Retour au programme
Reading comprehension is a core skill tested in all English exams. These strategies will help you score higher.
🔹 Before reading :
• Read the questions first — know what to look for
• Look at the title, source, date and any images
• Predict the content
🔹 While reading :
• Skim (read quickly for general idea) first
• Scan (look for specific information) for answers
• Underline key words in the text and in the questions
• Note paragraph topics
🔹 Types of questions :
• Factual/literal : answer found directly in the text
• Inferential : answer implied, must read between the lines
• Vocabulary : explain a word in context
• True/False/Not stated : careful — 'not stated' ≠ false
• Summary : select key information
🔹 Vocabulary in context :
To find the meaning of an unknown word :
1. Look at the words around it (context clues)
2. Look for a prefix/suffix you know
3. Look for synonyms or antonyms nearby
🔹 Answering techniques :
• Use your own words when asked to explain
• Quote (copy) from the text when asked to justify
• Answer in complete sentences when required
• Check word limits
📝 Sample text and questions :
TEXT: 'For decades, Saint-Louis was celebrated as one of West Africa's most vibrant cultural capitals. Today, the same city is at the forefront of a different, more troubling story. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion have already swallowed entire neighbourhoods. Families who have lived on the Langue de Barbarie peninsula for generations have been relocated — some willingly, many reluctantly — to new districts further inland. Climate change is not a distant threat for the people of Saint-Louis: it is their daily reality.'
Questions :
1. What was Saint-Louis historically known for?
→ It was known as one of West Africa's most vibrant cultural capitals.
2. What problem is Saint-Louis facing today? (2 points)
→ Rising sea levels and coastal erosion, which have destroyed neighbourhoods and forced people to relocate.
3. What does 'reluctantly' mean in this context?
→ Unwillingly / without wanting to — they had no choice but to move.
4. What does the last sentence suggest about the urgency of climate change?
→ For Saint-Louis residents, climate change is not a future concern — it is already affecting their daily lives, making immediate action necessary.
What is the difference between skimming and scanning?
Correction
Skimming means reading quickly to get the overall meaning or main ideas of a text. Scanning means looking through the text rapidly to find a specific piece of information (a name, date, number or key word).
What does 'True/False/Not Stated' mean in reading comprehension?
Correction
True = the statement is confirmed by the text. False = the text contradicts the statement. Not Stated = the text neither confirms nor denies the statement — the information is simply not there. This is the most commonly confused category.
How do you find the meaning of an unknown word without a dictionary?
Correction
1. Look at the surrounding context (words before and after). 2. Check if there is a prefix or suffix you recognise (un- = not, -less = without). 3. Look for a synonym or antonym in the same or nearby sentence. 4. Look at the grammatical role (noun, verb, adjective) to narrow the meaning.
What does 'inferential' mean in a reading question?
Correction
An inferential question asks you to deduce or imply meaning that is not directly stated in the text. You must 'read between the lines' — use clues and reasoning to reach a conclusion that the author suggests but does not explicitly state.
How should you answer: 'In your own words, explain why the author thinks education is important'?
Correction
Paraphrase the relevant part of the text — use your own vocabulary and sentence structure, not a copy of the original. Begin with a clear topic sentence and support it with points from the text, but do not quote directly unless asked.