What is the meaning of 'textual evidence' in answering questions?

• A. An idea the passage suggests without stating directly.
• B. A fact the author repeats several times.
• C. A direct quotation from the author that supports your answer.
• D. Information from the passage used to support an answer.

Answer: (D)

Textual evidence is information from the passage used to support an answer. When you respond to a question, you point to specific details, facts, or exact words from the text and show how they back up the point you’re making. It can be a direct quotation or a precise paraphrase, as long as it accurately reflects what the text says and clearly connects to your conclusion. This grounding in the text shows your reasoning is based on the author’s material, not just your own opinion.

For example, if a question asks why a character feels hopeful, you could cite a line where the character talks about a new plan or a positive event in the story, or you could summarize the relevant moment in your own words and explain how that detail supports the hopeful interpretation. The key is that the evidence comes from the passage and is tied directly to the claim you’re making.

One of the other ideas would be an inference—an idea that isn’t stated outright but is implied by the text. That’s not the same as textual evidence, which relies on what the passage actually says. Repetition of a fact by the author isn’t automatically the evidence you’d use to support a conclusion, and while a direct quotation is a clear form of textual evidence, the broader concept also includes well-chosen paraphrase.