TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR READING COMPREHENSION

 

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR READING COMPREHENSION

Reading is fun, relaxing, and helps you increase your knowledge and boost your vocabulary, writing, and grammar.

TURN THE READING INTO A RITUAL:

1.       Make it a habit.

2.       Make time for your reading.

3.       Read daily.

4.       Look for a quiet place to read.

5.       Avoid distractions at all costs.

 TIME TO READ:

1.       Choose reading material in line with your interest (don´t waste your time reading something you find boring) and according to your English level. If you don´t know it, you can find out here, click Macmillan Readers Level Test 

2.       Skimming technique: read to get a general idea about the text, don´t worry about what you don´t understand.

3.       Scanning technique: read to search for specific information.

4.       Once you have read, go back and look up the words you don´t understand.

 WHAT TO READ: here are some useful links

    Graded readers:    english-e-reader.net and esl-bits.net

    News in levels:     newsinlevels, enewsdispatch. and breakingnewsenglish.

   Spanish newspapers English edition: spainenglish and english.elpais.com

   Newspapers: the guardian, theconversation., and bbc news

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APTIS ADVANCED READING PART 4: CLOZE TESTS

There are two short texts on the same topic. You have to fill in the blanks with one of the words given.

Here are some links to prepare for the reading part 4

EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 2

EXERCISE 3

EXERCISE 4

EXERCISE 5

EXERCISE 6

APTIS ADVANCED READING PART 2: MATCHING HEADINGS

To do this exercise, you must understand the meaning of each paragraph. First, read the headings. Second, read the paragraphs and match the ones you are sure. If you are not sure about one, move on to the next one.

Here are some links to prepare for the reading:

1. Do you have the right mindset?
2. The history of the graffiti
3. Super-recognizers
4. The rise of fake news
5. Sonja Henie

APTIS GENERAL READING MATCHING HEADINGS: HOW TO DO IT AND EXERCISES

First, skim (quickly read) through the text quickly without looking at the headings and find out what the general idea of the text is.

Second,  reread the text, but not the headings, paying more attention and try to find the primary purpose in each paragraph.

Third, look at your ideas and see if they match any of the headings.

Then, match the ones you are sure about and leave the most difficult for the end.

Finally, match the leftover headings by the process of elimination.

Now, it´s time to practice:

EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 2

EXERCISE 3

EXERCISE 4

EXERCISE 5

EXERCISE 6

EXERCISE 7

EXERCISE 8

EXERCISE 9

EXERCISE 10

EXERCISE 11

EXERCISE 12

C1 ADVANCED (CAE) READING AND USE OF ENGLISH: 10 TESTS

The reading and use of English paper lasts for 90 minutes, consists of eight tasks and has a total of 56 questions. There are some posts on this blog with explanations, tips and strategies that can help you to do it well.

Task 1. Multiple Choice Cloze (8 questions)

Task 2. Open Cloze (8 questions)

Task 3. Word Formation (8 questions)

Task 4. Key Word Transformation (6 questions)

Task 5. Multiple Choice (6 questions)

Task 6. Cross-text Multiple Matching (4 questions)

Task 7. Gapped Text (6 questions)

Task 8. Multiple Matching (10 questions)

Below you will find links to practice CAE reading and use of English. There are ten tests, and each one has answers, explanations and some vocabulary.
test 1          test 2
test 3          test 4
test 5          test 6
test 7          test 8
test 9          test 10

READING: A2 / B1 / B2 AND C1

Are you sitting a test in a near future? Do you need to improve your reading skills?
Here you will find an excellent link to do it, choose your level: elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate and advanced. Then, click on the link with the exercise you want to do it.
Here there is the link: Reading exercises 

C1 ADVANCED: READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 8

     1. TASK INFORMATION:

a)    In part 8 there may be one long text divided into usually four sections labelled A-D or four shorter texts labelled A-D.

b)   There are 10 questions which you have to match with the sections or short texts, which answer each of the ten questions and write down the appropriate letter.

c)    It is important to read the questions carefully. It can help you underline key words so that you know what to focus on.

d)   Part 8 tests your ability to locate which section of text contains details, opinions and attitudes expressed in the questions. You need to be able to distinguish the correct section from other sections which may contain information or opinions which appear similar.

e)   You will need to use the same option for more than one question.

2.  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the introduction to the text(s) to find out what kind of text it is and the topic.

b)   In this reading task, the questions are printed before the text, you should therefore take time to familiarize themselves with the questions and underline the key words before you approach the text.

c)    If you do this, you will know what information you have to find and will recognize it more quickly when you start reading. If you are familiar with the ten questions, you may only need to read each section once to find the answers.

d)   In this task, the questions do not match the order in which the answers appear in the text(s).

e)   Skim the text(s) to get a quick impression of the content. Do not read it/them in detail. Then, read each question and scan the text(s) to find the information or opinion that you need. Remember to check your answers.

f)    The questions usually use different words to communicate the ideas in the text(s), so if you find identical words in the question and the text(s) it does not mean you have found the right answer.

USEFUL LINKS:  EXERCISE 1    EXERCISE 2

C1 ADVANCED (CAE) : READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 7

1)    TASK INFORMATION:

a)    Part 7 consists of one long text with six gaps numbered 41-46, and it checks your understanding of the overall structure of the text and how it develops its ideas.

b)   Six paragraphs have been removed from the text and placed after it in random order. There is also a seventh paragraph that does not fit in the text at all. These paragraphs are labelled A-G.

c)    You have to decide which of the sections A-G fits in each of the six gaps in the text.

d)   Read the title, and there is often also some general information about the content of the text under the title.

e)   Connecting words or phrases will help you work out how the paragraphs fit together, and words like they, so, there, etc. that refer to other parts of the text will also provide useful clues.

2)  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the instruction, the title and any background information.

b)    Read through the text. What is each paragraph about? By making notes next to each paragraph, you see how the text is organised and structured.

c)    Read the sentences A-G carefully one by one, noticing the differences between them.

d)   In both the main text and the paragraphs A-G, underline vocabulary links, reference words such as this or her, and linking expressions.

e)   Look carefully at the words that come before and after the missing paragraph and make sure your choice of paragraphs fits at both ends.

f)    When you have chosen your answers, read through the text with your answers in place. Does it make sense?

g)   In conclusion, by following this process: reading the text carefully once; dealt with the sentences one by one and seen that each of them can only fill one possible gap and avoided reading back and forth between multiple missing sentences and gaps; you are using the quickest and most effective approach to this task.

CLICK HERE: exercise 1 / exercise 2

C1 ADVANCED (CAE): READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 6

1.  TASK INFORMATION:

a)    You have to read four short texts on the same topic and answer four multiple-matching questions about the texts.

b)   The questions require you to read across the texts in order to find the answers.

c)    The questions will ask you to say which expert shares an opinion with or has a different view from another of the text(s).

d)   It is unlikely that there will be one answer for each of the texts – one of the texts will probably have two answers while another has none.

e)   Getting a sense of the main points the expert is making will help you find the answers more quickly.

2.  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the introduction to the texts, noticing the topic and then read the questions to get an idea of what you are looking out for.

b)   Read each of the texts, thinking about the writer’s opinions as you do so.

c)    Read each question carefully and underline any keywords or phrases in it.

d)   Write the letters of the texts that might provide the answer next to the question.

e)   Go back to each of the relevant texts and think about whether it is the answer or not. If not, put a line through that letter next to the question. If you are not sure, put a question mark to that letter.

CLICK HERE: exercise 1 / exercise 2

C1 ADVANCED (CAE): READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 5

1.  TASK INFORMATION:

a)    In part 5 there is a text followed by six four-option multiple-choice Questions. The answers occur in the document in the same order as the questions.

b)   The text may come from a range of sources such as a newspaper, a magazine or a journal, or a book of fiction or non-fiction.

c)    The questions will focus on things such as the main idea and details of the content of the text, the writer’s opinion and attitude, the purpose and implications of the text, and features of text organisation.

2.  ACTION PLAN

a)    Read the title. This will give you some idea of the topic of the text.

b)   Read the text first, then read each question very carefully in turn and underline keywords in the question. You may find it useful to read the questions, but not the options, before you read the text, this may help you focus on the most appropriate bits of the text.

c)    Remember that questions follow the order of the text. Find the relevant part of the text the question refers to. Draw a vertical line to it and write down the question number.

d)   Look at options, A, B, C and D. Choose the answer which corresponds with the words you have underlined. If you really aren´t sure, cross out any options that you think are wrong and then make a guess.

e)   If you find one question difficult, move on to the next one and when you have finished, go back to any questions that you left out and look at them again. Do not leave any questions blank.

f)    In conclusion, the best way to deal with multiple-choice questions is to: underline the key idea in the question, but not at this stage read the options A-D; locate where the question is dealing within the text and read that section carefully, underlining the words which answer the question and then look at the options and choose the answer which corresponds with the words you have highlighted.

CLICK HERE: exercise 1 /  exercise 2

C1 ADVANCED (CAE): READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 1

1.  TASK INFORMATION:

a)    In part 1, you read a text with eight gaps and one example (0). For each gap, there is a choice of four words or phrases. You have to choose the correct one to fill the gap.

b)   You need to read the text and think about its meaning to fill the gaps correctly. Part 1 mainly tests vocabulary, particularly choosing the correct option for a context from a group of words with similar meanings rather than grammar words.

c)    To fill some of the gaps correctly, you will need to know how words often combine in collocations and set phrases.

2.  ACTION PLAN:

a)    Read the title and if there is one, look at the picture.

b)   Read the whole document before you start answering the question.

c)    When you answer each question, look at both what comes before and what comes after the gap.

d)   Think of a word you might expect to fill the gap before looking at the options.

e)   Consider each of the options, eliminating those you know are incorrect.

f)    Check that the word you choose fits the overall meaning of the sentence and the sentence grammatically.

g)   When you have finished, read through the whole text and check that everything makes sense.

      USEFUL LINKS: exercise 1

CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH ADVANCED: CAE

What is the CAE test like?

This blog entry aims to provide some information about the CAE test. I will post links to websites where you will be able to find exercises similar to the ones in the first.

It is made up of four papers:

1. Reading and Use of English ( 1 hour 30 minutes). It has 8 parts and 56 questions.
2. Writing ( 1 hour 30 minutes). It has 2 parts.
3. Listening ( about 40 minutes). It has 4 parts and 30 questions.
4. Speaking ( 15 minutes per pair of candidates). It has 4 parts.