Reading Comprehension

Question 1

strategies

RC Process

Answer 1

1 - Write down the main idea in your own words (ignore taking notes on specific facts stated)

2 - Create a content neutral outline of structural purpose

Question 2

strategies

Create outline of structure purpose.
Give an example of what this would look like.

Answer 2

Outline should be content neutral.

Example 1: 
P1: Intro to theory
P2: Examples of theory
P3: Recent problems with theory
P4: Possible solutions to problems

Example 2:
P1: Background on subject
P2: New discovery about subject

Example 3:
P1: Old way of doing thins
P2: New way
P3: Possible improvements in future

Question 3

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Principles of Reading Comprehension

Answer 3

1) ENGAGE WITH THE PASSAGE - your attitude toward the passage manters
2) LOOK FOR THE SIMPLE STORY - what is the gist of the passage, think in terms of a) text it to me, b) table of contents, or c) content and judgement. *Don’t forget the twist
3) LINK TO WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW- concretize, imagine what it looks like
4) UNPACK THE BEGINNING - think of it as smaller sentences
5) LINK TO WHAT YOU HAVE JUST READ - what is the relationship? new or expected? support or oppose? answer or ask a question?
6) PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNALS - paragraph breaks, signal words
7) PICK UP THE PACE - read the first paragraph and faster as you go along. only pay attention to beg. of paragraphs, surprises, and results

ref: Ch1 Reading Comprehension study guide

Question 4

strategies

4 components of a passage

Answer 4

1) THE POINT- most important, the crux of the simple story; could be a resolution, answer, new idea, reason
2) BACKGROUND - to understand the point, context and facts
3) SUPPORT - evidence, assertions, opinions FOR
4) IMPLICATIONS - results from point

FORESHADOWING - sometimes present, clues as to where the passage is going
BIG PICTURE - introduces or summarizes some kind of main idea
CHANGES OF DIRECTION - can signal some kind of twist, a contrast or qualification
DETAIL - signal to pay less attention on first read-through

ref: Ch 2 Reading Comprehension study guide

Question 5

strategies

Why should you make a PASSAGE MAP and what should be in it?

Answer 5

PASSAGE MAP helps remember the simple story. It helps you Predict Answers to general questions and know where to Find Details

Map should consist of the

1) The Point
2) Purpose of each paragraph
3) other info from Simple Story by paragraph

Because you don’t need to study this later, language does not need to be ultra clear. Use Common Notations to ABBREVIATE.

ref: Ch 3 Reading Comprehension study guide supplement pdf

Question 6

strategies

What are GENERAL QUESTIONS? What steps should you take to answer them?

Answer 6

ask about PRIMARY PURPOSE and PARAGRAPHS

Steps:
1) ID that the question is a general question
2) FIND THE SUPPORT - you should not have to look at the passage, only memory or passage map
3) PREDICT an answer
4) ELIMINATE answers that don’t match your prediction
Eliminate 4: mark the answer and move on
Eliminate 2 or 3: compare answer to relevant info in passage or to each other
Eliminate 0-1: Did you answer the right question? If yes, guess and move on

ref: Ch. 4 Reading Comprehension study guide supplement pdf

Question 7

tip

What does “disinterested” mean in an answer choice?

Answer 7

neutral

Question 8

strategies

What are the 3 types of RC questions?

Answer 8

Detail: Questions that ask you to find a specific detail in the passage

Inference: Not stated explicity in the passage but can be proven to be true by what is in the passage

Specific Purpose: Why the author mentions something or uses an example

NOTE: You may also see other types such as strengthen and weaken questions