Reading is often perceived as a challenge in IELTS by many students. But if proper reading strategies of skimming and scanning are adopted, this challenge can be overcome. One of the important activities during skimming is finding out keywords in the passage and underlining them.
During scanning as well, you can mark keywords in the question as your tendency to match them with similar words in the passage. Since the passages are long and complex, finding out keywords will help you read more efficiently.
1. Find keywords in reading passage
An important part of skimming the passage is underlining keywords. While you are reading the passage, you can identify important keywords in the paragraphs that will also help you to better understand the given information.
- At this time, you should underline keywords to understand the paragraph by abstracting important information from it.
- You can definitely underline some keywords such as names, locations, facts, figures etc.
For example:
- Names (Names of scientists, people etc. involved in the story)
- Locations (Town, city, country etc.)
- Years or dates (1978, 12th Oct 1982 etc.)
- Figures (1.2 million, 20000 etc.)
- You may mark any word or phrase which is capitalized e.g. titles of books, event names etc.
The reason behind highlighting these keywords is finding easy reference from the passage. If you have a question referring to the year 1978, it would be easy for you to locate it in the passage if you had already underlined it while reading the passage. Otherwise, you would need to read the whole passage to find where 1978 is mentioned and hence, it would consume your time.
2. Find keywords in reading questions
In the process of scanning i.e. locating answer of the question, you will first need to read the question carefully to find important keywords you can mark and at the same time, to understand meaning of the question.
- Keywords you underline are usually nouns, group of nouns, verbs etc. except articles (a, an, the), prepositions (for, in, at etc.) and others.
- An extremely important strategy of underlining keyword is to identify the focus of the question, especially in MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions). Focus or stem of the question is a word in the question that will help you to choose the right option. For example, focus or stem is highlighted in the following question:
Which of the following is most at fault for the Titanic disaster?
A. The ship
B. Captain and crew
C. Titanic’s owners and builders
D. Standard operating procedure
Sometimes, your keywords are synonyms or similar words, not the exact keyword as given in the passage and hence, you can try to understand its meaning to relate it well with the right paragraph. However, the nearby words and paraphrasing skill will help you understand the meaning of the question.
Let’s take an example on how to find keywords in question and similar keywords in passage.
Question:
Recommendations about __________________ are given to the wife-to-be.
Passage statement:
Her guests often tease the bride about her husband and give her advice about married life.
| Keywords in Question | Similar Keywords in Paragraph |
| Recommendations | Advice |
| About | About |
| Are Given | Give |
| Wife-to-be | Bride |
| ANSWER: MARRIED LIFE | |
Explanation is as follows:
If you read the question, you can identify keywords as “wife-to-be”, “recommendations” and the word nearby the blank, “about”.
Thus, it may so happen that keywords of question do not match with that in the passage. In this case, you may need to paraphrase them or find out their meanings. Here, in the passage statement, “bride” is the word used in place of “wife-to-be” and “advice” in place of “recommendations”.
Also, it is to be noted that “is given” in question is paraphrased grammatically for “give” in the passage statement.
Another important thing to be noticed is that “about” is exactly the same word nearby the blank in the question as you can find in the passage statement.
Thus, you can find the answer as “married life”.
*Note: Always remember that matching keywords would help you to locate the paragraph and its statements for reference but at the end, it’s all about understanding of the question without which answers go wrong. Hence, you should instead try matching the information or the meaning.
Practice Questions
Question 1:
Read the following short passages and questions to find out keywords. Fill the keywords in the table given below:
A super-hard metal has been made in the laboratory by melting together titanium and gold. The alloy is the hardest known metallic substance compatible with living tissues, say US physicists. The material is four times harder than pure titanium and has applications in making longer-lasting medical implants, they say.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36855705
The hardest substance discovered in the laboratory is formed by combining titanium and gold after they are ……………
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
Question 2:
Quakes are the ever present danger for those who live along the Apennine mountain range in Italy. Through the centuries thousands have died as a result of tremors equal to, or not much bigger than, the event that struck in the early hours of Wednesday.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37176502
Which part of Italy is always under the threat of being affected by quakes?
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
Question 3:
But look closer at the specifics of any quake and the details are much more complicated. The Tyrrhenian Basin, or Sea, which lies to the west of Italy, between the mainland and Sardinia/Corsica, is slowly opening up. Scientists say this is contributing to extension, or “pull-apart”, along the Apennines which works at a rate of 3mm per year. Add in movement in the Adriatic where the crust is rotating in an anti-clockwise direction, and you have a fiendishly complex picture. Italy is literally being pushed and pulled every which way.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37176502
When the particulars of an earthquake are studied deeply, it is found that it is very _________
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
Question 4:
We all recall the L’Aquila (Magnitude 6.3) event of 2009 in which 295 died. But go much further back to Avezzano (Magnitude 6.9-7.0) in 1915, which claimed 30,000 lives; and to 1703 when a trio of Magnitude 6 quakes killed at least 10,000 people.Thankfully, we tend not to see deaths on those scales anymore, and that is because of more robust building, better preparation and more co-ordinated emergency responses after the fact.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37176502
Which one of the following is NOT the reason why deaths are rare with quakes of magnitude between 6 and 7?
- Good planning and preparation
- Quakes are not seen anymore
- Effective construction of buildings
- Handling emergency situation well
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
Question 5:
But look closer at the specifics of any quake and the details are much more complicated. The Tyrrhenian Basin, or Sea, which lies to the west of Italy, between the mainland and Sardinia/Corsica, is slowly opening up. Scientists say this is contributing to extension, or “pull-apart”, along the Apennines which works at a rate of 3mm per year. Add in movement in the Adriatic where the crust is rotating in an anti-clockwise direction, and you have a fiendishly complex picture. Italy is literally being pushed and pulled every which way.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37176502
A major effect can be observed at the western region of Italy where a (i)_________is located. It is found to be gradually broadening up leading to the situation of (ii)_________ at the rate of (iii)_____per year.
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
ANSWERS:
1.
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
| Hardest substance | Super-hard metal |
| Discovered in the laboratory | Made in the laboratory |
| Combination | Together |
| ANSWER: MELTED | |
2.
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
| Of Italy | Of Italy |
| Always | Ever present |
| Threat | Danger |
| ANSWER: APENNINE MOUNTAIN RANGE | |
3.
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
| Particulars of an earthquake | Specifics of any quake |
| Studied deeply | Look closer |
| Much more | Very |
| ANSWER: COMPLICATED | |
4.
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in paragraph |
| The reason why | That is because of |
| Deaths are rare | Not to see deaths anymore |
| Good planning and preparation | Better preparation |
| Effective construction of building | More robust building |
| Handling emergency situation well | More co-ordinated emergency responses |
| ANSWER: B | |
5.
| Keywords in question | Similar keywords in passage |
| Is located | Lies |
| Western region of Italy | West of Italy |
| Gradually broadening up | Slowly opening up |
| Leading to | Contributing to |
| At the rate of | At a rate of |
| ANSWERS:
i. Tyrrhenian Basin/Sea ii. Extension/pull-apart iii. 3 mm | |
Comments:
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Job Responsibilities
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Employment Status
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"My people," she began. "At last you have been freed from the rule of
the Foreigner. To-day, a great blow has been delivered by you for our
independence--a blow that will resound in the most distant provinces
of our land. Through your loyalty and courage, the end for which we
have so long striven has been attained. To you belongs the spoil, the
treasure that has fallen into our hands. It is your reward."
A murmur of applause told that the point had been well received.
"But my people," she proceeded. "You are still encompassed by great
peril. The Foreigner is destroyed, but others of his race may return
to try and wrest from you, your country. Enemies, too, may rise from
within as rapacious and as hateful of your religion. It is necessary
that you choose without delay a fearless and capable ruler."
A few voices called on her by name, but she again silenced them.
"As you well know," she continued, "by our law, to me belongs the right
of succession to the throne of Jhansi."
"Aye, truly," many cried. "Lachmi Bai. Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi."
"But, my good people, as the noble Raja, Ahmad Khan, hath pointed out,
I am but a girl, uninstructed in the wiles of statecraft, unused to
the wielding of a sword in dangerous times. A Raja, he declares, must
be seated on the throne of Jhansi. Why not then the illustrious Ahmad
Khan"?
Spontaneously the cry rose, "For us no stranger, no Mohammedan! We want
him not to rule over us. Lachmi Bai. Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi."
"But, good people," she persisted, as if earnestly pleading Ahmad's
cause. "Ahmad Khan is a brave soldier. He is"----
Her voice was drowned in an uproar that shook the walls of the palace.
Her name alone was borne upward by thousands of unyielding throats.
"Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi. Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi."
She stretched out her arms lovingly toward them. She appealed to them
with a captivating smile.
"Would you then have Lachmi Bai for your ruler in Jhansi"?
A great shout rose and confirmed her in her right to the title. The
throngs surged back and forth in the endeavor of those furthest away to
reach a spot nearer to her person.
"Come to us," they cried. "Come down amid thy people, O Rani."
With a radiant countenance, she passed down the flight of stone steps
into the courtyard. Unguarded she moved among the mass of people,
stirred to a frenzy of enthusiasm by her presence. Some knelt in her
path to touch the hem of her garment, while others waved their weapons
aloft, vowing they would defend her to the death.
Darkness fell with the swiftness of the Tropics. She turned to re-enter
the palace, and torches flared to light her path. They gave to the
scene a weird, majestic splendor--the irregular outlines of the palace
overshadowed by the huge black mass of the fortress; the exultant,
white robed throng; the stern faces of the soldiers; the girl, whose
mysterious being swayed their emotions like the wind playing upon lotus
reeds.
In the Darbar hall Ahmad Khan impatiently awaited the Rani's return.
He was startled by the cries of the populace, and dismayed at the
discovery that his egress was blocked. Uneasily he paced back and
forth, wondering what these ominous signs betokened. He cursed his
imprudence at having dismissed his followers at so critical a moment.
"Tricked, I doubt not," he savagely exclaimed. "But one more fool who
loses a crown in exchange for a woman's smile."
The Rani and her officers swept into the hall. Ahmad's hand impulsively
grasped the hilt of his sword--a gesture which Prasad imitated by half
withdrawing his from its scabbard.
The Hindu noble advanced a few paces, regarding Ahmad's sullen
countenance as if willing to accept a challenge.
"Peace, my Lords," the Rani cried authoritatively.
She laid a restraining hand on Prasad's arm.
"Peace. It is my will. This is no hour to broach a feud."
She then fearlessly advanced to Ahmad's side, and addressed him calmly.
"My Lord Raja," said she. "My people will have it that I rule over
Jhansi."
She held up her hand to draw his attention to the acclamations which
penetrated the innermost recesses of the palace.
"You hear them," she continued. "I espoused your cause to the best of
my ability; but, it seems, they will have no other than Lachmi Bai to
be their Rani."
"And now," she concluded, addressing all present, "I look to you,
Ahmad, Prasad, and all my brave officers to unite for one object, the
defense of my throne and Jhansi."
Ahmad glanced round upon the determined faces of the Rani's loyal
supporters, as they vowed to maintain the crown upon her head. He
realized that, in turn, he had been outwitted. By a low obeisance he
outwardly acknowledged her authority.
"The people are God's," he murmured, "the country is the Padshah's,
and the Raj is the Rani's."
Thus was Lachmi Bai proclaimed Rani of Jhansi.
please highlight key word in the below shown paragraph
"My people," she began. "At last you have been freed from the rule of
the Foreigner. To-day, a great blow has been delivered by you for our
independence--a blow that will resound in the most distant provinces
of our land. Through your loyalty and courage, the end for which we
have so long striven has been attained. To you belongs the spoil, the
treasure that has fallen into our hands. It is your reward."
A murmur of applause told that the point had been well received.
"But my people," she proceeded. "You are still encompassed by great
peril. The Foreigner is destroyed, but others of his race may return
to try and wrest from you, your country. Enemies, too, may rise from
within as rapacious and as hateful of your religion. It is necessary
that you choose without delay a fearless and capable ruler."
A few voices called on her by name, but she again silenced them.
"As you well know," she continued, "by our law, to me belongs the right
of succession to the throne of Jhansi."
"Aye, truly," many cried. "Lachmi Bai. Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi."
"But, my good people, as the noble Raja, Ahmad Khan, hath pointed out,
I am but a girl, uninstructed in the wiles of statecraft, unused to
the wielding of a sword in dangerous times. A Raja, he declares, must
be seated on the throne of Jhansi. Why not then the illustrious Ahmad
Khan"?
Spontaneously the cry rose, "For us no stranger, no Mohammedan! We want
him not to rule over us. Lachmi Bai. Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi."
"But, good people," she persisted, as if earnestly pleading Ahmad's
cause. "Ahmad Khan is a brave soldier. He is"----
Her voice was drowned in an uproar that shook the walls of the palace.
Her name alone was borne upward by thousands of unyielding throats.
"Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi. Lachmi Bai. Rani of Jhansi."
She stretched out her arms lovingly toward them. She appealed to them
with a captivating smile.
"Would you then have Lachmi Bai for your ruler in Jhansi"?
A great shout rose and confirmed her in her right to the title. The
throngs surged back and forth in the endeavor of those furthest away to
reach a spot nearer to her person.
"Come to us," they cried. "Come down amid thy people, O Rani."
With a radiant countenance, she passed down the flight of stone steps
into the courtyard. Unguarded she moved among the mass of people,
stirred to a frenzy of enthusiasm by her presence. Some knelt in her
path to touch the hem of her garment, while others waved their weapons
aloft, vowing they would defend her to the death.
Darkness fell with the swiftness of the Tropics. She turned to re-enter
the palace, and torches flared to light her path. They gave to the
scene a weird, majestic splendor--the irregular outlines of the palace
overshadowed by the huge black mass of the fortress; the exultant,
white robed throng; the stern faces of the soldiers; the girl, whose
mysterious being swayed their emotions like the wind playing upon lotus
reeds.
In the Darbar hall Ahmad Khan impatiently awaited the Rani's return.
He was startled by the cries of the populace, and dismayed at the
discovery that his egress was blocked. Uneasily he paced back and
forth, wondering what these ominous signs betokened. He cursed his
imprudence at having dismissed his followers at so critical a moment.
"Tricked, I doubt not," he savagely exclaimed. "But one more fool who
loses a crown in exchange for a woman's smile."
The Rani and her officers swept into the hall. Ahmad's hand impulsively
grasped the hilt of his sword--a gesture which Prasad imitated by half
withdrawing his from its scabbard.
The Hindu noble advanced a few paces, regarding Ahmad's sullen
countenance as if willing to accept a challenge.
"Peace, my Lords," the Rani cried authoritatively.
She laid a restraining hand on Prasad's arm.
"Peace. It is my will. This is no hour to broach a feud."
She then fearlessly advanced to Ahmad's side, and addressed him calmly.
"My Lord Raja," said she. "My people will have it that I rule over
Jhansi."
She held up her hand to draw his attention to the acclamations which
penetrated the innermost recesses of the palace.
"You hear them," she continued. "I espoused your cause to the best of
my ability; but, it seems, they will have no other than Lachmi Bai to
be their Rani."
"And now," she concluded, addressing all present, "I look to you,
Ahmad, Prasad, and all my brave officers to unite for one object, the
defense of my throne and Jhansi."
Ahmad glanced round upon the determined faces of the Rani's loyal
supporters, as they vowed to maintain the crown upon her head. He
realized that, in turn, he had been outwitted. By a low obeisance he
outwardly acknowledged her authority.
"The people are God's," he murmured, "the country is the Padshah's,
and the Raj is the Rani's."
Thus was Lachmi Bai proclaimed Rani of Jhansi.
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Can we write answer of both reading and listening in capital letters
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I love this Practical way of teaching reading, which is a problem to some of us, if we can fully put this into practice it will save time. Please can you teach us same PRACTICAL WAY to differentiate between false/no and not given. It's given me tough time especially when they sort of twist words to confuse students.
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can you explain why for number 4, the answer is B?
s i too have the same doubt..any one can explain plz
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Synonyms
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