ELPT PREPARATION

READING COMPREHENSION TEST TAKING STRATEGIES

READING COMPREHENSION

WHAT IS READING COMPREHENSION GENERAL STRATEGIES READING COMPREHENSION QUESTION STRATEGIES TYPES OF QUESTIONS CONCLUSION

WHAT IS READING COMPREHENSION

The purpose is to test your knowledge of the meanings and uses of words in written English and to measure your ability to understand a variety of reading materials There are five passages and 50 multiple- choice questions about their meanings. There are two types of questions: 1. Reading comprehension questions ask you to answer questions about the information given in the reading passages. 2. Vocabulary questions ask you to identify the meanings of vocabulary words in the reading passages.

How to prepare for the reading section before the test

Keep following tips in mind: Skimming and scanning. Read Newspapers and Magazines. Read whatever you can, whenever you can. Practice reading reading some leaving some so as to get the gist of the passage without reading all. Pay attention to new vocabulary words, including the use of prefixes, suffixes and roots. Practice determining the meaning of a vocabulary word from its context

General Strategies

Be familiar with the directions. The directions on every ELPT tests are the same, so it is not necessary to spend time reading the directions carefully when you take the test. You should be completely familiar with the directions before the day of the test. Do not spend too much time reading the passages! You do not have time to read each reading passage in depth, and it is quite possible to answer the questions correctly without first reading passages in depth. Some students prefer to spend a minute or two on each passage reading for the main idea before starting on the questions. Other students prefer move directly to the questions without reading the passages first. Do not worry if a reading passage is on a topic that you are unfamiliar with. All of the information that you need to answer the questions included in the passages. You do not need any background knowledge to answer the questions. Never leave any questions blank on your answer sheet. Even if you are unsure of the correct response, you should answer each question. There is no penalty for guessing Use your time wisely.

Question Strategies

Skim the reading passage to determine the main idea and the overall organization of ideas in the passage. Look ahead at the questions to determine what types of questions you must answer. Find the section of the passage that deals with each questions For main idea questions, look at the first line of each paragraph. For directly and indirectly answered detail question, choose a key word in the question and skim for that key word (or a related idea) in order in the passage. Read the part of the passage that contains the answer carefully. Choose the best answer to each question from the four answer choices listed in your test book.

Types of Questions

Topic and Main Ideas Details and Factual Information Making Inference Locating Reference Identifying Exception Vocabulary in Context Answering transition questions

Topic and Main ideas

1. What is the main topic of this reading? (A) Women and drugs (B) The dangers of pregnancy (C) The fetus and alcohol (D) Drinking and the human body choices.
How to answer the question Read the first line of each paragraph. Look for a common theme or idea in the first lines. Pass your eyes quickly over the rest of the passage to check that you really have found the topic sentence. Eliminate any definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remaining

One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. The reality is that the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus's liver is not completely developed (how developed it is depends on its stage of development). The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have already occurred. Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion, inability to concentrate, and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol

Problem with Scanning for Details

According to the passage, how does the concentration of alcohol in a fetus compare to that in the mother?

How to answer the question Choose a key word in the question. Skim in the appropriate part of the passage for the key word or idea. Read the sentence that contains the key word ideas carefully. Look for the answer that restates an idea in the passage. Eliminate the definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remaining choices

(A) The concentration is more. (B) The concentration is less. (C) The concentration is equivalent. (D) The concentration cannot be measured

One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. The reality is that the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus's liver is not completely developed (how developed it is depends on its stage of development). The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have already occurred. Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion, inability to concentrate, and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol.

Problem with making inference

It can be inferred that the development of a fetal liver depends on how many months pregnant the mother is how much alcohol the mother has consumed how large the fetus is how well the mother has taken care of the fetus
How to answer the question

(A)

(B)

(C) (D)

Choose a key word in the question. Scan the passage for the key word (or a related idea). Carefully read the sentence that contains the key word. Look for an answer that could be true, according to that sentence.

One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. The reality is that the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus's liver is not completely developed (how developed it is depends on its stage of development). The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have already occurred. Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion, inability to concentrate, and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol.

Locating Reference
In line 4 the word "its" refers to (A) the fetus (B) the blood (C) the tissue (D) the alcohol
How to answer the question Find the pronoun in the passage. (The line where the pronoun can be found is generally stated in the question). Look for nouns that come before the pronoun. Read the part of the passage before the pronoun carefully. Eliminate any definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remaining choices.

One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. The reality is that the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother.

Identifying Exception
Which one of the following was NOT mentioned as a sign of fetal alcohol syndrome?
(A) disfigurement of the face (B) concentration difficulties (C) increased aggression (D) memory problems
How to answer the question

Choose a key word in the question. Scan the appropriate place in the passage for the key word (or related idea). Read the sentence that contains the key word or idea carefully. Look for answers that are definitely true according to the passage. Eliminate those words. Choose the answer that is not true or not discussed in the passage.

One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. The reality is that the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus's liver is not completely developed (how developed it is depends on its stage of development). The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have already occurred. Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion,

inability to concentrate, and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol.

Using Contexts for Vocabulary

1. In line 5, the word "pronounced" most closely means (A) evident (B) spoken (C) described (D) unfortunate
2. In line 9 the word "inextricably" most nearly means (A) unexplainedly (B) formerly (C) forcefully (D) inseparably How to answer the question

Find the word in the passage. Read the sentence that contains the word carefully. Look for context clues to help you understand the meaning. Choose the answer that the context indicates.

One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. The reality is that the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus's liver is not completely developed (how developed it is depends on its stage of development). The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have already occurred. Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion, inability to concentrate, and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol.

Answering transition questions

What is most likely in the paragraph following the passage? a. Research about the positive effect of alcohol on pregnant women b. The normal development of babies born after the exposure to alcohol c. Womens efforts in protecting themselves from alcohol d. Alcohol has been one of the most dangerous drugs
How to answer the question

Read the first line for a preceding question. Read the last line for a following question. Draw a conclusion about what comes before or after. Choose the answer that is reflected in the first or last line of the passage.

One of the most dangerous drugs for pregnant women to consume is alcohol. Because alcohol is delivered quickly into the blood and passes quickly into the tissues and membranes, the human fetus is particularly vulnerable to its effects. The reality is that the negative effects on a fetus are so pronounced that babies born after exposure to alcohol are said to be suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome. As a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed into her bloodstream almost simultaneously. Moreover, because the bloodstream of the fetus is inextricably tied to that of the mother, the alcohol passes directly into the bloodstream of the fetus as well. And, what is more, the concentration of alcohol in the fetus is exactly the same as in the mother. For the mother, this concentration is not a problem because her liver can remove one ounce of alcohol from her system per hour. However, the fetus's liver is not completely developed (how developed it is depends on its stage of development). The rate at which it is able to eliminate the alcohol from the blood of the fetus is much slower. Eventually, the alcohol will be returned to the mother's system by passing across the placenta, but this process is slow. By the time this takes place, major neurological damage may have already occurred. Research has shown that as little as one drink of alcohol can produce significant, irreversible damage to the fetus. Babies born after exposure to alcohol generally exhibit facial distortion, inability to concentrate, and difficulty in remembering. Simply speaking, it is imperative that pregnant women avoid alcohol.

Conclusion

Do not insist on completing each question before going to the next. This is extremely important. If you spend a lot of time on one question that you don't understand there can be two negative outcomes: Losing time Remember one question may only be worth one point, if you are not able to answer questions later because you have lost time you could lose more points! Becoming nervous Becoming nervous can make you lose your concentration and that leads to worse results. If possible, go through the entire test answering the questions you are sure you know. Go through the test a second time working out the answers to more difficult questions. Now you will feel more confident and this will improve your test taking. However, remember to not waste too much time on any one question. Once you have gone through the test twice, see if any of the questions asked can help you answer those really difficult questions. This is a little used trick. Sometimes questions asked are answered in later questions asking for different things. This should not be tried until you have finished the test and have some time remaining to try the questions you have had problems with again. If you have a strong feeling about a question when you first answer it, don't go back and change it later. Usually (but not always) a strong first impulse means we know the answer and we don't really have to think about it too much. Going back to think about it usually makes you unsure and causes error. This is very common so be careful! Play the odds If you don't know the answer, write something. If you are answering a 4 possibility multiple choice question you will still have a 25% chance of being correct!

Lets try it out