Reading Comprehension 100
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Test-Taking Strategies for Reading
24. Be aware of the three types of questions you will have to answer:
- Always read the questions first. This will help you to focus your attention and direct you to the parts of the reading passage that are most important for you to understand.
- Make sure you understand exactly what each question is asking. STOP and take a moment to think about what you will need to look for in the reading passage. Sometimes it helps to put the question in your own words or circle key words in the passage (such as not, least, cause, effect, first, last).
- Do not leave any answers blank! On most tests, a blank answer is a wrong answer.
- Guess on any of the ones that you do not know. Choose what you think is the best answer by eliminating the choices that do not seem correct.
- Remember that most tests ask you to choose the best answer for each question, so it is important to read all of your answer choices and then eliminate the ones that do not seem correct or best answer the question.
- Never choose an answer that is not supported by something in the selection or your own background knowledge. Use prior knowledge of your life to see if an answer makes sense.
- If the answer you choose is in the reading passage, make sure that it answers what the question asks. This could be a trick - a choice that has information from the passage but does not answer what is being asked. Just because the answer choice is in the reading passage does not mean it is the correct answer.
- Skimming means to glance quickly at the reading passage to get a sense of the topics and important ideas. It should never be used as a substitute for careful reading of the passage. However, it can be able when going back after you have carefully read to find the information you need.
- Don't expect to always know the answers to most questions after only one reading. Most test takers expect to read the passage once and then be able to answer the questions. Good test takers learn how to go back into the passage again and again to find specific information.
- If the question says "According to the passage..." or "Presented in the passage...", make sure that the answer you choose is based on information you read in the passage.
- Never choose an answer that contains any wrong information. If any part of an answer choice is wrong, do not choose this answer.
- Understand that part of an incorrect answer is often correct, but may not be complete enough to be the best answer. You want to make sure that you always choose the most complete and correct answer, especially when you are working on main idea questions.
- Be aware that the answer to a question is often stated in words that are a little bit different from the exact words used in the reading passage. This is to test your comprehension, not just word recognition skills.
- About every 10 answers or so, check your answer sheet with your test booklet to make sure that you have been bubbling on the correct lines. If you wait until the end of the test to check over your answer sheet, you could have a problem.
- If you have time after you finish the test, go back and recheck all of your answers in this part of the test. Be sure to check the ones you guessed at first. Please take advantage of the time you are given. You won't be sorry.
- For main idea questions, always reread the first and last sentences. Also, skim through the reading passage to see how many times each of the answer choices is discussed.
- Don't confuse a supporting detail with the main idea. Remember that a supporting detail just explains or gives more information about the topic.
- When you finish a reading passage, try to sum up everything in one sentence. This should be very close to the main idea. You can do this the same way you would tell a friend about a new movie.
- For time and sequence questions, don't always expect to find all of the events given to you in correct order in the passage. These directions are not in order: "Pass up your homework after you sit down." The correct order is - first, set down, and second, pass up your homework. Something like this can fool you on a test. Also, remember to use your clue words for time and sequence (like first, then, before, finally, last, etc.).
- For vocabulary questions, when you have to choose the correct meaning of a word, it is helpful to read the sentence that the word is in, the sentence right before, and the sentence right after. This area of the passage surrounding the world is called the context. Context clues are words, phrases, and sentences that surround the word you do not know. Many sentences and paragraphs contain enough information for you to use the clues that the writer has left to figure out the meanings of many words you do not know.
- For fact and opinion questions:
- Statements that contains words like good, bad, or great, which show personal values are opinions. "We played a great game against Rancho High School."
- Statements reporting other people's opinions are facts. "The dean said our students are very polite and respectful."
- Statements by the writer that something is necessary, or wanted, or liked are opinions. "Everyone can enjoy our new menu in the cafeteria."
- Predictions are opinions. "Students would welcome a change in the attendance policy."
- Facts can always be checked or verified to be either true or false. With a fact, there can be no other reasonable point of view.
- Answers that seem humorous or ridiculous.
- Answers that contain extreme or absolute statements (all, always, never, no one, everyone, impossible, must, absolutely, etc.).
- Answer choices that are almost exactly alike or say the same thing in different words.
24. Be aware of the three types of questions you will have to answer:
- "Right There Questions" where the answer can be found right there on the page.
- "Think and Search Questions" where you must look in two or more places for the answer and then make an intelligent guess.
- "On Your Own Questions" where you must combine your own background knowledge with the information given in the reading passage.
Synonyms are words that have the same or almost the same meaning. For example, wet, damp, and moist are synonyms. You can use synonyms when you are reading to figure out words you do not know.
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. For example, up means the opposite of down, and hot is the opposite of cold. You can discover the meaning of unknown words when you know its opposite.
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. For example, up means the opposite of down, and hot is the opposite of cold. You can discover the meaning of unknown words when you know its opposite.
Context clues are the words and phrases around a new word that often provide clues to the word's meaning.