Reading practice VG2 - Context & Linking Words

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Final Test

1. Several reading texts
2. Irregular verbs

Reading practice

Context & Linking Words

For test week

When you have to read a text with questions to answer, do you start by reading
the questions or by reading the text?

Questions

Text

Tips on how to start with a text...

Where do you start?

• Look at the title.  What does it tell you?

• Look at the pictures (if there are any).
• Look at the questions.  How many are there?
• The questions are in the order of the text
• If you are a quick reader, skim the text first
• When finished reading, read the questions and scan the text to find the answers
  

Skimming & Scanning

Skimming and scanning are reading techniques that use rapid eye movement and keywords to move quickly through text for slightly different purposes. 

Skimming is reading rapidly in order to get a general overview of the material. Scanning is reading rapidly in order to find specific facts. 

While skimming tells you what general information is within a section, scanning helps you locate a particular fact. Skimming is like snorkeling, and scanning is more like pearl diving.

Use skimming in previewing (reading before you read), reviewing (reading after you read), determining the main idea from a long selection you don't wish to read, or when trying to find source material for a research paper.

Use scanning in research to find particular facts, to study fact-heavy topics, and to answer questions requiring factual support.

What is this text about? How do you know?

What do you do if you
don't know a word?

What do you do if you

don't know a word?

Decide if the word is important. Do you need to know it to understand the text?

Decide what the word means by looking at the context. Is it a verb or a noun?  Is it positive or negative? Does it contain parts of (Dutch) words you know?

Words in context... that's when they get more meaning!

lethargic

What does that word mean?

And now some context...

Diane was lethargic.  She didn't have

the energy to get out of bed.

Words in context... that's when they get more meaning!

garrulous

What does this word mean?

And now some context...

She was a garrulous taxi driver. She just kept going on and on about how beautiful

her city was during the trip to our hotel.

Signal/linking words

Signal/linking words help you find your way in a text.

They are very important for understanding a text.

They tell us how different parts of the text are linked.

Become familiar with common signal/linking words!

Write down two or three signal/linking words you know.
(words that link parts of sentences or different ideas together)

Some categories of signal words

• Addition: something else is going to be added to what was already said.
• Comparison: the writer is going to say how two things are the same.
• Contrast: the writer is going to say how two things are different.
• Time: information about when something happens, or in what order.
  
• Example: the writer gives an example of what they are talking about.
• Summary: the writer repeats the most important points of the text.
• Explanation: the writer gives a reason why.
  
• Conclusion/consequence: the writer says what message we should take from the text, or what will happen because of the things being described.
  

ADDITION

• and
• as well as
• additionally
• along with
• also
• furthermore
• besides
• on top of that
• in addition
• to add to that
• plus
• moreover
  

COMPARISON

• similarly
• likewise
• in the same way
• as well
• too
• in common
• equally
  

CONTRAST

• but
• although
• though
  
• however
• in contrast
• on the contrary
• on the other hand
• nevertheless
• yet
• despite
  

EXPLANATION

• because
• since
• for
• as
  

TIME

• currently
• now
• initially
  
• next
• later
• at first
• (mean)while
• earlier
• in the past
• once
• after
• until
  

EXAMPLE

• for instance
• for example
• such as
• to show
• to illustrate
  

SUMMARY

• to sum up
• in short
• in brief
• in summary
  

CONCLUSION/

CONSEQUENCE

• so
• consequently
• that's why
• as a result
• therefore
• thus
• hence
• as a consequence
  

Signal/linking words

In the next sentences, choose the best signal/linking word.

I set the alarm for 6:30 _____ I wouldn't miss the train.

1. because
2. so
3. until
4. while

He didn't come in until past midnight ____ he promised he would be home by 9 pm.

1. because
2. since
3. so that
4. although / even though

He decided to buy a new car ____ losing his job last month.

1. since
2. despite / in spite of
3. while
4. hence

She got the job ____ she had
very little experience.

1. thus
2. moreover
3. therefore
4. although / even though

The student's essay was badly written. ____ , it was too short.

1. However
2. Despite
3. Moreover
4. On the other hand

ADDITION

COMPARISON

CONTRAST

and

additionally

also

in addition

plus

similarly

likewise

in the same way

too

in common

but

although

however

nevertheless

on the contrary

on the other hand

furthermore

TIME

EXAMPLE

CONCLUSION/
CONSEQUENCE

currently

while

now

next

at first

later

for example

for instance

such as

to illustrate

to show

so

as a result

consequently

thus

therefore

that's why

hence

Irregular verbs

Search the net for tips on how to best study a list of irregular verbs.

Note down all the tips you can find in a document and save this in your English folder, please.

What do you think is the best tip for you to study & learn the irregular verbs?

Time left?

Do the Crossword Puzzles with Irregular verbs:

Crossword puzzle 1

Crossword puzzle 2