Reading comprehension in a competitive exam situation is about:

• Getting the correct answer given a passage/s they provide which means that the goal is not to:

  • Learn what the passages are saying (acquiring knowledge).
  • Think deeply about it or try to understand it in detail.
  • Focus on the text.
  • Read the text thoroughly.
  • What do the above three lead to?
  • Time taken
  • Goal diverted.

• The goal is to:

  • Read efficiently as possible (efficiently means quickly and getting to the point without wasting time).
  • Find the main point.
  • Use on-balance keywords
  • Focus on selecting the right answer.

There is a range of different type of texts/genres that can present in reading comprehension passages such as:

• Narratives/Fiction texts
• Non-fiction texts – factual based
• Interviews
• Historical stories/programs
• Autobiographies
• Poetry
• Cartoons (Visual)

Each of these types of texts have varying writing styles, therefore, it is good to become familiar with them and the types of questions that can come up with each type of text. This allows you to be aware of what to look out for.

There's a particular approach I apply when answering reading comprehension questions. The approach is:

1. Look at the passage – what type is it (<1 sec)
2. Read the question/s first. Why? (check out the video above if you haven't done so already).
3. Read the passage quickly, identifying the areas that relate to your question.

4. Do keyword/sentence checks and check them against your question.

   1. Use an on-balance approach.

5. Look at the answer options, evaluate against each other and then choose your answer – elimination is often involved.

This approach is modified slightly as for different passages you'll be looking for different things.

Let me illustrate this to you in this passage and associated questions below:

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

The following is adapted from an interview to a film producer.

Judy Irvinghas created a sleeper documentary hit in **** The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. It is the inspiring true story of how one man found his life's work—and true love—among a gang of wild parrots roosting in one of America's most picturesque urban settings. Surfbirds recently got to see the film and Judy took some time to answer our questions.

Surfbirds: One of the first things that struck me when watching your film was how touching it was. You developed a story that focused on the human characteristics and individual personalities of the birds as well as Mark's growing emotional attachment to them. When you start a project like this do you have a preconceived idea of what angle you want to pursue or do you just film and see how it develops as you edit?

Judy: I felt at the outset that this would be a good story about Mark's relationship with the wild flock, but with a documentary you never know exactly what's in store until you start filming and editing. I like that process of discovery; it's more alive to me than following a script.

Surfbirds: Were you aware beforehand that these birds had such unique personalities or was that something that came out during filming?

Judy: Both: Mark told such great stories about the "avian stars" -- Connor, Picasso & Sophie, Tupelo, Mingus, Olive & Pushkin -- that I found myself concentrating on them during the filming. But other birds had their moments, too; a lot of it was luck.

Surfbirds: The adage is "never work with children and animals". Even though the birds are tame, they still are wild – how much did it add to your shooting schedule to deal with flocks of wild birds?

Judy: I learned that adage the hard way, because my initial conception for the film was a short fable for children. After three days of shooting with both children AND wild animals, I gave it up, and the film gradually evolved, over the next four-and-a-half years, into a full-length feature. The parrots aren't really tame, and the "nature of nature filming" is that there's lots of footage on the cutting room floor, and many days spent waiting around not getting anything. Despite the frustrations, I loved spending time in the gardens waiting for the birds. It's a meditation: you have to slow down to nature's pace.

1 the words "preconceived idea" suggests that

A she received advice previously.

B she had suggestions beforehand.

C she had an opinion formed before having the evidence of its truth.

D she predicted a true event.

2 The passage suggests that at the beginning the producer

A had decided to film just the human connection with wild birds.

B discovered wild birds.

C focused on the relationship among wild birds.

D was reluctant to film the variety of wild birds.

Source: http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/wildparrots.html

Key Rules to remember:

• Focus on selecting the question right as opposed to understanding/learning information in the passage.
• Recommended that you use an on-balance approach along with comparing solution options against one another.
• You should not have a generic approach applied to all genres, you should modify how you look at different genres as they'll bring up different types of questions.

Now it's time to do your assignment.

1. Download the assignment question here.
2. Print it out or if you want to do it electronically, save it.
3. Complete the questions to it.
4. Then check the solutions on the video below or download the written solutions here.

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