Read a passage and answer questions on it, choosing from printed options. At HSK 3 the passages are two or three sentences with one question; higher up they are full paragraphs or longer texts with several questions each.
Questions cover the main idea (这段话主要说什么), details, the meaning of a phrase in context and the writer’s attitude. Wrong options typically go too far, reverse a detail or say something the text never claims.
The instruction on the paper
读短文，选出正确的答案。
Read the passage and choose the correct answer.
HSK 7, 8 and 9 are one exam. Everyone sits the same paper and the score decides which of the three levels is awarded, so this part is the same whichever of them you are aiming for.
HSK 9 Reading Part 1 sample questions with answers
5 questions from our practice bank, in the format of the real paper. Try each one before opening the answer.
zài píng jià yī xiàng gōng gòng zhèng cè shí ， rén men xí guàn wèn " tā yǒu méi yǒu yòng "， què hěn shǎo wèn " wǒ men zěn me zhī dào tā yǒu yòng "。 zhè liǎng gè wèn tí de jù lí ， zhèng shì zhèng cè yán jiū de quán bù nèi róng 。 yī xiàng cuò shī tuī chū hòu zhǐ biāo gǎi shàn le ， bìng bù zú yǐ shuō míng shì tā qǐ le zuò yòng —— tóng yī shí qī hái fā shēng le bié de shì ， ér qiě bèi xuǎn zhōng shì diǎn de dì fāng wǎng wǎng běn lái jiù gèng yǒu tiáo jiàn chéng gōng 。 yào bǎ zhè xiē gān rǎo pái chú diào ， xū yào yí gè kě xìn de duì zhào ： yī qún zài qí tā fāng miàn jǐn kě néng xiāng sì 、 zhǐ shì méi yǒu jiē shòu zhè xiàng cuò shī de rén 。 méi yǒu duì zhào de píng gū ， jiǎng de shì gù shì ， bú shì zhèng jù 。
Policy evaluation needs a credible control group; without one you have a story, not evidence.
Question
作者认为人们很少问的问题是什么？
zuò zhě rèn wéi rén men hěn shǎo wèn de wèn tí shì shén me ？
A 什么时候开始
B 我们怎么知道它有用
C 谁提出的政策
D 政策花了多少钱
Show the answer
B 我们怎么知道它有用
Question
指标改善为什么不足以说明政策起了作用？
zhǐ biāo gǎi shàn wèi shén me bù zú yǐ shuō míng zhèng cè qǐ le zuò yòng ？
A 时间太短
B 数据是假的
C 同期还有别的因素
D 指标不准确
Show the answer
C 同期还有别的因素
Question
被选中试点的地方通常有什么特点？
bèi xuǎn zhōng shì diǎn de dì fāng tōng cháng yǒu shén me tè diǎn ？
A 本来就更有条件成功
B 距离更远
C 条件更差
D 人口更少
Show the answer
A 本来就更有条件成功
Question
可信的对照指的是什么？
kě xìn de duì zhào zhǐ de shì shén me ？
A 国外的经验
B 专家的判断
C 另一个时期的数据
D 其他方面相似但未接受措施的人
Show the answer
D 其他方面相似但未接受措施的人
Question
作者认为没有对照的评估是什么？
zuò zhě rèn wéi méi yǒu duì zhào de píng gū shì shén me ？
A 统计
B 故事
C 实验
D 证据
Show the answer
B 故事
How to approach it
Read the question before the passage so you know what you are looking for.
For main-idea questions, look closely at the first and last sentences.
For detail questions, find the sentence and compare it with each option.
Rule out options that are true but unstated, or that overstate the text with 总是, 一定 or 都.
Common mistakes
Choosing an option that repeats words from the text but changes their meaning.
Reading in an interpretation the text does not support.
Spending too long on one passage — reading time is tight at every level.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in HSK 9 Reading Part 1?
28. It is part 1 of 3 in the HSK 9 Reading section, which has 47 questions and lasts about 60 minutes, for 100 points.
How is HSK 9 Reading Part 1 marked?
Automatically. Every question has one correct answer and all carry the same weight. A wrong answer costs nothing more than a blank one, so never leave a question empty.
Is pinyin printed at HSK 9?
No. At HSK 9 the paper is printed in characters only, so you need to recognise the characters themselves.
How many options are there?
Three at HSK 3 and four from HSK 4 up.
Should I read the whole passage first?
For short passages, yes. For long ones, read the questions first and then read the passage with them in mind.
Can I practise HSK 9 Reading Part 1 online?
Yes. HSK Test has practice sets for this part, built like the real paper. Create a free account to start; your answers and scores are saved, so you can see how you are improving.