By the end of this lesson you should be able to
- Read a passage efficiently and locate the answer to each question
- Recognise and avoid common wrong options (distractors)
- Work out the meaning of words from context
- Answer vocabulary questions that ask you to find a word in the passage
What the comprehension task tests
A comprehension task tests whether you can understand a passage, not whether you already know the topic. Questions may ask for facts stated in the text, for something the writer suggests without stating, for the writer’s purpose or tone, and for the meaning of words. Multiple-choice questions ask for the best answer, so more than one option may look attractive, and you must find the one that fits the passage most exactly.
Key ideas
A reliable method
- Skim the passage first to get the topic and how it is organised.
- Read the questions. Note the paragraph each one refers to.
- Read the passage carefully with the questions in mind, and mark key words.
- Go back to the paragraph named in each question. Find the exact sentence that answers it.
- Check every option against the text. Choose the one the passage supports.
- Never answer from memory or opinion. The answer must come from the passage.
Typical wrong options (distractors)
| Type | What it looks like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Opposite | Says the reverse of the passage | The passage says sleep helps memory, and the option says it harms memory. |
| Too extreme | Uses words such as only, never, all, always | “avoid all mistakes” |
| True but not stated | Correct in real life but not in this paragraph | A fact you know that the passage never mentions |
| Partly right | Half of the option is right, half wrong | Right cause, wrong result |
| Wrong paragraph | Taken from a different part of the passage | A detail from paragraph 3 offered as an answer to a paragraph 1 question |
Vocabulary in context. To work out a word’s meaning, read the whole sentence, decide what kind of word is needed (noun, verb, adjective), try replacing it with your choice, and check the meaning still fits. Look at prefixes and suffixes (un-, dis-, -ful), and at nearby words that give clues. When a question asks you to find a word in the passage that means the same as a given phrase, the word must be the same part of speech and it must be spelt exactly as in the passage.
Worked example: an original passage
SLEEP AND LEARNING
1 Many students believe that staying awake late into the night is the best way to prepare for examinations. However, research suggests that this habit may do more harm than good.
2 While we sleep, the brain organises the information gathered during the day. Learners who sleep well are more likely to remember facts and to solve problems quickly. A tired brain, on the other hand, finds it difficult to concentrate and easily makes mistakes.
3 Doctors advise teenagers to sleep for between eight and ten hours each night. Unfortunately, many fall short of this target because of homework, television and mobile phones. Bright screens can delay the release of a chemical that helps the body feel sleepy.
4 There are simple ways to improve sleep. Going to bed at the same time each night, keeping the bedroom dark and quiet, and switching off phones an hour before bed all help. Students who follow these habits often find that their concentration and mood improve within weeks.
Question 1. According to paragraph 1, many students believe that … A. sleep is a waste of time. B. late-night study is the best preparation. C. examinations are easy. D. research is unreliable.
Answer: B. The first sentence says this directly. Option A goes beyond the text, and options C and D are not mentioned.
Question 2. Paragraph 2: A learner who sleeps well is likely to … A. finish homework early. B. remember facts better. C. avoid all mistakes. D. need less study.
Answer: B. The paragraph says such learners are “more likely to remember facts”. Option C is too extreme because of the word all.
Question 3. Paragraph 3: Why do many teenagers sleep less than they should? A. Doctors advise it. B. They have several distractions, such as homework, television and phones. C. They dislike their bedrooms. D. Screens are dark.
Answer: B. The passage lists homework, television and mobile phones. Option A is the opposite of what doctors say.
Question 4. Paragraph 3: Bright screens may … A. make the body sleepy sooner. B. delay the feeling of sleepiness. C. improve concentration. D. reduce homework.
Answer: B. “Delay the release of a chemical that helps the body feel sleepy.” Option A is the opposite.
Vocabulary example. Find one word in the passage that means “to put off until later”. The word must be a verb that fits the same sentence: delay (paragraph 3).
Common mistakes
Choosing an option because it is true in real life. The answer must be supported by this passage.
Not going back to the paragraph. Memory is unreliable. Find the sentence.
Ignoring extreme words. Only, all, never and always often make an option wrong.
Copying a word with the wrong form or spelling. In “find a word” questions, write exactly what the passage has.
Practice questions
Use the passage above.
- Paragraph 2: A tired brain … A. remembers more. B. makes mistakes easily. C. sleeps faster. D. organises facts.
- How many hours of sleep do doctors advise teenagers to get? A. Five to six. B. Six to seven. C. Eight to ten. D. Eleven to twelve.
- Paragraph 4: Students who follow the suggested habits often find that … A. they need no sleep. B. their concentration and mood improve. C. their phones break. D. examinations are cancelled.
- Which best describes the writer’s tone? A. Angry. B. Advisory and encouraging. C. Humorous. D. Hopeless.
Find one word in the passage that means the same as each of these:
- an organised study of a subject (paragraph 1)
- to give a recommendation (paragraph 3)
- a goal that someone tries to reach (paragraph 3)
- to give all your attention to one thing (paragraph 2)
Show answers
- B. “easily makes mistakes.”
- C. “between eight and ten hours each night.”
- B. “their concentration and mood improve within weeks.”
- B. The writer gives advice and encourages good habits.
- research
- advise
- target
- concentrate
Summary
- Read for meaning, return to the named paragraph, and check every option against the text.
- Watch for distractors: opposites, extreme words, true-but-not-stated ideas and partly right options.
- For vocabulary, use the sentence and word clues, and match the part of speech.
- In “find a word” questions, copy the word exactly from the passage.
Now practise this topic
Real questions show you what still needs work. Try a past paper under timed conditions, or take a short quiz.