Transcript Reading & Language System: Reading Comprehension

Reading &
Language System:
Reading
Comprehension
Use of English
Introduction
• In this lesson, we are going to…
– Review on one of the skills in doing reading
comprehension: identifying the main theme
– Do some exercises on reading
comprehension
Comprehension: The Main
Theme or Topic
• When we read a passage, it is important
to identify the main theme. To do this, we
need to:
– pay attention to the title (if given)
– read and identify topic sentences for each
paragraph
– read the introductory and concluding
paragraphs carefully
Questions about the main
theme in a number of ways
• Direct questions about the theme
– E.g. The main focus of this passage is …
• Choose a suitable title for the passage
– E.g. Another suitable title for the passage
could be…
• Decide where the passage comes from
– E.g. Which section of a newspaper or
magazine might this passage appear in?
Exercise Time!
Alice in Wonderland was my favourite book as a child, with its
unforgettable story of a young girl wandering into a magical world
where nothing is quite normal, and unexpected characters pop up
all around.
The new cartoon masterpiece by Japanese animator, Hayas
Miyazaki, reminded me very much of this book. The central
character is also trapped in a fantasy world which is controlled by
a wicked witch. Helped by a strange boy and talking animals, she
overcomes many difficulties and dangers in order to get back to
her own world.
Despite its familiar theme, Miyazaki’s beautiful fable will bring joy
to everyone’s hearts.
Exercise Time
1. The main focus of this passage is ……
a. the writer’s favourite children’s book.
b. how Miyazaki’s cartoon resembles Alice in
Wonderland.
c. the popularity of Alice in Wonderland.
d. the Japanese animato Hayas Miyazaki.
•
Advice:
–
–
Read paragraph 1
Read the topic sentence in paragraph 2. How
is paragraph 1 related to paragraph 2?
Exercise Time!
• Answer:
– b. how Miyazaki’s cartoon resembles
Alice in Wonderland.
– Paragraph 2: [Topic sentence] “The new
cartoon masterpiece by Japanese animator,
Hayas Miyazaki, reminded me very much of
this book.”
Exercise Time!
2. Which section of a newspaper or
magazine might this passage appear in?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Entertainment
World news
Book review
Great people
Exercise Time!
• Answer:
– a. Entertainment
– Paragraphs 2 + 3 = the new Japanese
animation [cartoon]
Looking for the Clues…
• Topic sentence (also known as a focus
sentence)
– Organizes an entire paragraph
– One in most major paragraphs
– Mostly appear at the beginning
– Not all paragraphs need a topic sentence [if
it just tries to give an example to paragraph
above]
Think about this…
• Consider the following topic sentence:
– Many fast-food chains make their profits from
adding a special ingredient called "forget sauce" to
their foods.
– If this sentence controls the paragraph that follows,
then all sentences in the paragraph must relate in
some way to _______________,
_______________ and _______________.
– fast food, profits and “forget sauce”
Looking for the Clues…
• Topic sentence makes a point
– The paragraph that follows must…
•
•
•
•
Expand
Describe
Prove
Support with reasons or examples
Exercise Time!
•
Find the topic sentence to the paragraphs below.
1.
……The blossoming wildflowers in the spring are a
joy to see. Spectacular sunsets delight the eye. The
occasional quail or roadrunner dart across the sandy
roads. It is a unique experience.
a.
b.
c.
I have never lived in the desert.
A desert is as lonesome as one can think.
Regardless of what some people may think, the
desert is a beautiful place.
Exercise Time!
• Answer:
– C. Regardless of what some people may
think, the desert is a beautiful place.
– Positive words:
• “a joy to see”
• “delight”
• “unique”
Exercise Time!
2. ……Citizens have had to decide whether offenders such as first-degree
murderers should be killed in a gas chamber, imprisoned for life, or
rehabilitated and given a second chance in society. Many citizens argue
that serious criminals should be executed. They believe that killing
criminals will set an example for others and also get rid society of a
cumbersome burden. Other citizens say that no one has the right to take
a life and that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime. They
believe that society as well as the criminal is responsible for the crimes
and that killing the criminal does not solve the problems of either society
or the criminal.
a. There are too many criminals in our society.
b. Criminals are a threat to our society.
c. The punishment of criminals has always been a problem for society.
Exercise Time!
• Answer:
– c. The punishment of criminals has always been a
problem for society.
– Keywords:
• Punishment: “killed in a gas chamber, imprisoned for life,
or rehabilitated and given a second chance in society”
• Problem: “decide whether”
• Closing sentence: “killing the criminal does not solve the
problems of either society or the criminal”
Time for Practice 1!
Homework: Exercises 1 + 2