University Institute of

Liberal Arts and Humanities

Course Name – Communication Skills
Course Code – : 23PCH-105

READING COMPREHENSION DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

 COURSE OBJECTIVES
The Course aims to:
Augment students overall communication and interpersonal skills
1 by making them realize the importance of good oral and written
English Language in professional life.
Enrich their reading capability with special emphasis on expanding
2
vocabulary and grammatical formations.
Build exceptional speaking, reading and writing skills by correcting
3
grammatical errors and pronunciation through practice.
Enhances soft skills by fostering self awareness, confidence and a
4 positive attitude in students’ ability to communicate effectively in
English.

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 Course
Outcomes
On completion, the students are expected to:
CO
Numb Title Level
er
Apply appropriate Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing Skills (LSRW
Skills) with correct non-verbal cues to attain expertise in soft skills.
CO1 Apply

Apply correct contextual and comprehensible written text in the form of

paragraph writing, short compositions business correspondence, using
CO2 logical support and argument in a wide range of communication situations. Apply

Demonstrate linguistic competence while speaking and during

presentations through accuracy in grammatical usage, vocabulary,
CO3 pronunciation and intonation. Apply

Evaluate information as critical readers, speakers and writers applying ethics

in communication and
CO4 Evaluate
being sensitive in cross cultural communication.
Create original, digital content for websites, blogs, vlogs and personal social
media profiles etc.
CO5 Create rousseaux1984.com
 What is Reading
Comprehension?
It is a reading that targets
understanding.

It is reading that pivots

catching the central idea.

It includes learning beyond

what is stated.

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 Why Reading Comprehension?
• Pre-employment tests
• IELTS
• GRE
• IBPS
• Other competitive exams

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 Importance of Reading
Comprehension Tests
To determine
• Ability to understand
• Analytical ability
• Ability to comprehend
• Memory
• Problem solving
• Ability to accurately interpret

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 The Dilemma is:

What to read first?

Shall we read the

passage?

Or the questions?

Or it does not matter?

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 What should we read first?
(continued)
STRATEGY ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
– You won’t miss out on any – This may take longer for
1) Read the passage fully important details. slow readers
before looking at any of the – You will have a better – There is a danger of ‘zoning
corresponding questions. understanding of the main out’ or losing focus while
point of a passage. reading.
– You save time by skipping
info unrelated to the
questions. – Selective reading can cause
2) Skim through the questions
– You won’t lose focus as you to miss the main point.
and then read the passage,
much during long stretches of – You may struggle with
answering questions as you
reading. questions that don’t have line
read.
– Relevant parts of the references or questions that
passage are fresh in your ask about the passage’s main
mind. idea.
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 Central Idea

A paragraph must be understood in the light of:

• Central idea, which may be comprehended in accordance

with the figures and facts.

• Change in the tone may help to comprehend the idea whether

changed or extended. Key words may help to identify the tone

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 Key Words (continued)

• The students were working well. However……..This suggests

that the idea will change.

• The students were working well. And……This suggests that

the idea will be extended.

• For eg ‘He scored well in the exam (Positive).

• However, he annoyed all (Becomes negative with however).

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 Key Words

• Tone extenders: And, Further, In addition to this, Also,

Moreover, Furthermore, etc.

• Tone changers: However, Although, Despite, In spite of, etc.

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 Inference

• Inference is an unstated conclusion that the reader draws.

• Questions of Inference are tricky. The correct answer is neither

stated directly nor based on conjectural opinions.

• For example the sentence, ‘The student scored 95 out of 100’

leads to the inference that the student performed well.

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 Barriers To Quick Reading

• Sub-vocalization- When we repeat words inside.

• Regression- When we are coerced to read again.

• Limited Vocabulary- When we are unfamiliar with words.

• Limited Knowledge- When we are unfamiliar with the context.

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 Types of Questions
• Tone: Such questions can be answered in the light of key words
• Inferential: Inferences are drawn on the basis of the information
given
• Referential: These are direct questions. To solve these, one
must be able to retain the information
• Vocabulary: Sometimes contextual meanings of words are
asked

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 Inferential Question Example
• Autumn is the season that falls between summer and winter.
There are many changes that occur at the beginning of the
season. Days become shorter, leaves turn red, yellow, and
orange. Sunlight is very essential for trees to keep their leaves
green. Animals start storing their food to last through the long
winter months.

• Question What is the main purpose of the passage? Here, the

reader has to draw a conclusion according to his understanding.

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 Referential Question Example
• Autumn is the season that falls between summer and winter.
There are many changes that occur at the beginning of the
season. Days become shorter, leaves turn red, yellow, and
orange. Sunlight is very essential for trees to keep their leaves
green. Animals start storing their food to last through the long
winter months.

• Question Autumn occurs between summer and which

another season? Here, the answer is directly given in
the passage.

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 Location of Questions

• Around phrases

• Statistics

• Statements within quotes

• Question in the passage (if any)

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 Tips for long paragraphs
• The reader should develop a habit of reading different types of
articles which will help them to understand the tone, attitude,
and style of writing of several writers.
• Use the “bottom-up” approach which means, read the
questions first, so that the reader has an idea of what to look
for, in the passage. It will save the reader’s time.
• While reading the long passage make sure not to read the
complete passage, try reading only the part that is related to
the questions that are asked.

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 Tips for long paragraphs
(Contd.)
• While reading the passage don’t try to memorize every part of
the passage instead understanding the essence of the point
being conveyed by the author.
• Increase the reading speed by solving different exam papers
or online mock tests.
• Try to engage with the passage from the start. Take down
important details and question each passage on the basis of
inference.

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 Tips for short paragraphs
• The short reading comprehension passages are either one or
two paragraphs long.
• They can be read easily and quickly.
• The readers are advised to read the passage slowly but
simultaneously look for the important details.
• Then, from the questions, retrace the lines that correspond to
the questions.

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Tips for medium length
paragraphs-
• The reader should first try to read two to three lines of each
paragraph given. It will allow the reader to find the conclusion and
essence of the paragraph quickly.
• Along with reading try to take note of some information given in the
passage by recollecting the important words.
• Further, eliminating the words, phrases, and sentences from the
passage that is not useful will help in answering questions which
have almost similar options.
• Try to improve vocabulary, read and solve comprehensions from
different fields of knowledge, like Science, Arts, Literature, Politics,
Economics, and Current Affairs, etc.
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Practice Questions: Central Idea
• A teacher teaching English to many students. Following are the
details of year wise report:
• Year 1- He guided 200 students, 50 passed and the rest failed.
• Year 2- He guided 300 students, 70 passed and the rest failed.
• Year 3- He guided 500 students, 100 passed and the rest failed.
• Is the teacher improving?

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 Hidden Facts (Continued)
• He has an experience of 3 years. Still the numbers are not
impressive
• He has taught English to 1000 students. Thus many students
might have been brilliant, average or weak. Out of so many
students, if only 220 have passed. Hence the teacher is not
improving considerably.
• The central idea is that the teacher has not been able to
improve despite 3 years of experience. The numbers may
suggest the opposite.
• The numbers are thus only indicators.
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 Read the following passage and
answer the questions
Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in
which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as
much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is
through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor's
dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser
role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary
elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting.
However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather
than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical
ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full
symphonic orchestra.
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 Answer the questions
It is pointed out in the reading that opera ----.

A) has developed under the influence of musical theater

B) is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra
C) is not a high-budget production
D) is often performed in Europe
E) is the most complex of all the performing arts

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 Answer the questions
We can understand from the reading that ----.

A) people are captivated more by opera than musical theater

B) drama in opera is more important than the music
C) orchestras in operas can vary considerably in size
D) musical theater relies above all on music
E) there is argument over whether the music is important or the
words in opera

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 Answer the questions
It is stated in the reading that ----.

A) acting and costumes are secondary to music in musical theater

B) many people find musical theater more captivating than opera
C) music in musical theater is not as important as it is in
opera
D) an opera requires a huge orchestra as well as a large choir
E) opera doesn't have any properties in common with musical
theater

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 Applications

• Good comprehension skills will help students to answer various

trick questions better.

• It will also help them find solutions to most academic and other
problems.

• It will also help them do well at various competitive and

recruitment tests.
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 Assessment Pattern
Students are assessed on the basis of the following
parameters:
• Hourly Tests - 2
• Assignments
• Surprise Test
• Quiz
• Student Engagement
• End Semester Exam

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 References
• https://www.k12reader.com/subject/reading-skills/reading-
comprehension/
• https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/verbal_reasoni
ng/reading_comprehension/
• E-BOOKS:
• https://www.creativeteaching.com/products/reading-comprehen
sion-ebook
• VIDEO LINKS:
• https://youtu.be/rcxTucEWugA

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THANK YOU

For queries
Email:
coordinator.communicationskills@cumail.
in