READING STRATEGIES

I-GUESS THE MEANING FROM CONTEXT

In reading section of the test, you maybe asked to find out the meaning of a word or phrase in the
text. That word or phrase may be the difficult one that you have never seen before. They may
also have different meanings. However the text will provide you an explanation or example of
the meaning of that word or phrase. What you need to do is to look at those examples or
explanations in the text. This context will give you the clue to understand the word or phrase.

Example:

It had been raining hard through the night so the ground was saturated.

In this context, the word “saturated” means “completedly wet”

There are four common types of context clues:

1. Examples

Signals of examples in the text: for example, for instance, such as, including, like, as an
example, cases of, instances of, type of, (e.g) ….

Example:

Although the hazards of the trip were many – for example, the unbearable heat, the lack of
water, the possibility of getting lost, the presence of wild animals and poisonous snakes – the
man nevertheless decided that he must go.

The examples listed in the text can help you understand the meaning of the word “hazards”,
which means “dangers”

Exercise:
1. A great part of Canada’s economy is based on its natural resources, for instance coal,
oil and wood.
A natural resource is _______________________________________
 2. Despite the risks, new businesses are expanding everywhere, from natural resources,
manufacturing, construction, real estate, retail trade and – especially – service industries such as
consulting and tourism.
A service industry is ________________________________________
3. The reporter talked to many auto-industry executives, e.g. company presidents and
vice-presidents.
An executive is ____________________________________________
4. The research company said that less-established car makers such as Subaru and Isuzu
could be forced out of North America.
Less-established is _________________________________________
5. The Big Three are designing radical new cars including vehicles that use radar and
advanced computers.
Radical is _________________________________________________

2. Synonyms

Signals: means, called, that is, also known as, or, is referred to as, is/are known as, by…is
meant…, similar to, can be defined as; or the phrases following the comma (,) dash (-), or
parentheses () …

Example:

I’m looking for a unique gift for my boyfriend; he appreciates unusual things.

In this sentence, the clause following explains the meaning of the kind of gift that is “unsual”.

Exercise:
1. The deluge, a flood of rain, threatened to drown the little town.
A deluge is ___________________________________________
2. Sleet (half rain and half snow) can be very difficult to drive in due to poor visibility.
Sleet is ______________________________________________
3. Freezing rain – rain which freezes when it hits the earth – also causes many accidents.
Freezing rain is ________________________________________
 4. People have gotten lost 10 meters from their homes in blizzards – snowfalls that come
down very thickly.
A blizzard is __________________________________________
5. Another dangerous form of weather is hail (falling balls of ice) which has been known
to get so big that it can break a car windshield.
Hail is _______________________________________________
6. A soft cloth will soak up a lot of water. Likewise, a sponge is very absorbent.
Absorbent means _____________________________________________
7. Spot cleaners as well as other bleach products are good at getting out stains.
A spot cleaner is ______________________________________________
8. A large family seems to have an infinite amount of laundry to do. Similarly, there are
always an endless number of dishes to wash.
Infinite means ________________________________________________
9. Both the vacuum cleaner and the smaller portovac are useful in doing the rugs.
A portovac is _________________________________________________
10. Pat finds washing dishes relaxing. In the same way, Jane finds folding laundry
soothing.
Soothing means _______________________________________________

3. Antonyms

Signals of antonyms in the text: however, but, yet, in contrast, although, on the other hand,
despite, while, in spite of, even though, unlike, nevertheless…

Example:

It kept me dry and warm even though I was soaked, and all of the moisture on my body passed
right through.

The word “soaked” here is somehow opposite to the phrase “dry and warm”; therefore, its
meaning can be “wet”
 Exercise:
1. Many of the elderly who go to programs at Centennial House are highly stimulated.
On the other hand, old people who stay home all the time are usually bored.
To be stimulated means _______________________________________
2. Alzheimer’s disease is a common problem in old age, but many old people continue to
have healthy minds.
Alzheimer ’s disease is ________________________________________
3. While many people live in rest homes, others still live on their own or with their
families.
A rest home is _______________________________________________
4. Many old people stay home in inclement weather, yet they go out walking on nice
days.
Inclement weather is __________________________________________
5. Instead of vegetating at home, lots of old people are very active in the community.
To vegetate is ________________________________________________

4. General sense of the sentence or text

Readers need to relt on their experience and background knowledge to figure out the meaning of
the word.

Example:

The strong wind will make your hair appear scraggy.

In this context, the word “scraggy” means “untidy”.

Sometimes, the readers can guess the meaning of the word based on its root, the prefix or suffix.
Following are some common roots, prefixes, suffixes and their meanings.

ROOTS/ MEANING EXAMPLES

PREFIXES/
SUFFIXES
-able, -ible Capable of being Enjoyable, eatable, comprehensible
Anti-, ant- Against, opposite Anticancer, antibody, antisseptic
Audi To hear Audience, audible, audition
Auto- Self Automobile, automatic, autograph
 Bi-, bine Two Biweekly, biannual, bicycle
E-, ex- Out, away, from Emit, exhale, exceed
For-, fore- Before Forecast, fortune, foresee
Hyper- Over, above Hypertension, hypersensitive, hyperactive
In-, im-, il-, ir- Not Impossible, illegal, irresponsible
-less Without, missing Useless, careless, hopeless
Mis- Wrong, bad, badly Misunderstand, mispronounce, mistake
Multi- Many, much Multinational, multilingual, multipurpose
Over- Above, too much Overwork, overhear, overload
Pre- Before Precede, pretest, pre-examine
Re- Back, again Report, revise, redo
Sub-, sup- Under, below Support, submarine, subnormal
-ward In a direction/ manner Homeward, downward, forward

Practice 1

What does the bold word in each sentence mean? Choose the best answer.

1. After the harvest, we had an abundant amount of apples. We made apple pie, apple
sauce, and apple juice because we had so many apples.
a. shortage b. very red c, not enough d. plentiful
2. When Sara was sick, her voice was almost inaudible. We couldn’t hear what she was
trying to say clearly
a. very loud, easy to hear c. very shy, introverted
b. very strange, uncommon d. very soft, hard to hear
3. After the heavy rains, the stream became murky; in fact, the water was so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
a. cloudy b. bottomless c. clear d. dark
4. Petra has so many friends because she is a gregarious person.
a. introverted, self-contained c. shy, quiet
b. rude, hostile d. friendly, outgoing
5. The debris on the stadium floor included numerous paper cups, ticket subs and cigarette
butts.
a. products b. papaers c. trash d. stationary
6. Most domestic dogs are smart. They can be trained for hunting. They can also be taught
to be watchdogs or guide-dogs for blind people.
 a. wild b. oversea c. hunting d. tame
7. Because of the warm, moist climate, almost any crop can be grown here, including rice,
cotton and sugar cane. Tobacco and even bamboo grow well. This city contains one of
the largest sugar refining plants in the world.
a. natural substances b. forest trees c. fruit-trees d. agricultural plants
8. The newlyweds agreed to be very frugal in their shoppingbecause they wanted to save
enough money to buy a house.
a. economical b. wasteful c. interested d. enjoyable
9. Bangkok has many important historic shrines. These include the temple of the Reclining
Buddha, and the Equestrian Statue of Rama V.
a. places with many government agencies and bureaus
b. places in which objects illustrating art, history, sciences, etc. are displayed
c. places on sports ground for use of players, spectators, etc
d. places associated with something or somebody deeply respected.
10. The coach takes every opportunity to censure his players, yet he ignores every
opportunity to praise them.
a. approve of b. choose c. criticize d. select.
11. The life spans of different rodents vary greatly. For example, a rabbit has a life span
more than twice as long as that of a rat and almost four times as long as that od a mouse.
a. animals with six legs and no backbones
b. animals which feed their young with milk
c. aninal which are kept in a zoo
d. animal with teeth adapted for biting
12. Nocturn creatures, such as bats and owls, have highly developed senses that enable them
to function in the dark.
a. feathery b. living c. dark d. active at night
13. Although Alex usually looks unkempt, he had a very neat appearance at his job
interview.
a. orderly b. handsome c. messy d. tidy
14. While Mecca’s apartment is decorated plainly, her clothing is vert flamboyant.
a. inexpensice b. washable c. flowery d. flashy
 15. Cockroaches don’t eat much, but they spoil food with their body wastes. They carry
germs of disease, including polio and typhoid fever that affects humans.
a. supply b. make c. chew d. damage

Practice 2

Most parents believe children become hyper when they eat too much sugar. Hyper children can
be very difficult to control. They sometimes act bizarre and their crazy behaviour can be too
stressful for parents. For a long time, parents have stopped children`from eating too much candy
because they do not want to deal with their excited behaviour. However, there is no scientific
proof that sugar does indeed affect behavior.

In line 2, the word bizarre is closest in meaning to

A. calm B. usual C. strange D. annoying

Practice 3

Every year, on the 1st of November, my mother asks me what I want for Christmas. This year I
told her, “I want the new Rendla video game.” Rendla, The Adventure Through Time was the
game of the year. Everyone wanted it. I waited patiently for Christmas to arrive.

Bright and early Christmas morning I went straight to the tree to open all my presents. I opened
everything but my video game was not there. I was really sad. It was the only thing I really
wanted.

I tried to put on a brave face and thank my family for all my other great presents, but they knew
I was disappointed. I thought I was going to cry. I ran up to my room so no one would see the
tears in my eyes.

To my surprise, there was a gift sitting on my bed. I tore the wrapping paper off the tiny box. It
was Rendla! I ran back downstairs and hugged my mom. I was the happiest boy in the world.

1. In the 3rd paragraph, the phrase put on a brave face is closest in meaning to
A. look sad
B. tell lies
C. pretend to be satisfied
 D. be frustrated with parents
2. In paragraph 4, the word tore is closest in meaning to
A. joined
B. ripped
C. applied
D. wrapped

Practice 4

The teddy bear is a child’s toy, a nice, soft stuffed animal suitable for cuddling. It is, however, a
toy with an interesting history behind it.

Theodore Roosevelt, or Teddy as he was commonly called, was president of the United States
from 1901 to 1909. He was an unusually active man with varied pastimes, one of which was
hunting. One day the president was invited to take part in a bear hunt; and in as much as Teddy
was president, his losts wanted to ensure that he caught a bear. A bear was captured, clunked
over the head to knock it out, and tied to a tree; however, Teddy, who really wanted to actually
hunt, refused to shoot the bear and in fact demanded that the bear be extricated from the ropes;
that is, he demanded that that the bear be set free.

The incident attracted a lot attention among journalists. First a cartoon – drawn by Clifford K.
Berryman to make fun of this situation – appeared in the Washington Post, and the cartoon was
widely distributed and reprinted throughout the country. Then toy manufacturers began
producing a toy bear which they called a “teddy bear”. The teddy bear became the most widely
recognized symbol of Roosevelts presidency.

1. According to line 1 of the passage, what is a “teddy bear”?

a. a ferocious animal
b. the president of the United States
c. a famous hunter
d. a plaything
2. In line 4, “pastimes” could best be placed by
a. things that occurred in the past
b. previous jobs
 c. hunting trips
d. leisure activities

II-RECOGNIZE REFERENTS

You may be asked to determine the referent for a particular pronoun or adjective; or find the
referent for a variety of words. A referent generally precedes the pronoun or adjective in the
passage; so, to answer this question type, you should study the contet around that.

Example:

This week, all cola machines will be taken out of Angel Grove Middle School. The
parents’association voted against keeping cola in the school because of the health issue it can
cause.

In line 3, the word it refers to

a. cola b. parent c. the school d. cola machine

Practice 1

This week, we, the townspeople of Salem, Michigan, are happy to announce that there will be a
new playground opening in the park. The old playground is not safe for children, so we have
decided to build a new one. Next weekend, builders and volunteers will be getting together to
build the new playground.

In line 3, the word we refers to

a. children b. volunteers c. playgrounds d. townspeople

Practice 2

There is a special group of plants that eat meat. Carnivorous plants eat insects that walk of fly
into the traps they use. You may have heard of some of these meat-loving plants, such as the
Venus Flytrap or the Asian Pitcher Plant. The Venus Flytrap is probably the most well-known.
When an insect walks across its leaves, the leaves shut quickly to lock it inside. Different meat-
eating plants use different methods to trap their food. Some have sticky leaves and others have
trap doors that close over their prey. These plants eat meat because they grow in wet areas where
the soil does not have many nutrients.
In line 2, the word they refers to

a. leaves b. insects c. carnivorous plants d. nutrients

Practice 3

Horatio Alger, Jr. (1832-1899) was the author of more than 100 books for boys in the second
half of the nineteenth century that focused on the theme of success coming to those who work
hard to achieve it. The son of a minister, Alger came from a prominent Massachusetts family. He
graduated with honors from Havard in 1852 and graduated from the Cambridge Divinity School
eight years later. He served as a minister for a short time before moving to New York City in
1866 to devote his time to writing inspirational books for boys.

In many of his books, he wrote about the poor and homeless children of the slums of New York
City, seeing them as unfortunate pawns of society who, if only given the opportunity, could
improve their lot. A general plotine that he followed often was of a poor boy who managed to
achieve a respectable and successful life by working hard and taking advantage of opportunities
presented. Though his writing style was characterized by simplicity and repetition, it was well
received by his target audience; his books were enormously popular, selling millions of copies
well into the first few decades of the twentieth century.

1. The word that in paragraph 1 refers to

a. author b. books c. boys d. half
2. The word it in paragraph 1 refers to
a. the second half
b. the nineteeth century
c. 100
d. success

Practice 4

Iron (Fe on the periodic table) is created through a long process that takes place in the center of
stars. When a star reaches the end of its life cycle, it explodes, and the iron is released. The metal
can be found in places all over the Earth, but scientists aren’t sure exactly how it got here. They
have come up with two separate theories to explain how iron showed up on the planet.
People from various ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Greeks, believed that iron fell
from the heavens in the form of meteorites. In fact, one ancient word for iron “anbar”, means
“fire and sky”. Some scientists agree with this early theory. They have found that iron is a
material in some of the meteorites found on Earth. However, meteoric iron is rare and is mostly
found in museums today.

Others think that iron was deposited onto the planet while it was still forming. Billions of years
ago, a neighboring star exploded and shot out hot gases onto it. The gases turned into iron when
they cooled. As the Earth continues to form, the iron sunk to the center of the planet. Scientists
explain that, as a result, large amounts of it are found in the Earth’s core.

1. The word it in paragraph 1 refers to

A. Star
B. Life cycle
C. Metal
D. Earth
2. The word others in the passage refers to
A. Greeks
B. Scientists
C. Meteorites
D. Museums

III – FIND FACTUAL INFORMATION

when you are asked questions about factual information, the answers to these multiple choice
questions are often restatements of what is given in the passage.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about questions
testing details

QUESTIONS ABOUT FACTUAL DETAILS

How to identify the question According to paragraph X…
It is stated in paragraph X…
It is indicated in paragraph X…
It is mentioned in paragraph X…
 How to anser the question 1. Choose a key word or idea in the
question
2. Skim the appropriate paragraph for the
key word or idea.
3. Read the sentence that contains the
key word or idea carefully.
4. Eliminate any definitely wrong
answers, and choose the best answer
form the remaining choices.
Ex:

John went to the store and bought apples. After that, he went to the bank before stopping at the
post office to mail some latters. Back home, he just watched some TV and took a nap.

1. What did John buy?

A. Apples
B. Oranges
C. Bananas
D. Carrots
2. Why did John go to the post office?
A. to mail some letters
B. to buy stamps
C. to talk to his friend
D. to get a package

Practice 1

Last week, Joanie Sherer took the gold medal in the 100 meter race at the school’s track andfield
competition. Joanie, a tenth-grade student in Mr. Yates’s class, was the only junior in the race.
She competed against five senior girls but still managed to win first place. When we asked her
how she did it, she said, “’ I’ve been running races for over five years. I won because of how
much I’ve been practicing.’’ No one at the school knew Joanie had been training so much. This
information made the senior girls feel much better about their loss. Sara, last year’s winner, told
us, ‘’we never expected to lose to a junior, but she worked hard for the win.’’ Here at the School
Chronicle, we expect Joani will make front-page news again.

What is the true about Sara?

A. She expected to lose to a junior.

B. She wants to be an Olypic runner.
C. She won the 100 meter race last year.
D. She won the 100 meter race this year.

Practice 2

The historical definition of a computer is device that can help in computation. Computation
includes counting, calculating, adding, subtracting, etc. the mordern definition of a computer is a
litt;e different. Today’s computers store, manipulate, and analyze many kinds of information.

Historically, the first computers are very interesting. The first computer may actually have been
located in Great Britain, at Stonehenge. It is a man-made circle of large stones. People used it to
measure the wather and predict the change of seasons.

According to the passage, which is true of Stonehenge?

A. It is manmade.
B. It changed the seasons.
C. It was built by the Greeks and Romans.
D. It predicted the wather.

Pratice 3

People feel faint when they they do not have an edequate blood supply to their head. When
people feel faint, they should sit down and put their heads between their knees. This will get
blood circulating to the head quickly. If possible, a person should lie down so that his or her head
is lower than the rest of the body. Lying down in this manner is also recommended if a person
had already fainted. Once the preson feels better, he or she should talk to a doctor. It is important
to find out whey the person felt faint or fainted. This will help the person to avoid this unpleasant
experience in the futere.

1. What is the best way to recover from feeling faint?

A. by sitting down with your head between your knees
B. by going to visit the doctor
C. lying down with your head lower than your body
D. asking a friend for help
2. According to the text, a person feels faint because
A. his or her blood is not healthy
B. one has poor blood circulation in one’s lower body
C. something is wrong with a person’s knees
D. blood is not circulating properly to the head

Practice 4

Scientists have long debated the way that humans first colonized the Americans. It is widely
believed that humans crossed the Pacific Ocean from Asia.

Scientists support this theory with anthropological evidence. To find similarities between the two
cultures, scientists have studied teeth. Because teeth remain for a very long time, they provide
accurate records of the past. Researchers have found that the structure of Native Americans’
teeth is more similar to those of Asians than any other culture in the world. One study of over
15000 cranial remains found that the teeth of Native Americans and Asians fell into a group of
similar tooth patterns called sinodonty.

In addition, scientists have found archaeological evidence to support the theory. This evidence
comes in the form of human remains found in a cave in Southeast Alaska. After researchers
analyzed the remains they found that he mainly survived on a diet of marine life such as fish.
Fish, however, was not a diet that would have been readily available in that location. During that
period of history, many coastal Asian cultures had diets of mainly marine life. Thus, the man
only would have had access to fish if he had come from Asia.

1. Why do teeth provide accurate information about past cultures?

A. They retain DNA evidence after a person has died.
 B. They remain long after a body has decayed.
C. They show traits unique to different individuals.
D. They can be used to determine a person’s diet.
2. According to paragraph 2, sinodonty is
A. A group of cultures with similar teeth.
B. The study of cranial and dental remains
C. A category used to describe dental remains
D. A method of analyzing the remains of teeth.

IV- UNDERSTAND NEGATIVE FACTS

In the reading test, you woll sometimes be asked to find an anser that is not stated, or not
mentioned, or not true in the passaga. This typeof question really means that three of the ansers
are stated, mentioned or true in the passage, while one is not. There are two kinds of ansers to
this type of question:

- There are three ansers that are true and one that is not true according to ther passage.
- There are three true ansers and one that is not stated or mentioned in the passage.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about questions
testing negative facts

QUESTIONS ABOUT NEGATIVE FACTS

How to identify the question
How to anser the question
It is NOT stated…
It is NOT mentioned…
It is NOT true…
It is NOT indicated…
All of the following are true EXCEPT…
1. Choose a key word in the question.
2. Scan the appropriate place in the
passage for the key word (or related
idea)
3. Read the sentence that contains the
key word carefully.
4. Look for the ansers that are definitely
 true according to the passage.
Eliminate those answers.
5. Choose the answer that is not true or
not discussed in the passage.
Ex:

In English there are many different kinds of expressions that people use to give a name to
anything whose name is unknown or momentaryly forgotten. The word gadget is one such word.
It was Line first used by British sailors in the 1850s and probably came from the French word
gachette, which was a small hook. In everyday use, the word has a more general meaning. Other
words are also used to give a name to something unnamed or unknown, and these words tend to
be somewhat imaginative. Some of the move commonly used expressions are a what-d’ye-call-it,
a whatsis, a thingamabob, a thingamajig, a doodad, or a doohickey.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as an expression for something that is
not knows?

A. a thingamabob
B. a gadget
C. a doohickey
D. a what-is-it

Practice 1

Many people are quite familiar with rainbows, but few are as familiar with moonbows. Rainbows
are caused by sunlight hitting raindrops and bouncing back. You can see a rainbow when the Sun
is low in the sky behind you and it is raining ahead of you. Lightfrom the Sun reflects off the
inside the surfaces of raindrops and is bent as it travels through them. It appears as a band of
colors because each of the colors in sunlight is bent to different angle.

Moonbows arer far less common than are rainbows, but they are formed in much the sane way.
they require a very specific set of circumstances to occur. When they do occur, they occur just
after a full Moon, a Moon at its brightest, has risen in the east and just after theSun has set in the
west, and it must also be raining in the west. In the situation, a moonbow may be visible to you
are facing west and if the Moon is behind you. Light from the bright Moon reflects off the inside
surfaces of the raindrops in the west and bends the colors to create a moonbow.

It is NOT indicated in the paragraph 2

A. where the moon must be in the sky for a moonbow to occur

B. at what time of day moonbows occur
C. which direction you must be facing to see a moonbow
D. in which parts of the world moonbows occur.

Practice 2

Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman was an American journalist at the turn of the century who wrote for
the newspaper New York Work under the pen name Nellie Bly, a name which was taken from the
Stephen Foster song Nell Bly. She achieved fame for her exposes and in particular for the bold
and adventuresome way that she obtained her stories.

She felt that the best way to get the real story was from the inside rather t han as an outside
observer who could be treated to a prettified version of reality. On one occasion she pretended to
be a thief so that she would get arrested and see for herself how female preisoners were really
treated. On another occasion she faked mental illness in order to be admitted to a mental hospital
to get the real picture on the treatment of mental patients.

Which of the following is NOT true about Neillie Blys?

A. Nellie Bly’s real name was Elizabeth

B. Nellie Bly was mentally ill
C. The name Nellie Bly came from a song
D. The name Nellie Bly was used on articles that Seaman wrote

Practice 3

The Mesner Acting Technique was created by Sanford Meisner in the mid 1900s. It does not
focus on reading scripts. Instead, the Meisner Technique teaches students how to spontaneously
act according to a situation. The technique is now taught in several acting schools and has been
used to train several Hollywood stars.
The Meisner Technique begins by focusing on acting without planning. The actors are given a
prompt and must move around as if they were in that stting. An actor might be told to act as if he
wre exploring the jungle. The actor then must move on stage without a script, wiping away
sweat, swatting at bugs, ect. In this way the Meisner technique teches actors to place themselves
into the roles they are playing and move in a realistic way.

Next, the Meisner technique teaches emotional speech. Actors are given a prompt and must
interact and talk, while showing emotions that they would show in a ‘real life’ situation. Since
actors do not have a script to refer to, they have to imagine themselves in a similar emotional
setting. For example, an actor would need to first analyze a situation and then react in a way that
he or she normally would. Tthus, the actor’s lines are both more realistic and more emotional.

1. All of the follwing are elements of the Meisner Technique EXCEPT:

A. spontaneous acting
B. acting without a script
C. moving without planning
D. exaggerating emotions
2. All of the following are true of the Meisner Technique EXCEPT:
A. actors create their own lines
B. actors are often given a prompt
C. actors begin by evaluating the situation
D. actors study the performances of the actors

Practice 4

Members of the flatfish family, sand dabs and flounders, have and evolutionary advantage over
many colorfully decorated ocean neighbors in that they are able to adapt their body coloration to
different environments. These aquatic chameleons have flattened bodies that are well-suited to
life along the ocean floor in the shallower areas of the continental shelf that they inhabit. They
also have remarkably sensitive color vision that registers the subtlest gradations on the sea
bottom and in the sea life around them. Information about the coloration of the environment is
carried through the nervous system to chromatophores, which are pigment-carrying skin cells.
These chromatophores are able to accurately reporduce not only the colors but also the texture of
the ocean floor. Each time that a sand dab or flounder finds itself in a new environment; the
pattern on the body of the fish adapts to fit in with the color and texture around it.

1. It is NOT stated in the passage that sand dabs

A. are a type of flatfish
B. are in the same family as flounders
C. have evolved
D. are colorfully decorated
2. According to the passages, it is NOT true that sand dabs and flounders
A. have flattened bodies
B. live along the ocean floor
C. live in the deepest part of the ocean
D. live along the continental shelf

V- SIMPLIFY MEANINGS OF SENTENCES

With this type of question, you must choose the one answer that is closest to the meaning of a
sentence that is highlighted/ bold in the passage. To answer the question, you should break the
highted sentence down into meaningful parts.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about questions
testing the similar meaning of sentences.

QUESTIONS ABOUT SIMPLIFING THE MEANINGS OF SENTENCES

How to identify the Which of the sentences below best expresses in the essential
question information…? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important
ways or leave out essential information.
How to answer the 1. Study the bold sentence carefully.
question 2. Break the sentence down into meaningful parts by looking
for punctuation and transition expressions.
3. If the bold sentence makes references to information
outside of the bold sentence, read the context around the
bold sentence.
4. Study the answer choice, and eliminated definitely
references.
 5. Choose the best answer from the remaining choices.
EX:

Students read for a variety of reasons, but probably the most important reason students read is to
gain academic knowledge. Their goal is to learn and remember what they read. To be successful,
they must develop certain reading skills. Successful readers identify and mark important
information. There are a number of reasons why marking is a good reading habit.

First, it increases concentration and alertness. Second, it improves reading ability. While
marking, readers are actively searching for the key information. Finally, it helps readers
remember what they have read. They are putting the information into memory when they
physically circle, underline, or mark it in some way. Readers are making the information their
own.

Which of the following best states the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the
passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential
information.

A. Readers look for key words or phrases to mark.

B. Readers inform learners about topics.
C. Academic learners remember to mark.
D. Academic learners concentrate on important ideas.

Practice 1:

Owning a business is the dream of many people. Quite often, entrepreneurs turn their hobbies
into their business. When considering opening a small business, it is important for a person to
look at both the advantages and disadvantages.

Probably the greatest advantage is the opportunity to be responsible for one’s own success.
However, the opposite is also true. If one’s business fails, that person is totally responsible. A
person could also make a lot of money in his or her own business. There could be times,
however, when a small business owner regrets not having a regular paycheck or vacation. When
deciding if small business ownership is for him or her, a person should contemplate both the
advantages and the disadvantages with care.
Which of the following best states the essential information in the bold sentence in the passage?
Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Business people should think about opening a small business.

B. People should think about the good and bad parts of their bodies.
C. Possible success and failures should be factored into any decision about staring a
business.
D. Vacation time and paychecks should be considered before opening a small business.

Practice 2

The whale retained a tail and lacked a fluke, the major means of locomotion in modern
cetaceans. The structure of the backbone shows, however, that Ambulocetus swam like modern
whales by moving the rear portion of its body up and down, even though a fluke was missing.
The large hind legs were used for propulsion in water. On land, where it probably bred and gave
birth, Ambulocetus may have moved around very much like a modern sea lion. It was
undoubtedly a whale that linked life on land with life at sea.

Which of the following best states the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the
passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential
information.

A. Even though Ambulocetous swam by moving its body up and down, it did not have a
backbone.
B. The blackbone of Ambulocetus, which allowed it to swim, provides evidence of its
missing fluke.
C. Although Ambulocetus had no fluke, its backbone structure shows that is swam like
modern whales.
D. By moving the rear parts of their bodies up and down, modern whales swim in a different
way from the way Ambulocetus swam.

Practice 3

Of all sports injuries, the most common are due to damage to soft tissue. Such injuries often
involve the knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. Many times, a small injury to soft tissue may
make an athlete compensate by altering his or her normal movements to protect the injured area.
This can cause trouble because the change in normal movement may put a sudden strain on
uninjured areas, resulting in further injuries for the athlete. In this way, one injury will often lead
to another, with each new injury becoming progressively more serious. Kinesiologist, or coaches
with special knowledge of kinesiology, can predict the complications that may arise from
altering normal movements and thus avoid muscle strains, torn rotator cuffs, ligament damage,
and herniated tissue.

Which of the sentences below express the essential information in the bold sentence in passage?
Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Kinesiologists can solve the problems caused by muscle injuries because they have
extensive medical training in repairing tissue.
B. Coaches who understand kinesiology can prevent injuries because they understand how
altering muscular motion can cause problems
C. Before any serious injuries can occur, coaches should consult a kinesiologist, someone
who can help an athlete avoid muscle-related problems.
D. Kinesiologists have a special knowledge of how muscle movements will affect an
athlete’s chances of suffering muscular damage.

Practice 4

The size of many cities is increasing. In many places, the growth of cities has meant the
destruction of forest; however, in others, planners have recognized the importance of maintaining
nature. Many cities are home to urban forests, or collections of trees that grow withing a city or
near heavily populated areas. Urban forests provide a number of benefits.

Scientists have learned that urban forests can help reduce pollution in cities. Through a natural
process, the leaves of a tree absorb harmful gases from the atmosphere. According to one study,
a single tree can absorb about thirteen tons of carbon dioxide per year. Scientists have also found
that trees are capable of removing many other pollutants that are believed to be responsible for
global warming, such as carbon monoxide and ozone.

Urban forests are also beneficial to cities because they help regulate temperatures. The concrete
used to construct buildings and sidewalks in cities soak up heat from the sun. It can be up to nine
degrees warmer in cities than in nearby rural areas. However, the trees help cool down urban
areas by providing shade. During the winter, buildings are shielded from frigid blasts of air by
trees. As a result, buidings do not become as cold.

Which of the sentences below express the essential information in the bold sentence in paragraph
2? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Trees can affect the levels of carbon monoxide in an area, leading to global warming.
B. Trees are able to remove carbon monoxide and ozone from the atmospheres but
responsile for global warming.
C. Scientists think that trees can be used to find a link between pollutants and global
warming.
D. Trees can be used to reduce global warming by reducing harmful pollutants from the
atmosphere.

VI- MAKE INFERENCES

You may be asked to anwer a multiple choice question by drawing a conclusion from specific
detail or details in the passage. This type of questions contain the words im

VII- INFER RHETORICAL PURPOSE

VIII- INSERT SENTENCES INTO THE PASSAGE

IX-RECOGNIZE THE ORGANIZATION

X-IDENTIFY MAIN IDEA/TOPIC

You may be asked to choose a sentence that the overall the topic is given. To answer this type of
question, you must be able to recognize the rhetorical pattern of the information in the passage
(i.e. compare and contrast, cause and effect, argument supported by reasons), including the major
ideas and the critical supporting information.

How to identify the questions:

- What is the best title…

- What would be the best/ most suitable headline for the article?
- Which title best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
- What title is the best for….?
- What would be the best title for….?
- What is the ….. most/mainly about?

Where to find the answer:

The main idea or topic sentence is usually near the beginning/ the end of the passage, pointing
out the author’s main idea of the whole passage. Sometimes, there can be exceptions, and in this
case you have to skim the passage to get the general idea of the author.

Example:

Basketball was invented in 1891 by a physical education instructor In Springfield,

Massachesetts, by the name of James Naismith. Because of the terrible weather in winter, his
physical education students were indoors rather than outdoors. They really did not like the idea
of boring, repetitive exercises and preferred the excitement and challenge of a game. Naismith
figured out a team sport that could be played indoors on a gymnasium floor, that involved a lot
of running, that kept all team members involved, and that did not allow the tackling and physical
contact of American-style football.

What is the main idea of this passage?

A. The life of James Naismith

B. The history of sports
 C. Physical education and exercise
D. The origin of basketball

Practice 1

Most biologists study living things that we know are real, but a few try to learn about animals
that have not been proven to exist yet. This job belongs to scientists called crypto-zoologists.
Their job is to confirm if unknown animals, or cryptids, really do exist. They have found
evidence that animals like Bigfoot might be real and they’ve even proven that some cryptids,
such as the giant squid, do live in the world.

What is the passage mainly about?

A. Bigfoots C. Cryptids
B. Biologists D. Crypt-zoologists

Practice 2

Many people think of heat and sand when imagining a desert, but surprisingly Antarctica is
technically the largest desert on Earth. A desert is defined as a place that gets an extremely low
amount of rainfall. A land of cold and rice, Antarctica gets less precipitation than any other area
in the world. Totaling over thirteen million square kilometers, the Antarctic desert is almost four
million square kilometers larger than the world-famous Sahara desert.

Which title best summarizes the passage?

A. Lands of heat and sand C. The earth’s many deserts

B. The South Pole and Antarctica D. The vast desert of Antarctica

Practice 3

What’s the best way for you, as an employer, to deliver bad news to an employee? First of all,
you have to break the news yourself, face to face with the recipient. You can’t write memos to
tell people they will not get raised this year or that they have made an error or are not performing
as well as expected. You have to show them how you feel about the matter and that you are
personally sorry and sympathize with them. If you indicate that you are ready to listen to their
reactions to your bad news, you will undoubtedly save yourself from their wrath. Above all, you
must be ready for an emotional reaction from the recipient of bad news. Give people time to
digest your news and to control the emotion they invariably feel. Although it is never easy to
break bad news, if you follow these steps, you will at least soften the blow.

The author’s main idea is that

A. bad news is hard to impart

B. all employers have to criticize their employees
C. there are ways of softening the impact of bad news
D. people respond emotionally to bad news

Practice 4

Basketball was born one day in late December of 1891. Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian gym
teacher, was trying to find a way to keep the young men in his class active during the cold and
wet winters of Massachusetts. After considering the suggestions of the others and refusing to
play some of the rougher games, Naismith created his own game. After writing down the rules,
Naismith nailed a peach basket to the gym wall an told his class they were going to play a new
game.

The students enjoyed the game, and it became more and more popular. However, there was a
problem with using the peach basket. Every time players scored, the ball would be stuck in the
basket until someone climbed up to get it out. Over time, they learned to first cut holes in the
baskets were removed all together, replaced with metal hoops and nets. As time went on, there
were more people who were fond of playinh basketball and it spread across the country. In 1895,
the first five-on-five intercollegiate basketball game was played in Minnesota. The Basketball
Association of America (BAA), which would become the National Basketball Association
(NBA), was created in 1946. Over the century, basketball would grow and become one of the
most popular American sports.

What would be the best title for the passage?

A. The history of basketball C. A set of rules of basketball

B. The life of James Naismith D. Advances in basketball technology
XI-DETERMINE THE TONE, PURPOSE, OR COURSE