READING 800/3 TIPS (2)

READING COMPREHENSION

• USUALLY THE DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THE COMPREHENSION PASSAGES WILL INCREASE WITH EACH PASSAGE
• FOR EACH PASSAGE, THERE WILL BE 7-8 QUEST. THAT COVER:

         1. CONTENT

       2. VOCABULARY

        3. CRITICAL THINKING

READING COMPREHENSION TIP NO 1

• Answers usually follow the sequence 

i.e. Read the passage carefully as the answer for the 2nd quest. is usually found between the answer for quest. 1 and quest 3.

• e.g if the answer in Q1 is in line 5 and Q3 is in line 20, then the answer for Q2 is most likely around line 6 to 19

READING COMPREHENSION TIP NO 2

Use the anaphoric (before) or cataphoric (after) referencing technique to find the answer.

• ANAPHORIC REFERENCE (BEFORE THE WORD)

A study was conducted on 200 Malaysian respondents. The researchers conducted the survey by giving them questionnaires to answer.

1) The word 'them' refers to

    a) the study
    b) the respondents
    c) the survey
    d) the questionnaires

• CATAPHORIC REFERENCE (AFTER THE WORD)

It is one of the most common sleep disorders & a major health problem. In fact, insomnia affects normal rest patterns and as a result insomniacs find it difficult to fall asleep

1) The word 'it' refers to

    a) sleep
    b) health
    c) insomnia

 READING COMPREHENSION TIP NO 3

When you cannot locate the answer directly, you need to 'infer' i.e. make intelligent assumptions.
e.g. Many people brought the products. Profits increased due to the high sales

All the statements are false except :

     a. the product was a failure
     b. the product was a success
     c. the product was expensive
     d. the product was easy to use

*pay attention to word like 'except' and 'not' as it may trick you into choosing the wrong answer. Other common phrases used include, which of the following is true?

READING COMPREHENSION TIP NO 4

• FOR VOCABULARY

          E.g. The word................. in line 3 refers to
          1. Eliminating impossible answer
          2. identify the root word
          3. identify prefixes and / or suffixes
          4. use anaphoric or cataphoric referencing
          5. select the most likely answer

READING COMPREHENSION TIP NO 5

• FOR PREDICTION

          E.g. A suitable title for the passage is.............
          Read the text carefully before selecting the best title

• DRAWING CONCLUSION

          Read the entire text carefully before summing it up.

READING COMPREHENSION TIP NO 6

• FOR WRITER'S STYLE

          E.g. The writer develops his ideas using
                  a. Compare & contrast
                  b. Problems & solution
                  c. Cause & effect
                  d. Timeline

You need to read the text carefully to see the writer's line of argument

READING COMPREHENSION TIP NO 7

• FOR WRITER'S TONE

         E.g. The writer's purpose to
                 a. support
                 b. inform
                 c. go against
                 d. persuade

You have to think about the writer's main intention of writing the text