Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints

As you read, look for three things: who is speaking, what they argue, and why.

There may be disagreements, partial agreement, or conditional support. Avoid reducing every opinion to simply “for” or “against”.

If a question says According to..., locate that person. An option may appear in the article and still be incorrect because it belongs to a different voice.

When the article says “Glenwood argues that...”, it presents Glenwood's opinion. It does not automatically mean that the article's author agrees.

Look for attribution phrases such as argues, believes, points out, or according to. Check whether the next sentence continues that opinion or introduces another one.

Read this short practice article:

The city is considering restrictions on advertisements for sugary snacks near schools. Dr. Albright supports the restrictions because she believes children should face less commercial pressure when choosing food.

Local shop owner Mr. Glenwood worries that a complete advertising ban could reduce sales at small businesses. He supports clearer nutritional information but would prefer limits on where advertisements appear rather than a total ban.

According to Glenwood, what should the city consider?

Read the comment as a new voice: it may support one part of the article and challenge another.

1. Identify its overall position.
2. Locate the people or proposals it mentions.
3. Notice contrasts and conditions, such as while, however, or provided that.
4. Check which option completes the idea and fits grammatically.

Return to the relevant passage of the article when unsure. A targeted reread can resolve the issue without starting over.

Use the previous article to complete this comment:

While I support protecting children from advertising pressure, I agree with Glenwood that the city should ______.