The Sunday News
Charles Dube
QUICKLY the school holidays have gone by for those learners not sitting for their final examinations this year. For examination candidates it has been business as usual as extra lessons were in full swing throughout. Even ourselves in this column we need to be exact with facts as time for generalisations is over. All is set for the final examinations. Today we go back to comprehension as some learners requested us to do. I will share with them what I read about comprehension from a number of sources.
Comprehension passages can be quite lengthy so a very thorough first reading is all there is time for. Take special notice of the title if there is one, since this will summarise the content in a word or two. Carefully read any background information which you may be given about the comprehension passage, since this will help you understand it. Even if you are not reading the passage aloud, give it expression mentally. Pay attention to the punctuation, the direct speech, question marks and colons because the sense of the passage is clearly signposted by the punctuation and paragraphing.
Understand the demands of the questions like: What is it asking? What style of answer does it require? What is it worth? Taking these questions one by one — What is it asking? The questions are based only on the passage and the information that they require is either stated or suggested. Questions normally test your ability to summarise. For example – In one sentence summarise the central idea of the passage. Note these are simple suggestions as it does not necessarily follow that you will always meet such questions.
Other questions ask you to evaluate, for questions asking for your opinions on certain subject. Some questions ask you to extract information from the passage while others ask for quotations. At times respondents to the passage are asked to translate some information into their own words. Offer a personal opinion based on the passage, for example, imagine how a certain passage would end. Understand vocabulary and explain or replace specific words and phrases with your own. For example:
Choose five of the following words or phrases. For each of them give one word or short phrase (of not more than seven words) which has the same meaning that the word or phrase has in the passage. Learners are used to these questions and loose marks because of minor technicalities like failing to explain the words as they are used in the passage failing to follow given tenses. To eliminate such eras needs a bit of concentration while writing.
What style of answer does the question require? Understanding the demands of the questions means paying particular attention to key words: summarise, quote, explain, define, choose and key phrases like: What do you think? How would you explain? Give another word for . . ., what do you understand by . . .? In your own words . . . state briefly . . . In your opinion . . . The key words explain the style or the manner in which the questions should be answered.
Here is a question which I believe learners have become familiar with because it has become a usual feature in their comprehension paper. The question tests your understanding of grammar and, in this case pronouns. Question: (a) In line 1 to what does the word it refer? (b) In line 2 to what does the word those refer? Take note of what each question is worth. What is it worth? This is the most important consideration because by taking note of the mark allocation you will know:
The value of the question, how much time to spend on it and how much detail to include. If a question is worth one mark, it means that it requires you to give one fact, or observation or opinion. If it I worth two marks, then these will be awarded for two correct points made in your answer. Questions with a mark allocation worth four points are obviously those that require detailed answers and it is worth spending time on these to ensure that you achieve maximum marks. The third aim on comprehension is to answer questions relevantly. Follow the instructions given like answer the questions as briefly as possible.
Sometimes one or two words will be enough. You do not need to write full sentences, unless otherwise stated. Your answer to question 3 the summary question must be in correct English. Remember you are being tested on your understanding of English, rather than your ability to express yourself fluently, and short, accurate answers are required by the examiners. Before answering the questions go back to the text to confirm what you remember and to ensure that you include other relevant detail.
There are three main aims in the approach to comprehension: read thoroughly, understand demands of questions and answer questions relevantly. There is more to follow in the understanding of comprehension skills like understanding word meanings in context. Understanding word meanings involves getting the meaning of words, not in isolation, but as used in a sentence or passage. What this means is that the reader must not try to extract the meaning of a word from the sentence or passage alone. The reader must examine the words which come before it and the words which come after it, to get its clear meaning.
This is what I read.
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