Skills for Life Entry 1 Reading: True/False Questions Teacher’s Notes

Description
In this activity students are introduced to True/False questions and the very similar Yes/No question type.
The activity also shows students how they might approach these types of questions.

Teacher’s Notes

Aims of the lesson • to introduce students to True/False and Yes/No question

types that are common in the Entry 1 Reading exam

• to show students how they might approach these types of

questions

Time needed 30 minutes

• Student’s Worksheet 1 – one copy for each student; also,

Materials required
project on to a screen, if available.
(Text slightly adapted from Part 3 of Entry 1 Reading Past
Paper 2007 available at www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-
and-qualifications/skills-for-life/how-to-prepare)
• Student’s Worksheet 2 – one copy for each student.
(Questions slightly adapted from Past Paper, as above)

Procedure
1. Ask the whole class the following questions:
 Do you use public libraries in your area/town?
 What can you do in the library? (accept any plausible answers, e.g. borrow books, borrow CDs
and DVDs, get information, use computers, do computer classes, read newspapers, do
homework)
2. Show Student’s Worksheet 1 on the screen, if available. If you can’t do this, hand out Student’s
Worksheet 1 to each student. Ask the following questions:
• Is this a form? No
• Is it a letter? No
• Is it an email? No
• Is it a leaflet? Yes, maybe
• Is it a notice? Yes, maybe

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 • Is it information about library opening times? No
• Is it a timetable for courses at the library? Yes
3. Remove Student’s Worksheet 1 from the screen OR ask students to cover/turn over Student’s
Worksheet 1 if you have handed it out to them. Write the following on the board:
Computer classes are only in the afternoon. True or False?
4. Ask students which are the most important words in the sentence. Underline key words as follows:
Computer classes are only in the afternoon.
5. Show Student’s Worksheet 1 on the screen again OR ask students to look at the paper copy. Ask
students to read the text to find if the sentence about computer classes is true or false. Check answer
with whole class and ask students to justify their answer. (FALSE – Using the Internet is in the
afternoon [12.30–3.00] but IT for Beginners is in the morning [9.00–12.00], so it’s not only in the
afternoon.)
6. Remove Student’s Worksheet 1 from the screen OR ask students to cover their paper copy. Hand
out Student’s Worksheet 2. Ask students, in pairs, to read the statements in Question 1 and to
underline/highlight the important words. Monitor students doing this, then check with whole class.
Accept any reasonable suggestions. (See Key for step 6.)
7. Hand out paper copies of Student’s Worksheet 1 if you haven’t done so already. Ask students to
find the answer for Question 1 and to underline/highlight the words in the text which tell them the
answer. Monitor students doing this, then check with the whole class. (See Key for step 7.)
8. Ask one student to read the rubric for Question 2. Then ask students which part of the text they need
to look at for this question. (Just the last section headed Where can I get more information?)
9. Ask students, in pairs, to read the statements in Question 2 and to underline/highlight the important
words. Monitor students doing this, then check with the whole class. Accept any reasonable
suggestions. (See key for step 9.)
10. Ask students to find the answer for Question 2 and to underline/highlight the words in the text which
tell them the answer. Monitor students doing this, then check with the whole class. (See key for step
10.)
11. Explain to students that the way people prefer to do reading tasks varies. However, True/False and
Yes/No questions usually do not require students to read every word in the text. The important thing
is to know what information you are looking for and to scan the text quickly for that information. The
following approach may be helpful:

• Read the text quickly for a general idea about the format and main subject matter.

• Read the first statement, underlining or highlighting the important words.

• Look through the text, highlighting/underlining words relating to the statement.

• Read the highlighted/underlined words carefully before choosing the answer.

• Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 for subsequent statements.

Remind students that they may not find exactly the same words in the question and the text, but that
they should look for words with the same or similar meanings (paraphrases).

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Additional information
At Entry 1, ‘wordspotting’ may sometimes be possible, particularly in reading tasks which require scanning for
specific, concrete information. However, students should be careful not to assume that word matches always
work.

Suggested follow-up activities/questions (and answers)

1. See Past Papers at www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/skills-for-life/how-to-prepare
for more True/False and Yes/No questions.

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Skills for Life Entry 1 Reading: True/False Questions
Answer Keys

Key to Procedure steps

Step 6: suggested words to underline/highlight in Question 1:
A. Computer classes are only in the afternoon.
B. 4-year-old children can go to Children’s Story Time.
C. Keeping Healthy is for ESOL learners only.
D. The Help Desk is open all day.
E. Only library members can take these classes.

Step 7: words in text that indicate answers for Question 1:

A. See Step 6
B. Children’s Story Time (ages 3–5) So, 4-year-olds can attend.
C. Maths for ESOL and Every Picture Tells a Story are for ESOL students only. All other classes are
open to everyone. This means Keeping Healthy is not for ESOL Learners only.
D. Help Desk can answer your questions from 9am–1pm (Mon–Fri). So, the Help Desk is not open all
day.
E. You don’t need to join the library to study in these classes. So the classes are not just for members.

Step 9: suggested words to underline/highlight in Question 2:

A. It finds jobs for students.
B. It pays for transport for students.
C. It helps students get library cards.
D. It helps students with accommodation.

Step 10
A. We don’t help people look for work. So the Help Desk doesn’t find jobs for students.
B. We … help with money for travel for courses. So the Help Desk pays for transport.
C. We … help students to join the main library. So the Help Desk helps students get library cards.
D. We don’t help people look for work or help with housing problems. So the Help Desk doesn’t help
students with accommodation.

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Key to Student’s Worksheet 2

Question 1

A. Computer classes are only in the afternoon. False

B. 4-year-old children can go to Children’s Story Time. True
C. Keeping Healthy is for ESOL learners only. False
D. The Help Desk is open all day. False
E. Only library members can take these classes. False

Question 2

A. It finds jobs for students. False

B. It pays for transport for students. True
C. It helps students get library cards. True
D. It helps students with accommodation. False

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Skills for Life Entry 1 Reading: True/False Questions
Student’s Worksheet 1

CENTRAL LIBRARY

FREE CLASSES
Times Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9.00–12.00 IT for Every Picture Children’s Maths for
Beginners Tells a Story Story Time ESOL
Learners
(ages 3–5)

Justin
Hassan Roble Ozge Gulabi
Fletcher

102
101

12.30–3.00 Keeping Using the

Healthy Internet

Hazel Benton Jillie Brown

106 102

Who can come to the classes?

• Maths for ESOL and Every Picture Tells a Story are for ESOL students only. All other classes
are open to everyone.
• You don’t need to join the library to study in these classes.

Where can I get more information?

The Help Desk can answer your questions from 9am–1pm (Mon–Fri).
• We enrol students on courses, help with money for travel for courses and help students to join
the main library.
• We don’t help people look for work or help with housing problems. There is an Advice Desk on
the second floor for these problems.

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Information is correct as of January 2015
Skills for Life Entry 1 Reading: True/False Questions
Student’s Worksheet 2

Question 1
Look at the sentences. Are they true or false? Tick (√) TRUE or FALSE for each sentence.
TRUE FALSE
A. Computer classes are only in the afternoon.
B. 4-year-old children can go to Children’s Story Time.
C. Keeping Healthy is for ESOL learners only.
D. The Help Desk is open all day.
E. Only library members can take these classes.

Question 2
What does the Help Desk do for course students? Tick (√) YES or NO for each sentence.
YES NO
A. It finds jobs for students.
B. It pays for transport for students.
C. It helps students get library cards.
D. It helps students with accommodation.

© UCLES 2014. For further information see our Terms and Conditions.
Information is correct as of January 2015