Training Reading comprehension

Reading Comprehension
Tips & Tricks for your test
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EngelsMiddelbare schoolvmbo k, g, t, mavo, havo, vwoLeerjaar 4-6

This lesson contains 37 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 120 min

Items in this lesson

Reading Comprehension
Tips & Tricks for your test

Slide 1 - Slide

What?
- Know your signaling words

- Build your vocabulary

- Types of questions

- Practice, Practice, Practice

Slide 2 - Slide

Signaling words
Make sure you can:
A) recognize the words
B) Know which connection they imply
C) How they are used in a sentence
(D) Learn them)


Slide 3 - Slide

Which words belong to which connection? Drag the correct answers to each other. 
As well as
In short
To praise
To criticize
For instance
expands on/summation
consequence/conclusion
Support (positive)
contradiction
examples

Slide 4 - Drag question

He should not be doing this job, ... he was not trained for it.
A
despite
B
however
C
since
D
such as

Slide 5 - Quiz

Which word signals a contradiction?

Slide 6 - Open question

Steps
1. Scan: Title, pictures, intro -> what is the text's topic?
1a. DON'T READ THE WHOLE TEXT!
2. Read the question: Which paragraphs are important?
3. What type of question is it?  ABCD/gap/open/statements?

4. Follow the steps related to question types.

Slide 7 - Slide

Questions:
- Multiple choice
- Open question (quote/answer)
- Gap-fill
- Statements

Slide 8 - Slide

Which is the most difficult?

Slide 9 - Mind map

Multiple choice: Steps
Read the question, not the answers! Useful information?
In the example you can see you should be looking at paragraphs 1 & 2


We can also see the word relate in the question. Need to look for a signaling word and what type of connection there is in the text.

Slide 10 - Slide

Multiple choice 
1. Read the relevant text
2. Spot important words
3. Read the answers.
4. Dismiss obvious wrong answers.
5. Does the answer fit with the topic of the text? (You scanned the text).
6 Choose your answer.

Slide 11 - Slide

Which of the following is in line with the main idea of paragraph 4?
A
A country’s economy is dependent on its culture.
B
Cultural diversity should preferably be preserved.
C
Local cultures are readily sacrificed in the quest for profit.
D
The significance of cultural differences is underestimated.

Slide 12 - Quiz

Explained
The questions wants you to find the main idea
- Important words: yet (l. 1), but (l.3) 

- A is about a country's economy. Not present in the paragraph.

- C says something about Profits being more important than Cultures. Also not in the paragraph

- Leaving B and D.

- B is positive,  D is negative. 
Our important words are both negative: therefore D is the correct answer.

Slide 13 - Slide

What is the point made in paragraphs 1 and 2?
A
In the past the male Y chromosome used to be more substantial.
B
Men are hardly able to cope with challenges of their male pride.
C
Procreation may one day be realised without male participation.
D
The male physique is deteriorating at an alarming pace.

Slide 14 - Quiz

Explained:
Same type of question: what is the central idea in the paragraphs

- Words:  but (l. 1), But (l. 4), So...that (l. 6).

-  C has the word procreation, not really what the text is about.
- D is about the maie physique, not mentioned. 

The first but (l.1) signals that the Y-chromosone is 'losing'. The second But (l. 4) signals that the chromosone isn't what it used to be.

There is a change over time, therefore A is the correct answer.




Slide 15 - Slide

Statement questions
Yes/No questions

Slide 16 - Slide

Steps:
What part of the text do you need to read?.

What are you going to look for? Which are the important words? For example:
- Names, places
- Everything you can measure (een gebrek), and times (tegenwoordig)

Make sure you know the English translations for these words.
Also look for signaling words.

Statement 1 has 'te warm' (measurable) and 'tegenwoordig' (ime) 


Slide 17 - Slide

De Afrikaanse kuststreek is tegenwoordig te warm voor pinguïns.

FYI: The text is generally about penguins in Africa.
A
Juist
B
Onjuist

Slide 18 - Quiz

Explained:
One of the statements was: De Afrikaanse kuststreek is tegenwoordig te warm voor pinguïns. 

No 'warm' or anything to do with temperatures: 
'onjuist'

Slide 19 - Slide

Mr Moody’s looks and manner invite people to share their private
thoughts with him.
A
Juist
B
Onjuist

Slide 20 - Quiz

Explained:
The statement is: Mr Moody’s looks and manner invite people to share their private thoughts with him.

You could search for something to do with private 

Signaling words: as a consequence  (l. 4), or (l. 5), in short (l. 6), and (l. 7).

l. 4 has the word confidence, which in this context has something to do with private thoughts. Other information also tells us that the statement is correct. The last sentence, starting with In short, confirms the answer.  

Slide 21 - Slide

Open questions
Read the question carefully! It will already give you a lot of information:

  • Where to look and what for
  • How to answer the question: quote, first two words, in Dutch


Slide 22 - Slide

Steps:
  1. Read the question - identify the part of the text you need to look at.
  2. What does the question want you to do
  • Provide an example?
  • Show a contradiction?
  • Give a summation?
  1. Use this answer to look for signaling words that show that connection in the text.
  2. You'll find the answer close to the signaling word.
  3. Write the answer in the way the question wants you to. 
Voorbeeld

Wat is volgens alinea 1 de belangrijkste oorzaak voor het krimpen van de
aantallen rode eekhoorns? 
Geef antwoord in het Nederlands. 

--> Find paragraph 1.
--> Find the main cause/reason
--> There is a reduction in red squirrel numbers
--> Answer in Dutch (using your own words)

Slide 23 - Slide

Wat is volgens alinea 1 de belangrijkste oorzaak voor het krimpen van de
aantallen rode eekhoorns?
Geef antwoord in het Nederlands.

Slide 24 - Open question

Explained:
The question was: Wat is volgens alinea 1 de belangrijkste oorzaak voor het krimpen van de
aantallen rode eekhoorns?
Geef antwoord in het Nederlands. 

-  yet (l.2)

- If we read the sentence starting with yet  we see the word predominantly, which means almost the same as most important.

- The whole sentence tells us that the main reason is a virulent virus that is causing the decline in numbers. 

- put that down in Dutch

Slide 25 - Slide

Gap-fills
There are TWO kinds of gap-fills:

- Gap-fills for signaling words/words with a specific function
You could get a question asking how one paragraph relates to another.

- Proper gap-fills





Slide 26 - Slide

Steps: type 1 (signaling words)
- Read the sentence before and after the gap. 

- How do these sentences relate to each other?

- Which word corresponds with this relation?

- Unsure? Read a bit more of the paragraph. You could also take a closer look at the words in the answer. Are there lots of examples: choose the word for 'for example', the same goes for summations, contradictions, etc.  

Slide 27 - Slide

Examples:
Answers: A But then
                    B Instead
                    C Similarly
                    D Therefore 

Read the sentence before and after the gap.
Before: recognized in France
After: recognized in China
The word needs to communicate an extension: C


Slide 28 - Slide

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 4?
A
Consequently,
B
Moreover,
C
Similarly,
D
Yet,

Slide 29 - Quiz

Explained:
A Consequently,
B Moreover,
C Similarly,
D Yet 

Before: reader needs to be critical (raise concerns)  of programmes in which journalists and the authorities work together. 
After: we have the word witch hunt  (referring to the above cooperation) which was ignored. 
We have a contradiction: D 


Slide 30 - Slide

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 2?
A
Obviously
B
In other words
C
Consequently
D
Yet

Slide 31 - Quiz

Proper Gap-fills
- Read the sentence before and after the gap (sometimes you might need to read more)

- Any signaling words? Preferably near to the gap.

- Unsure? Choose the answer that is closest to the topic of the text. 

Slide 32 - Slide

Example:
Answers:
A annoying
B British
C funny
D international 
- The sentence before ends with a colon (:). This denotes  example(s). We also have and  immediately in front of the gap. We need an answer that fits with the others in the sentence.
- After: we have another colon. This shows that what follows is a conclusion. The conclusion being that Mr Bean is a symbol for something (the nation). 
The answer is B. 

 

Slide 33 - Slide

Which of the following fits the gap in the text?
A
has become unpopular
B
is no longer justifiable
C
is understandable
D
may finally catch on

Slide 34 - Quiz

Which of the following fits the gap in paragraph 1?
A
numerous significant discoveries
B
our closer analysis of metadata
C
radical changes in the field
D
the ever-shrinking size of our focus

Slide 35 - Quiz

In conclusion
Knowing your signaling words and a few tricks can get you a long way. 

Practicing makes all the difference: 
  • Builds your experience with questions
  • Builds your knowledge of signaling words
  • Builds your vocabulary

Even just reading more English, at the appropriate level, can make a huge difference.


Slide 36 - Slide

Any questions left?

Slide 37 - Mind map