BFP Entrance Exam Analytical Ability — Tips in Reading ComprehensionFlash Cards

What is reading according to reading comprehension principles?

Reading is an active process of constructing meanings of words. Its main purpose is to unite the ideas on the page to what you already know. Reading can entertain us, amuse us, and enrich us with different knowledge and experiences.

Define SKIMMING as a reading technique.

Skimming is getting the general idea or gist of a text by reading the first and last paragraphs and the first and last sentence of each paragraph in a relevant section. It's a reading technique where you can glance over the material to find what you are looking for.

What is SCANNING and how does it differ from skimming?

Scanning is locating precise information by identifying key terms or expressions that will address where the subject is. It's a reading strategy used for getting specific points by looking at the whole text. Unlike skimming (which gets general ideas), scanning targets specific information.

Explain DETAILED READING and when to use it.

Detailed reading involves considering critical aspects of the text through close reading of the entire text or important sections. It's the most labor-intensive and time-consuming technique because readers carefully read, consume, and analyze each word for meaning, piecing together word meanings in sentences for deeper understanding.

What is REVISION READING?

Revision reading involves reading quickly through material with which you are already familiar, in order to confirm knowledge and understanding. This technique is used to review previously learned content.

Define ACTIVE AND CRITICAL READING.

Active and critical reading helps in retaining information by giving an in-depth understanding of the text. It requires asking yourself questions throughout the reading and thinking critically about the meaning of words, significance of facts, or the author's purpose.

What is reading comprehension?

Reading comprehension is the ability to process text, understand its meaning, and integrate with what the reader already knows. It requires analyzing text by getting meaning from what is directly stated and asking questions to interpret it - essentially understanding and interpreting what is read.

Why should you read the paragraph first before reading the questions?

Reading the paragraph first prevents distraction from questions and allows better comprehension of the whole section. This approach helps you: read as fast as possible without skipping lines, anticipate what the passage is about, remember the author's major point, and better verify answers by referring back to the passage.

Where are main ideas or topic sentences typically found in paragraphs?

Main ideas or topic sentences are usually found at the beginning or ending part of a selection. However, they can also be found in the middle part or any part of the selection. Always check opening and closing sentences as they commonly contain the paragraph's main point.

What does 'choose directly stated options' mean in reading comprehension?

Choose options that are directly stated in the text. Avoid choosing an option - no matter how good it sounds - if it is not stated in the paragraph. This prevents selecting attractive but incorrect answers that aren't supported by the text.

List the question types that ask for main ideas in reading comprehension.

Main idea questions include: 'What is the text all about...?', 'The article or text is talking about...?', 'The text is primarily concerned with...?' These questions test your ability to identify the central theme or topic sentence of the text.

What are specific detail questions in reading comprehension?

Specific detail questions test your ability to understand what the author explains obviously. Examples include: 'The author states that...', 'The author implies that...', 'According to the paragraph...' These focus on explicitly mentioned information.

Explain inference questions and provide examples.

Drawing inferences measures your ability to interpret ideas beyond what the author explicitly stated. Examples include: 'It is likely to...', 'The writer implies that', 'It is implied that'. These require reading between the lines to understand unstated meanings.

What do tone or attitude questions test?

Tone or attitude questions test your ability to sense the writer/author's mood or tone. Examples include: 'What emotion is best expressed in the text?' and 'Which of the following best describes the tone of the author?' These assess emotional understanding of the text.

What do vocabulary questions measure in reading comprehension?

Vocabulary questions measure your ability to understand words and match unfamiliar words or phrases with their meanings. Examples include: 'The term... means...' and 'The underlined phrase... means'. These test word comprehension in context.

Why should you watch out for titles that are too specific or too broad?

When choosing titles for paragraphs, ensure the title is specific and comprehensive enough to cover everything written in the passage/text. Too specific titles miss important content, while too broad titles don't accurately represent the focused content of the passage.

What does 'trust your own judgment' mean for inference questions?

During inference questions, don't choose options directly stated in the text. Instead, choose options that logically develop from the information in the paragraph. Use your reasoning ability to draw conclusions that aren't explicitly mentioned but can be reasonably inferred.

How do you identify mood, tone, and emotions in texts?

Look for words that convey emotion. These emotional words will help identify whether the tone is happy, sad, angry, excited, or fearful. The author's choice of emotional language reveals their attitude toward the subject matter.

What are context clues and why are they important?

Context clues are hints within the paragraph that help understand new and difficult words. Don't rely only on word familiarity - a word can have different meanings depending on usage. Using context clues helps better understand the text and widens vocabulary knowledge.

What marking techniques should you use while reading for comprehension?

Underline and make simple marks on words or phrases you cannot understand or words/phrases you think represent the strong main points of the text. This helps identify key concepts and areas needing review while maintaining reading flow.