Strengthening Your

Reading Comprehension
• Analyze the time and place in which you are
reading ; mental fatigue, distractions or
interruptions
• Rephrase each paragraph in your own words;
approach complicated material sentence by
sentence, expressing each in your own words.
• Read aloud sentences or sections that are
particularly difficult; makes complicated
material easier to understand.
• Reread difficult or complicated sections
• Slow down your reading rate - reading more slowly
and carefully will provide you with the needed
boost in comprehension.
• Turn headings into questions - Refer to these
questions frequently and jot down or underline
answers.
• Write a brief outline of major points - This will help
you see the overall organization and progression of
ideas. [for more complicated passages]
• Highlight key ideas - After you've read a
section, go back and think about and highlight
what is important.
• Write notes in the margins - Explain or
rephrase difficult or complicated ideas or
sections.
• Determine whether you lack background
knowledge - Comprehension is difficult, at
times, and it is impossible, if you lack essential
information that the writer assumes you have.
READING SKILLS
 Skimming
• Skimming is used to quickly gather the most
important information, or 'gist'. Run your eyes
over the text, noting important information. It's not
essential to understand each word when skimming.
Examples of Skimming:
• The Newspaper (quickly to get the general news of
the day)
• Magazines (quickly to discover which articles you
would like to read in more detail)
• Business and Travel Brochures (quickly to get
informed)
 Scanning
• Scanning is used to find a particular piece of
information. Run your eyes over the text looking for
the specific piece of information you need. Use
scanning on schedules, meeting plans, etc. in order to
find the specific details you require. If you see words
or phrases that you don't understand, don't worry
when scanning.
Examples of Scanning
• The "What's on TV" section of your newspaper.
• A train / airplane schedule
• A conference guide
 Vocabulary in Context;
Finding Context Clues

• Context clues are words and phrases in

a sentence which help you reason out
the meaning of an unfamiliar word. 
• Oftentimes you can figure out the
meanings of new or unfamiliar
vocabulary by paying attention to the
surrounding language. 
“It’s a special hearing aid. It lowers criticism
and amplifies compliments.”
 1. Antonym or Contrast Clue

Definition
Phrases or words that indicate opposite

Signals
but, in contrast, however, instead of, unlike, yet

Examples
• Unlike his quiet and low key family, Brad is garrulous.
• I prefer the occasional disturbance of ear-splitting
thunder to the incessant dripping of our kitchen sink.
 2. Definition or Example Clue

Definition
Phrases or words that define or explain
Signals
is defined as, means, the term, [a term in boldface or
italics] set off with commas
Examples
• Sedentary individuals, people who are not very
active, often have diminished health.
• Nocturnal creatures, such as bats and owls, have
highly developed senses that enable them to function
in the dark.
a. feathery. b. living. c. active at night.
“I’d like a prescription that will alleviate my aches and
pains and also make me younger and thinner.”
 3. General Knowledge

Definition
The meaning is derived from the experience and background
knowledge of the reader; "common sense" and logic.
Signals
the information may be something basically familiar to you
Examples
• The car wash we organized to raise funds was a fiasco—it
rained all day.
a. great financial success b. welcome surprise. c. complete
disaster.
• Despite the proximity of Ron’s house to his sister’s, he rarely
sees her.
a. similarity. b. nearness. c. superiority.
 “My doctor said smoking could terminate my life.
But I told him, ‘Everybody’s life has to end some time.’”
 4. Restatement or Synonym Clue

Definition
Another word or phrase with the same or a similar meaning
is used.

Signals
in other word, that is, also known as, sometimes called.

Examples
• The dromedary, commonly called a camel, stores fat in its
hump.
• As soon as I made a flippant remark to my boss, I regretted
sounding so disrespectful.
Vocabulary in Context

Exercise
For each item below, think about the meaning
of the italicized term.
1. Today I had to deal with one mishap after
another. I couldn’t find my car keys, I dropped
a bowl of soup at lunchtime, and my computer
crashed twice.
Mishap means
a. unlucky accident.
b. event.
c. unexpected question.
2. Some mentally ill people have bizarre ideas.
For instance, they may think the TV is talking to
them or that others can steal their thoughts.
Bizarre means
a. limited.
b. ordinary.
c. odd.
3. Some animals have remarkable longevity. For
example, the giant land tortoise can live
several hundred years.
Longevity means
a. appearances.
b. length of life.
c. habits.
4. Before the invention of television, people
spent more time on diversions such as going
to town concerts and ball games, visiting
neighborhood friends, and playing board
games.
Diversions means
a. amusements.
b. differences.
c. chores.
5. Since my grandfather retired, he has
developed several new avocations. For
instance, he now enjoys gardening and chat
groups on the Internet.
Avocations means
a. hobbies.
b. vacations.
c. jobs.
6. Children who move to a foreign country adapt
much more easily than their parents, soon
picking up the language and customs of their
new home.
Adapt means
a. adjust.
b. struggle.
c. become bored.
7. The Chinese government provides incentives
for married couples to have only one child. For
example, couples with one child get financial
help and free medical care.
Incentives means
a. warnings.
b. penalties.
c. encouragements.
8. Changes in such abilities as learning,
reasoning, thinking, and language are aspects
of cognitive development.
Cognitive means
a. physical.
b. mental.
c. spiritual.
9. Today was a day of turmoil at work. The
phones were constantly ringing, people were
running back and forth, and several offices
were being painted.
Turmoil means
a. discussion.
b. confusion.
c. harmony.
10. White-collar crime—for example, accepting a
bribe from a customer or stealing from an
employer—is more costly than “common”
crime.
White-collar crime means crime committed by
a. gang members.
b. strangers.
c. people in the workplace
 Reference
• http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/304.H
TM
• http://www.mc.cc.md.us/faculty/~steuben/pu
blic_html/vocabularycontext.htm
• http://esl.about.com/od/englishreadingskills/a
/readingskills.htm
• englishforeveryone.org