Reading testweek - basics

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Reading basics

For test week

Do you start by reading the questions or by reading the text?

1. Questions
2. Text

Where do you start?

Starting with the questions is faster, you should do this (unless you can read really quickly)

Looking at the questions first tells you what to look for in a text.

The questions are in the order of the text.

What do you do if you don't know a word?

What if you don't know a word?

First, decide:

is the word important? Do I need to know it to understand the text?

Strategy 1:

decide what the word means by looking at the context. Is it a verb or a noun? Is it positive or negative? Does it contain parts of words you know?

Strategy 2:

if you are allowed to have a dictionary, look up the word. Watch out, this takes quite a lot of time!

Signal words

Signal words (also known as linking words) are the 'signs' that help you find your way in a text

They tell us how different parts of the text are linked

Signal words are very important for reading!

Some categories of signal words

• Addition: something else is going to be added to what was already said.
• Comparison: the writer is going to say how two things are the same.
• Contrast: the writer is going to say how two things are different.
• Time: information about when something happens, or in what order.
  
• Example: the writer gives an example of what they are talking about.
• Summary: the writer repeats the most important points of the text.
• Explanation: the writer gives a reason why.
  
• Conclusion/consequence: the writer says what message we should take from the text, or what will happen because of the things he's describing.
  

Signal words

For the next two exercises, drag the signal words to the correct category

ADDITION

COMPARISON

CONTRAST

and

additionally

also

in addition

plus

similarly

likewise

in the same way

too

in common

but

although

however

nevertheless

on the contrary

on the other hand

furthermore

ADDITION

• and
• as well as
• additionally
• along with
• also
• furthermore
• besides
• on top of that
• in addition
• to add to that
• plus
• moreover
  

COMPARISON

• similarly
• likewise
• in the same way
• as well
• too
• in common
• equally
  

CONTRAST

• but
• although
• though
  
• however
• in contrast
• on the contrary
• on the other hand
• nevertheless
• yet
• despite
  

EXPLANATION

• because
• since
• for
• as
  

TIME

EXAMPLE

CONCLUSION/
CONSEQUENCE

currently

while

now

next

at first

later

for example

for instance

such as

to illustrate

to show

so

as a result

consequently

thus

therefore

that's why

hence

TIME

• currently
• now
• initially
  
• next
• later
• at first
• (mean)while
• earlier
• in the past
• once
• after
• until
  

EXAMPLE

• for instance
• for example
• such as
• to show
• to illustrate
  

SUMMARY

• to sum up
• in short
• in brief
• in summary
  

CONCLUSION/

CONSEQUENCE

• so
• consequently
• that's why
• as a result
• therefore
• thus
• hence
• as a consequence
  

Signal words

For the next exercise, pick the signal word that fits the gap.

I set the alarm for 6:30 _____ I wouldn't miss the train.

1. because
2. so
3. until
4. while

He didn't come in until past midnight ____ he promised he would be home by 9PM.

1. because
2. since
3. so that
4. although

He decided to buy a new car ____ losing his job last month.

1. since
2. despite
3. while
4. hence

She got the job ____ she had very little experience.

1. thus
2. moreover
3. therefore
4. although

The student's essay was badly written. ____, it was too short.

1. however
2. despite
3. moreover
4. on the other hand

Signal words

Signal words are very important for understanding a text. Come back to this Lessonup if you need to see what function a signal word has.

You can also find lists online by googling for 'signal words' or 'linking words'

What is this text about? How do you know?

How do you know what a text is about?

• Look at the title. What does it tell you?
• Look at the pictures (if there are any).
• Are there any headers (tussenkopjes), or words in bold or italics? Those might help you!
• Look at the questions. Do they have any information about the text?
  

Individual reading practice

Go into Learnbeat and do the reading tasks

"exam reading part 1"

Finished?

Practice verbs with Past Simple / Present Perfect exercises