Which Reading skill is most directly associated with citing textual evidence to support an analysis?

• A. Analyzing author's purpose and perspective
• B. Determine meaning of words in context
• C. Determining central idea
• D. Citing Evidence

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is using exact words from the text to back up a thoughtful claim about what you’ve read. When you analyze, you make a statement about the text—like what a character reveals, what the author implies, or how a theme develops—and you prove that statement by citing specific passages or quotes. This shows your interpretation is grounded in the text itself, not just your opinion.

For example, if you argue that a character’s courage grows after a turning moment, you would point to lines where the character acts bravely or where the narrator describes a shift in feelings. Those quotes demonstrate exactly why your analysis is convincing.

Other reading skills, like figuring out the author’s purpose, identifying the central idea, or determining word meanings in context, involve understanding different aspects of the text. They’re important, but they aren’t about backing up an analysis with concrete text evidence in the same direct way. That connection between claim and textual support is why citing evidence is the best fit.