Supporting Details in Informational Texts: SAT Reading Quiz
Last Updated: 26 December 2025
Test your ability to identify supporting details in informational passages with 12 SAT-style questions at the foundation level. In informational texts—articles, essays, reports, and nonfiction—supporting details are facts, statistics, examples, or expert statements that provide evidence for claims. This skill is essential for the Information and Ideas strand and appears frequently on the SAT Reading section.
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic cells. When sunlight hits these cells, it creates an electrical current that can power homes and businesses. In 2023, solar energy provided 4.5% of the total electricity generated in the United States. The technology has become significantly more affordable over the past decade, with installation costs dropping by approximately 70% since 2010.
Which detail from the passage best supports the claim that solar energy has become more accessible?
Question 2 of 12EASY
Regular exercise provides numerous health benefits beyond weight management. Studies show that physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease by up to 35%. Exercise also improves mental health, with research indicating that 30 minutes of moderate activity three times per week can reduce symptoms of depression. Additionally, regular physical activity strengthens bones and muscles, helping prevent injuries as people age.
Which detail provides the strongest quantifiable evidence for exercise's health benefits?
Question 3 of 12EASY
The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system. It stretches over 1,400 miles and comprises more than 2,900 individual reefs. The reef is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life, including over 1,500 species of fish, 400 types of coral, and numerous species of sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Scientists estimate that the Great Barrier Reef supports approximately 10% of the world's total fish species.
Which detail best supports the claim that the Great Barrier Reef has remarkable biodiversity?
Question 4 of 12EASY
Which sentence provides factual evidence rather than opinion?
Question 5 of 12EASY
Urban gardens are transforming cities across the United States. These community spaces provide fresh produce in areas where grocery stores are scarce. A 2022 study found that neighborhoods with community gardens reported 25% higher consumption of fresh vegetables among residents. Beyond nutrition, urban gardens create gathering spaces that strengthen community bonds and provide educational opportunities for children to learn about food production.
Which detail most directly supports the claim that urban gardens improve nutrition?
Question 6 of 12MEDIUM
Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining market share as battery technology improves and costs decline. In 2022, EVs accounted for 7.2% of new car sales in the United States, up from just 2.3% in 2019. The average range of electric vehicles has increased from approximately 100 miles per charge in 2011 to over 250 miles in 2023. Additionally, the number of public charging stations has grown dramatically, with more than 50,000 stations now available nationwide.
Which detail provides the most compelling evidence that EV adoption is accelerating?
Question 7 of 12MEDIUM
Honeybees play a crucial role in agriculture through pollination. Approximately one-third of the food consumed by humans depends on pollination by bees and other insects. A single honeybee colony can pollinate up to 300 million flowers in a season. However, bee populations have declined significantly in recent decades, with some regions reporting losses of up to 40% of colonies annually. This decline threatens food security and ecosystem stability.
Which detail best supports the claim that honeybees are essential to food production?
Question 8 of 12MEDIUM
Which sentence presents verifiable evidence rather than subjective judgment?
Question 9 of 12MEDIUM
Reading to young children significantly impacts their language development and future academic success. Research shows that children who are read to regularly starting in infancy enter kindergarten with vocabularies 1.4 million words larger than children who are not read to. Early reading exposure also improves attention span, enhances imagination, and builds neural pathways that support literacy. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that parents read aloud to children from birth.
Which detail provides the most specific evidence for reading's impact on vocabulary development?
Question 10 of 12MEDIUM
Which sentence provides objective data rather than interpretation?
Question 11 of 12HARD
Microplastics—plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters—have become ubiquitous in Earth's ecosystems. Scientists have detected these particles in ocean water, soil, air, and even human blood. A 2023 study found microplastics in 100% of tested water samples from major rivers worldwide, with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 particles per liter. While the full health impacts remain under investigation, preliminary research suggests that microplastics can accumulate in organs and potentially disrupt hormonal systems.
Which detail most effectively supports the claim that microplastic pollution is widespread?
Question 12 of 12HARD
Which sentence provides measurable evidence that could be independently verified?
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Answer Key
Q1: C - 70% cost drop is specific evidence of increased accessibility
Q2: B - 35% risk reduction is quantifiable, specific health benefit
Q3: C - Numbers of species directly prove biodiversity
Q4: B - 15,000 visitors is verifiable fact, not opinion
Q5: C - 25% increase is measurable evidence of improved nutrition
Q6: B - Market share growth from 2.3% to 7.2% proves accelerating adoption
Q7: B - One-third of food depending on bees proves their essential role
Q8: B - 15% cost reduction is verifiable, measurable data
Q9: B - 1.4 million word difference is specific, measurable evidence
Q10: A - Temperature and time are objective, measurable facts
Q11: C - 100% presence in tested samples proves widespread pollution
Q12: B - 18-point test score increase is measurable and verifiable
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How to Review Your Mistakes
Step 1: Categorize Your Errors
Review which types of questions you missed. Did you struggle more with passage-based questions or evidence vs. opinion drills? Identifying patterns helps you focus your study.
Step 2: Analyze Why You Chose the Wrong Answer
For each mistake, ask: Did I choose a detail that was too general? Did I pick something interesting but irrelevant? Did I select opinion instead of evidence? Understanding your error patterns prevents repetition.
Step 3: Compare Your Choice to the Correct Answer
Read both your answer and the correct answer side-by-side. Identify what makes the correct answer more specific, more measurable, or more directly supportive of the claim.
Step 4: Look for Keywords in Correct Answers
Notice that correct answers often include numbers, statistics, percentages, or specific facts. These quantifiable details make stronger evidence than general statements.
Step 5: Practice Distinguishing Evidence from Opinion
Evidence can be verified (tested, measured, observed). Opinion reflects judgment or belief. Practice identifying this difference in everything you read—news articles, textbooks, online content.
Step 6: Retry After 48 Hours
Wait two days, then retake the quiz without reviewing answers first. If you get previously-missed questions correct, you've learned. If not, review the explanations again and identify what you're still missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between supporting details in informational texts versus literary texts?
In informational texts, supporting details are typically facts, statistics, research findings, and expert statements. In literary texts, they're character actions, descriptions, and dialogue. Both prove claims, but informational details are usually more objective and measurable.
How do I distinguish between evidence and opinion?
Evidence can be verified through observation, measurement, or documentation. Opinion reflects personal judgment, belief, or interpretation. Ask: "Can this be objectively proven or measured?" If yes, it's evidence. If it involves "better," "should," "best," or "most important," it's likely opinion.
Why are numbers and statistics considered strong support?
Quantifiable data provides objective, measurable evidence that can be verified. A claim like "solar costs dropped 70%" is more convincing than "solar became more affordable" because it gives specific, provable information. The SAT favors concrete evidence over vague statements.
What if a detail is true but doesn't support the specific claim?
This is a common trap. A detail can be accurate and related to the topic without supporting the particular claim in the question. Always check: Does this detail prove THIS SPECIFIC IDEA, or just provide related information? Choose the most direct support.
Should I choose the longest or shortest answer?
Length doesn't determine correctness. Focus on specificity and directness. The best supporting detail directly proves the claim with concrete, measurable information—whether that takes 5 words or 20 words.
How can I improve my speed on these questions?
First, read the question to know what claim needs support. Then scan the passage for numbers, statistics, or specific facts related to that claim. Keywords like "study found," "research shows," or percentages often signal strong supporting details.
What score indicates mastery at foundation level?
Consistently scoring 10-12 out of 12 (83-100%) indicates solid mastery. If you score 9 or above, you're ready for medium-difficulty passages. Below 8, review the explanations and practice distinguishing specific evidence from general statements.
Do all supporting details have to be facts, or can they be expert opinions?
Expert statements can serve as supporting details when they're attributed to credible sources and presented as evidence. However, pure facts and measurable data are typically stronger support than statements of opinion, even from experts.
About This Quiz
NUM8ERS Tutoring — By Admin
Last Updated: 26 December 2025
This quiz is designed for foundation-level SAT students (score band below 370) and aligns with College Board's Information and Ideas testing domain. All passages and questions are original and match official SAT difficulty and format for informational texts.
