Techniques

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Comprehension reading is the main criterion for seperating the "passive" unskilled reader from active intelligent reader. It requires the reader to be an active constructor of meaning.

A good reader possesses following qualities:

1. Predicts what is the main theme of the given passage.
2. Understands the sequence and context of the given passage.
3. clarifies the parts of the text which have confused him.

Here are some important techniques to increase comprehension power and ability to answer the questions pertaining to the passage in question. Following them may enable a candidate to attempt comprehension reading to the satisfaction of checker.

1. Never confirm your answer to a question until you've read the entire passage. Information relevant to a question can appear anywhere in the passage.

2. Using your pencil and scratch paper, jot down a rough outline as you read. It will help you locate relevant details quickly as you answer the questions, and minimize re-reading.

3. Don't be overly concerned with details (dates, examples, and lists) as you read; instead, jot down in outline form where these details are located in the passage so you can locate them quickly as needed to respond to the questions.

4. After reading the entire passage, take about 15 seconds to sum it up in one sentence—in the form of a rough thesis statement. Doing so is well worth the effort, because you'll be able to answer some Reading Comprehension questions with nothing more than the thesis in mind.

5. No matter what type of question you're dealing with, eliminate any answer choice that runs contrary to the passage's overall thesis.

6. Be on the lookout for answer choices that provide information supported by the passage but not responsive to the question. This is one of the test-makers' favorite wrong-answer ploys.

7. If the author of the passage adopts a position, or stance, on an issue, but discusses other viewpoints as well in the passage, be on the lookout for answer choices that confuse the author's viewpoint with the viewpoints of others. This is another common wrong-answer ploy.

8. Clarify your purpose. A good understanding of what you already