NLN PAX

The Verbal section assesses the reading comprehension and vocabulary skills essential for nursing education. Success requires understanding short written passages, interpreting meaning, evaluating what an author says and why, and demonstrating strong word knowledge, including the medical terms you will meet throughout nursing school.

Understanding Context in Reading

Context is the surrounding information that helps determine meaning. Skilled readers use context to understand unfamiliar words, interpret ambiguous statements, and grasp the full significance of a passage. Context includes the words, sentences, and paragraphs surrounding a particular phrase or idea.

ClueType	SignalWords	ExampleandHowItWorks
Definition	is means refersto isdefined , , ,	"Hypertension whichishighbloodpressure affectsmillionsofAmericans" , , .
	as	Thedefinitionappearsimmediatelyaftertheterm .
Synonym	or alsoknownas similarly , ,	"Thepatientexhibitedlethargy orextremetiredness followingtheprocedure" , , .
		Thesynonymclarifiesthemeaning .
Antonym	but however unlike whereas , , , ,	"Unlikethechronicconditionshehadexperiencedforyears thisillnesswas ,
	incontrast	acute ." The contrast shows that acute means short-term or sudden .
Example	suchas forexample , ,	"Pathogens suchasbacteria viruses andfungi cancauseinfectious , , , ,
	including like ,	diseases"Theexamplesshowwhatpathogensare . .
Inference	Nosignalword	"Thenurseadministeredtheanalgesic andwithinanhour thepatientreported , ,
		significantpainrelief"Theoutcomeshowsthatananalgesicrelievespain . .

Strategies for Using Context

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Before focusing on the unfamiliar

Commas, dashes, and

The passage's subject and

Replace the word with your

word

parentheses often set off

purpose narrow the meaning

guess and confirm the sentence

definitions

still makes sense

Reading for Main Ideas

The main idea is the central point or primary message of a passage. It answers the question: What is this passage primarily about? Main ideas may be stated explicitly or implied.

Appears in a topic sentence, usually at the beginning or end of

Must be inferred. Identify the topic (the subject), then

a paragraph. In longer passages, the thesis statement typically

determine what the author says about it. The implied main idea

appears in the introduction.

should cover all major points without being too broad or too narrow.

Identifying Supporting Details

Supporting details provide evidence, examples, explanations, or elaboration for the main idea. Types include facts and statistics, examples and illustrations, reasons and explanations, descriptions, and expert testimony. Major supporting details directly support the main idea; minor supporting details elaborate on major details. Distinguishing between them shows which information matters most.

Understanding Paragraph Structure

Many passages follow an introduction–body–conclusion structure: the introduction presents the topic and main idea, body paragraphs provide supporting details, and the conclusion summarizes or reinforces the main point.

Pattern	WhatItDoes
Chronologicalorder	Presentseventsintimesequence
Causeandeffect	Showsrelationshipsbetweeneventsandoutcomes
Compareandcontrast	Examinessimilaritiesanddifferences
Problemandsolution	Presentsanissueandwaystoaddressit
Classification	Dividesatopicintocategories
Description	Providesdetailedcharacteristicsofasubject

Making Inferences

An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning. Readers combine information in the text with prior knowledge to understand implied meaning, and a valid inference is always logically supported by the text.

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Note the details the text gives

What the author suggests but

It must follow from the evidence

does not state

Nothing the text does not back

up