frames. Each step echoed in the silence like a forgotten memory trying to be heard.”

Q1: What does the author suggest about the woman’s emotional state?

A) She is energetic and focused.
B) She is detached and indifferent.
C) She is nostalgic and reflective.
D) She is confused and disoriented.

Q2 (Evidence): Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to the previous question?

A) “She wandered the hallway...”
B) “...her fingers trailing along the dusty picture frames.”
C) “Each step echoed in the silence like a forgotten memory...”
D) “Trying to be heard.”

❗ Common Mistakes

Picking a sentence with similar words but no actual support.
Choosing a line that sets the scene but doesn’t confirm the claim.
Falling for a poetic or emotional line that lacks relevance.

📈 Practice Tips

Cover the choices and try to find the evidence yourself.
Use official SAT practice sources (like Bluebook or Khan Academy).
Compare close options by asking: “Which one directly proves the idea?”