In a supporting details question, which approach best leads to the correct answer?

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When you’re identifying a supporting detail, the strongest signal is finding information in the text that conveys the same idea as the detail but in different words. The author often supports a claim by restating it or expressing it with other wording rather than quoting it exactly. So the best choice is the option that comes from the text and restates the detail in a reworded form. This shows the text truly backs the detail without relying on identical phrasing.

If you came across wording that matches the detail exactly, that’s not as reliable a clue because authors don’t always quote in the exact same words. If an option isn’t mentioned in the text at all, it can’t be a supported detail. So, a restated, reworded connection found in the text is the clearest indicator that the detail is being supported.