Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension exercise consists of a passage, upon which ns
are set to test the student's ability to understand the content of the text and
to infer information and meanings from it. Comprehension of a passage means
understanding it thoroughly. It forms a very good exercise for intelligent
reading.
Reading comprehension is meant to test the intelligence of the
student to express his thoughts independently in a simple, clear, direct and
precise manner. This form of exercise eliminates memorizing.
Reading Comprehension is
meant for testing the power of understanding of the students. When a student
studies something, he should try to grasp the meaning of it.
Comprehension tests do not require the students to write much but
require them to have an idea of the reading material and answer the questions
in a word, a few words or a sentence or by putting ticks, crosses, numbers or
drawing arrows etc.
Unseen passages may be set either for Comprehension or Summarising
or both (comprehension and summarising). Let us discuss the two forms one by
one.
You may be required to answer some questions after reading a
paragraph of prose which is not extracted from your books. The questions
are content-based and designed to test: (a) grasp of the main theme
of the passage. (b) grasp of essential details. (c) power of observation.
(d) understanding of main ideas in relation to the main theme. (e)
ability to answer questions in exact and proper words.
So, an exercise in comprehension is a two-fold exercise. First you
have to comprehend (understand) the passage thoroughly and then to write
answers in your own words (in English). It forms a very good exercise to test
intelligent reading, judicious selection and correct expression.
Hints
for Answering Questions: It is not
difficult to answer questions on a given passage because the answers are
present in the passage itself. Keep the following hints in mind while answering
content based questions.
1. Before trying to answer the questions that follow the given
passage, we should read the passage two or three times to understand it fully.
After that the questions are to be read with care. Then the passage should be
read again paying particular attention to the questions asked.
2. Then we should find out the central idea or the main idea or
thought of the passage. This forms the title of the passage. The title or the
heading of the passage should not be in the form of a sentence. It should be a
word or a phrase or an expression which gives the, theme of the passage.
Generally, the title/heading is found in the beginning or at the end of the
passage. All important words of the title should be written with a capital
letter.
3. The questions should be read and answered carefully. As far as
possible, the language of the passage should not be copied. Answers should be
simple, brief, and grammatically correct.
4. Each answer should be given separately. Its number should
correspond to the number of the question.
5. Sometime we may be asked to give the meanings or antonyms of
certain words in italics or a single word for the italicised words. For this
the knowledge of 'synonyms', 'Antonyms' and 'one word substitution' is
necessary.
6. Finally, we must read the questions one by one and compare them
with our answers to see whether they are in conformity with the spirit and
requirement of the questions.
7. 4. Use complete sentences.
8. If you are asked to give the meaning of any words or phrases,
you should express the idea as clearly as possible in your own words. Certain
words require the kind of definition that is given in a dictionary. Take care
to frame the definition in conformity with the part of speech.
9. Write the answers in brief, simple and correct language.
10. The answer should be in the same tense as that of the question.
11. Find out the title of the passage from the main theme.
Hints
for finding a Suitable Title:
(1) Ask yourself the question, "what is this passage
about?" The answer will be the main theme or central idea of the pare Read
the opening and concluding lines of the given passage These help in
understanding the substance of the passage Sometimes they also contain the key
sentence which may be modified to form the title. The title should not be a
sentence. It may be a word, a phrase of expression which gives the theme of the
passage (N) There are no hard and fast rules about the number of words in a
title. However, try to use minimum words. Begin all important words in the
title with capital letters.
Summarising: A Summary is a shorter version of the essentials of some passage
or passages All unnecessary details are left out. The ideas or facts given in
the passage are restarted in a well-ordered prose. Summarising is a good
exercise in comprehension and composition. It serves a double purpose. It helps
the students to develop the power of grasping ideas and then stating them
briefly and clearly in their own words.
Hints
for making a Summary:
1. Read the passage carefully. Try to understand the writer's
purpose or intention.
2 Find the central theme or main idea of the passage. Generally it
is contained in the first or the last sentence. Sometimes the central thought
is found in the body of the paragraph.
3 Note down the important points related to the main theme.
4. Go through the passage
once again and underline the relevant points.
5 Arrange the important points in their order. This will be the
outline summary.
6 Write out the summary Link
one sentence with another.
7. Write the summary in your
own words. Use third person, indirect speech and past tense, wherever possible.
8. The summary should not exceed the prescribed limit or one-third
of the original.
9 Assign it a suitable heading, even if the heading is not asked
10. As far as possible keep out similes, metaphors, examples.
explanations, allusions and repetitions
Ways
of Compressing: Conciseness is
the soul of a Precise (Summary). This can be achieved by following points:
(i)
Substituting a single word for a phrase.
(ii)
Substituting an adverb or
phrase for adverb clause.
(iii)
Substituting a noun or phrase for a noun clause.
(iv)
Substituting an adjective or phrase for an adjective clause.
(v)
Synthesis of simple
sentences into a simple or complex sentence.
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