This document provides tips and information about reading comprehension questions. It suggests not reading the passage before the questions. The first question may ask about the main idea or best title and should be answered last. It is important to identify the type of passage, such as narrative, news item, or report. Questions can be answered by finding information in the newsworthy event, background, sources, or purpose. The answers may be explicitly or implicitly stated.

1. WELCOME TOWELCOME TO
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2. READING
COMPREHENSION
Do not read the passage before you
read the questions. Start by
reading the first question. If it
deals with the main
idea/point/purpose or best title,
you should answer this question
last. By the time you have
answered the other questions, you
will be able to answer general
ones.
GENERAL TIP

3. READING
COMPREHENSION
It is suggested to identify
the types of the
passage/text you are
reading
GENERAL TIP 2

4. Narrative News Item
Report
Recount
Procedure Descriptive
Exposition Discussion
Explanation
Spoof
Review
Types of text/passage

5. Complete this text according to the passage you’ve heard.
Singapore (DPA) : Shifting winds are bringing hazy
conditions to from (1) on the Indonesian island of Sumatra,
but the air quality is not yet (2) , environmental
officials said on Wednesday.
The haze (3) to prevail in Singapore over the
next few days, said the National Environmental Agency (NEA).
The latest (4) shots showed (5) haze in central
Sumatra although the area’s hot spots were down from 84 to 5.
“As central and southern Sumatra are expected (6)
dry in the next few days, the hot spot situation will remain of
concern,” a spokesman said.
Air quality levels in Malaysia were hit. The Klang Valley,
which includes Kuala Lumpur, were described by officials as
unhealthy and (7) .
Poor (8) in Pekanbaru, Sumatra prevented seven
flights from landing and one from (9) .
Land-clearing fires in Indonesia ignite fears annually of
chocking (10) blanketing neighbouring countries.
fires
unhealthy
is expected
satellite smoke
to remain
worsening
visibility
taking off
pollutants

6. is a piece of writing
about an important event or
situation that takes place /
happens on a particular
day.
News Item

7. Communicative purpose
to inform the readers, listeners, or viewers
about the events of the day which are
considered important.

8. Newsworthy event
( paragraph 1)
Background events
Sources
Generic Structure
Place main event time
Chronological events
witnesses, participants (victims),
authority experts.

9. Example
Denpasar, Bali (JP, August 1999): environmental
organization Fauna Conservation for Life
(KSBBK) claimed that Bali is the biggest site of
turtle trading in this year.
According to Putu Lisa Kusuma Mustika, a
reptile expert from the Indonesian World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) , tortoises have been killed
in several areas of Indonesia, with the highest
number in Bali. “Most of them are consumed as
food while some of them are used for traditional
ceremonies,” Putu told Jakarta Post. Besides its
meat, Putu said, tortoise shells are also used as
souvenirs for tourists.
Newsworthy
event
Background
event
Source
Place Main event Time
An authority
expert
topic Main idea

10. Where can the answers be found, and
how to answer the questions ?
1.The questions deal with :
Newsworthy event
( paragraph 1 )
Example
11. The topic of the article is …..
A. souvenirs from tortoise shells
B. fauna conversation for life
C. the protected animals
D. turtle trading
Notes:
topic/title is
generally
stated in the
form of
phrase.
•the main topic
•the main idea
•the best title

11. 2. The questions deal with :
Background events
Example
12. According to this article, ….
A. Lisa is a reptile expert from the
Indonesian World Wildlife Fund
B. Bali is the place to kill and sell tortoises.
C. In Bali, many tortoises have been killed
for various purposes.
D. In Bali, tortoises were killed to be eaten.
Specific information

12. 3. The questions deal with :
Example
13. The writer’s purpose by writing
this article is ……
A. to educate the readers not to buy tortoises
B. to inform the readers about turtle trading
C. to influence the readers not to eat tortoise
D. to persuade the readers not to sell tortoise.
implicit information
(main purpose)
by identifying the types of the text.

13. Example
14. Putu Lisa Kusuma
Mustika in this passage
has a role as …...
A. a victim
B. a witness
C. an authority expert
D. a writer of the article

14. Report provides factual information
about a specific subject like :
 social phenomenon
 nature
 man-made
The factual information provided in
the report text is objective and
impartial/neutral.

15. Communicative
purpose
to describe a specific subject
Such as :
 rain, animal (nature)
 education, jobless (social phenomenon)
 electricity, nuclear (man-made)

16. Generic structure
General
classification
Opening statement that
introduces the subject.
Description The supporting of the paragraphs
to describe the subject in detail
such as :
 parts
 the qualities
 appearance
 habitat / behaviour
 uses

17. Example
GeneralGeneral
classificclassific
ationation
Polar bears are the largest land carnivore and hasPolar bears are the largest land carnivore and has
a reputation as the only animals that actuallya reputation as the only animals that actually
hunt humans. They are found throughout thehunt humans. They are found throughout the
circumpolar Arctic, south to Canada.circumpolar Arctic, south to Canada.
DescripDescrip
tiontion
Polar bears are large and stocky with hind limbsPolar bears are large and stocky with hind limbs
that are longer than the forelimbs, and a longthat are longer than the forelimbs, and a long
neck. They have large, furry feet that act asneck. They have large, furry feet that act as
snowshoes. Their creamy- white fur is dense andsnowshoes. Their creamy- white fur is dense and
water-repellent, enabling them to shake dry afterwater-repellent, enabling them to shake dry after
swimming.swimming.
Polar bears spend most of their time on ArcticPolar bears spend most of their time on Arctic
floes, and when they are on shore they remainfloes, and when they are on shore they remain
near the water.near the water.
They are usually solitary, except during theThey are usually solitary, except during the
breeding season (mid summer) although theybreeding season (mid summer) although they
will sometimes aggregate to feed on large whalewill sometimes aggregate to feed on large whale
carcasses. Polar bears are active at night.carcasses. Polar bears are active at night.
They are strong swimmers and have manyThey are strong swimmers and have many
adaptations for aquatic environment. Their lifeadaptations for aquatic environment. Their life
span can reach 25 years.span can reach 25 years.
physicalphysical
appearanceappearance
habitathabitat
behavior/behavior/
habitshabits
qualitiesqualities

18. Where can the answers be found, and
how to answer the questions ?
1.The questions deal with :
General
classification
15. Which of the following would be the
best title for the passage ?
A. Polar Bears
B. Polar Bears’ Habitat
C. Human Hunter Animals
D. Polar Bears are the Night Animals
•the main topic
•the main idea
•the best title
Example

19. 2. The questions deal with :
Description
16. Which of the following is true
according to the text ?
A. Shore is the best habitat for polar bears.
B. Polar bears are the food of a large whale.
C. Polar bears always use snowshoes to go.
D. Water-repellent fur acts as a shield
against the water.
Specific information
Example

20. 3. The questions deal with :
17. What is the function of the passage ?
A. to explain the polar bears.
B. to inform the readers about polar bears.
C. to make the readers interested in polar bear.
D. to describe the polar bears.
implicit information
(main purpose)
by identifying the types of the text.
Example

21. 18. The word ‘carcasses’
in the passage is closest
in meaning to ….
A. corpse.
B. food
C. breeding
D. swimming
Example

23. PROCEDURE
• Aim: to give instruction on how
to do things
• Generic structure:
- The purpose of the activity
- list of materials
- list of equipment
- steps
• Linguistic features: imperative,
action verbs, connectives