READING SKILLS

READING COMPREHENSION
Skill 1: MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
Almost every reading passage will have a multiple choice question about the main idea of a passage. Such a question may be worded in a variety of ways; you may, for example, be asked to identify the topic, subject, title, primary idea or main idea. It is relatively easy to find the main ideas by studying the topic sentences, which are most probably found at the beginning of each paragraph. ( Hầu như mỗi đoạn đọc hiểu đều có câu hỏi về ý chính của đoạn văn: topic (chủ đề), subject ( chủ đề, đề tài), primary or main idea (ý chính). Để tìm ý chính, chúng ta phải đọc câu chủ đề (topic sentence) thường xuất hiện ở đầu đoạn văn.)
* If a passage consists of only one paragraph, you should study the beginning of that paragraph to determine the main idea. ( Nếu bài đọc chỉ có một đoạn, ta cần đọc kỹ ở phần đầu để tìm ý chính.)
* If a passage consists of more than one paragraph, you should study the beginning of each paragraph to determine the main idea. In a passage with more than one paragraph, you should be sure to read the first sentence of each paragraph to determine the subject, topic, title, or main idea. ( Nếu bài đọc có nhiều đoạn, ta cần đọc kỹ ở phần đầu mỗi đoạn để tìm ý chính.)
Example:
Basketball was invented in 1891 by a physical education instructor in Springfield, Massachusetts, by the name of James Naismith. Because of terrible weather in winter, his physical education students were indoors rather than outdoors. They really did not like the idea of boring, repetitive exercises and preferred the excitement and challenge of a game. Naistmith figured out a team sport that could be played indoors on a gymnasium floor, that involved a lot of running, that kept all team members involved, and that did not allow the tackling and physical contact of American style football.
* challenge:n, sự thách thức ( to take up/ to accept a challenge). * to figure out:
* gymnasium:n, phòng tập thể dục. * tackling: chặn, cản đối phương đang dẫn bong
* physical contact: sự va chạm lẫn nhau ( trong TDTT)
What is the topic of this passage?
A. The life of James Naismith B. The history of sports
C. Physical education and exercise D.The origin of basketball

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE QUESTION: ( Nhận biết câu hỏi tìm ý chính)

What is the topic of the passage? What is the subject of the passage?
What is the main idea of the passage? What is the author’s main point in the passage?
With what is the author primarily concerned? Which of the following would be the best title?
What is the message to the reader?

WHERE TO FIND THE ANSWER: ( Tìm câu trả lời ở đâu?)
The answer to this type of question can generally be determined by looking at the first sentence of each paragraph.

HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTION: (Cách/ phương pháp trả lời câu hỏi)
1. Read the first line of each paragraph.( Đọc câu/ dòng đầu mỗi đoạn)
2 .Look for a common theme or idea in the first lines. ( Tìm ý hoặc chủ đề chung ở các dòng đầu).
3. Pass your eyes quickly over the rest of the passage to check that you have really found the topic sentence(s).( Liếc nhanh các phần còn lại của đoạn văn để xác định là bạn đã tìm ra câu/ các câu chủ đề.)
4 .Eliminate any definitely wrong answers and choose the best answer from the remaining choices. ( Loại bỏ các đáp án chắc chắn sai và chọn đáp án đúng nhất – PP loại suy.)
PASSAGE 1:
Most of the ice on the Earth, close to 90 percent of it, is covering the surface of the continent Antarctica. It does not snow very much in Antarctica, but whatever snow does fall remains and grows deeper and deeper. In some areas of Antarctica, the ice has perhaps been around for as much as a million years and now is more than two miles deep.
* Antarctica, n: cực Nam / * to cover, v: bao, che phủ
1. The main idea of the passage is that
A. the Earth is a cold planet B. most of the Earth`s ice is found in Antarctica
C. it snows more in Antarctica than in any other place on the Earth
D. Antarctica is only two miles wide but is 90 percent ice
2. The best title for the passage is
A. Snowfall in Antarctica B. The Icy Earth
C. The Cold, Cold Snow D. The Causes of Antarctica`s Ice Pack
PASSAGE 2:
The extremely hot and humid weather that occurs in the United States in July and August is commonly called the "