ALL ABOUT

READING COMPREHENSION
By Swati Dutt Ma’am
WHAT IS READING COMPREHENSION

 An important question asked in the English

paper is reading comprehension. In this, you
would be given a passage out of which
questions would be asked.
 Comprehension means ability to understand
what you have read, to process the information
provided in the passage.
 Reading and comprehending is an art. It can be
developed through practice.
ROLE OF RC IN CSAT

 An important part of the CSAT Qualifying

paper.
 Trend – 29-30 Questions.
 Lengthy RC with questions or Small RC with 1
question each.
 Forms a major part of the question paper.
 Cannot be neglected.
How to improve Reading Skills
 By practicing religiously.
 Graduate from easy to difficult.
 Read editorials, magazines, newspapers and relevant topics.
 Trending topics- Agriculture, Policies, Climate Change,
Environment.
 Read variety --- make yourself comfortable with different topics.
 Reading essays on topics which you understand and know about
is very easy as compared to reading on alien topics. Hence, it is
very important to develop a broad background of knowledge in
various fields. Remember that essays from any field can come in
Reading Comprehension questions.
Speed vs Accuracy

 Both are crucial.

 Don’t compromise on either.

 Fine balance of both the skills.

 Practice is the key.

How to Read a Passage
 Read carefully with focus. Don’t just skim or scan.
 Underline important words, phrases or
statements.
 Understand the flow and thought process of the
author.
 Try to get the main idea or crux of the passage.
 Don’t get stuck on a difficult word.
 Focus less on data, more on idea.
Role of Vocabulary and Grammar

 No direct question asked

 Nevertheless important.
 Right grammar gives you more clarity of thoughts,
flow and structure.
 Vocabulary helps you comprehend better.
 The better the vocab, the better you understand
the passage.
 Vocabulary also has a role to play in
understanding the questions.
Methodology/ Approach
 There isn’t a single right way of reading and then solving
questions.
 To each his own.
 Question 1st and then Reading the Passage.
 Reading passage first and then solving questions.
 Good Practice: Scan through the passage---read the questions---
read the passage again.
 IMPORTANT --- Answer only according to the passage.
 Avoid Re Reading many times.
 Attempt all questions of an RC in 1 go.
 Choose your passages wisely. Identify easy passages.
 Easy passages- Familiar topic and untwisted questions.
Tips to Solve a Question

 Look for probable options.

 Eliminate options.

 Always chose explicit over implicit.

 Answer ONLY and STRICTLY according to the passage.

 Avoid extreme answers (only, completely, all).

TYPES OF QUESTIONS ASKED
 DIRECT
 True/false

 Title

 Tone

 Fact/ data based

 INDIRECT
 Test analytical and critical reasoning skills
 Inference, Conclusion, Arguments, Assertion,
Corollary, Imply, Assumption, Central theme/ main idea/
essence of the passage.
 KEYWORDS MEANINGS
Main idea/crux Central theme or the most important point
Message The point to be taken away
Inference An idea drawn from the facts and evidences
provided

Assumption Not stated but assumed to be true

Conclusion A judgement based on facts
Implication Not explicitly stated, indicates truth using
hints
Corollary A direct or a natural consequence of
something
Assertion Is a declaration or an undisputed fact
Corroborate Evidence that supports an idea
Tone Authors attitude/ style
Inference
 A logical conclusion drawn based on given facts.
 Read the passage carefully, skip details, focus on
main idea.
 Eliminate options.
 Avoid explicit answers. Inference NOT directly
given in the passage.
 Avoid any answer choice that rephrases the
original statement.
 Restrict your answer to the scope of the passage.
People are always less happy to accept scientific data
they feel contradicts their preconceived beliefs. No
surprise here; no human likes to be wrong. But science
isn't supposed to care about preconceived notions.
Science, at least good science, tells us about the world as
it is, and not as some wish it to be. Sometimes what
science finds is consistent with a particular religion's
wishes. But usually, it is not.

Question: What can be inferred about good science? Select

from the given options.

1. A good science is well received by the educated people.

2. A good science is based on concrete results obtained through
testing the hypothesis.
3. A good science and religion are same.
4. A good science will always prove the general populace wrong.
Conclusion
➢ It is the opinion, position or Statement
judgment reached after The percentage of national
considering the given facts or income shared by the top 10
premise. percent of households in India is
➢ ‘Conclusion’ means the point 35.
that the author is trying to
prove based on the given
facts. Conclusions
➢ Try to see What is the author I. When the economy grows fast,
trying to prove? concentration of wealth in
certain pockets of population
➢ Not necessarily given at the takes place.
end of the passage.
II. The national income is
➢ Keywords like therefore, thus, unevenly distributed in India.
consequently, hence, so,
which means that, it follows
that, etc.
Assumption
Statement
➢ An assumption is an
Virat has been elected as captain
unstated premise that of the Indian cricket team, so he
must be a cricketer of caliber.
supports the conclusion. Assumptions
i. Only cricketers of caliber can
➢ Assumption is be members of the Indian
unquestionable fact, but cricket team
ii. Only cricketers of caliber can
the assumption, unlike the be captain of the Indian cricket
team
premise, is not explicitly iii. Only members of the Indian
stated and needs to be cricket team can be cricketers of
caliber
deciphered.
Arguments (Strong and Weak)
➢ A related series of statements that Statement
are made in an attempt to persuade
the reader or listener to believe that Should words like ‘smoking is
the conclusion is true injurious to health’ essentially
➢ Strong argument: A strong argument appear on cigarette packs?
is the one which is logical, practical
and universally applicable. The most
important part is that an argument
should have reason in it and that
Arguments: Strong or Weak?
reason should be relevant to the I. Yes, it is a sort of brainwash to
given situation. . A strong argument make the smokers realize that
will always have ‘why’ in it.
they are inhaling poisonous stuff.
➢ Weak argument: A weak argument is
the one which is illogical, impractical II. No, it hampers the enjoyment
and irrelevant. Also, extreme of smoking.
statements and examples are weak
arguments. These may not be directly
related to the question and the
reasoning factor is weak. Such
arguments can be opinion based,
ambiguous or superfluous. A weak
argument will not have ‘why’ in it
IMPORTANT TIPS

 Read A LOT!!

 Answer ONLY according to the scope of the

passage.

 Read the passage CAREFULLY!!

 DON’T fear RC!!