Speaking skill

READING SKILLS
HOW TO ANSWER MCQs?
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
USEFUL SOURCES OF MATERIAL FOR READING SKILL
How to answer MCQs?
What are MCQs?
MCQs are multiple-choice questions. Students select the correct or best answer from the list given.
Techniques to answer MCQs?
Read the questions and options before the reading passage.
Make sure that you understand the difference in 4 options.
Identify the type of questions and the sub-skills required: skimming, scanning, making inference, understanding refence items, etc.
Techniques to answer MCQs?
Skim the passage quickly to get the general idea of what it is about.
Locate where the information needed for each question is. The answers usually appear in the text in the same order as the questions.
Techniques to answer MCQs?
Consider the 4 options carefully to decide the correct/best answer.
If you aren’t sure of the right answer, exclude the wrong ones and pick the one that’s left.
Answer all the questions that you can. Make guesses where you don’t know the answer.
Techniques to answer MCQs?
Don`t spend a long time on any one question but don`t skip any that just "look" hard either.
Practice reading as much as possible. MCQs are easily found in almost all reading exercises.
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
QUESTIONS ABOUT
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE QUESTION?
The word (phrase) X is closest in meaning to ...
The word (or phrase) X could best be replaced by ...
In stating X, the author means that ...
WHERE TO FIND THE ANSWER?
Information to help you to understand the meaning of an unknown word or phrase can often be found in the context surrounding the word or phrase.
QUESTIONS ABOUT
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTION?
1. Find the word or phrase in the passage.
2. Read the sentence that contains the word or phrase carefully.
3. Look for context clues to help you understand the meaning.
4. Choose the answer that the context indicates.
QUESTIONS ABOUT
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
TIPS FOR VOCABULARY QUESTIONS
Remember: The question is NOT just asking the meaning of a word but for the meaning as it is used in the passage.
 DON’T just choose answer just because it can be a correct meaning of the word; understand which meaning the author is using.
Reread the sentence in the passage, substituting the word/phrase you have chosen.
Confirm that the sentence still make sense in the context of the whole passage.
TIPS FOR VOCABULARY QUESTIONS
EXAMPLES OF VOCABULARY QUESTIONS
The word/phrase tested may be a difficult one that you have never seen before.
PASSAGE EXCERPT: “In the animal world the task of moving about is fulfilled in many ways. For some animals locomotion is accomplished by changes in body shape ...”
The word locomotion in the passage is closest in meaning to
evolution
movement
survival
escape

PASSAGE EXCERPT: “In the animal world the task of moving about is fulfilled in many ways. For some animals locomotion is accomplished by changes in body shape ...”
The word locomotion in the passage is closest in meaning to
evolution
movement
survival
escape
Explanation: Locomotion means “the ability to move from place to place”. In this example, it is the way of restating the phrase “the task of moving” in the preceding sentence. So the correct answer is choice 2.
EXAMPLES OF VOCABULARY QUESTIONS
EXAMPLES OF VOCABULARY QUESTIONS
The word/phrase tested may be an easier-looking one that has a number of varied meanings. In this type of question, you should not give the normal, everyday meaning of the word; instead, a secondary meaning is being tested.
PASSAGE EXCERPT: “Using the reflection of seismic waves at thousands of different locations, scientists have been able to draw some interesting conclusions about the Moho ...”
The word draw in the passage could best be replaced by
sketch
pull
draft
make

PASSAGE EXCERPT: “Using the reflection of seismic waves at thousands of different locations, scientists have been able to draw some interesting conclusions about the Moho ...”
The word draw in the passage could best be replaced by
sketch
pull
draft
make
Explanation: You must see which answer best fits into the context in the passage. It doesn’t make sense to talk about being able to sketch, pull or draft some interesting conclusions, but it does make sense to make some interesting conclusions. You should choose the last answer.
EXAMPLES OF VOCABULARY QUESTIONS
USEFUL SOURCES OF MATERIAL FOR READING SKILL
USEFUL SOURCES OF MATERIAL FOR READING SKILL
CFL Library
Internet
Stories/ Newspapers/ Magazines
CFL LIBRARY
Address: 3rd floor B3 building
Librarian: Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien
Membership:
Reference books for first year students
Anne Ediger & Cheryl Pavlik. (2000), Reading Connections Intermediate, Oxford University Press.
Beatrice S. Mikulecky & Linda Jeffries. (1998), Reading Power, LM.
Driscoll, L. (2004), Reading Extra, Cambridge University Press.
Duckworth M. & Gude K. (2000), Countdown to first certificate, Oxford University Press. 
Hashemi, L. & Thomas, B. (2004), Objective PET, Cambridge University Press. 
Kay, S., Jones, V. & Kerr P. (2002), Inside Out, Macmillan. 
Miles Craven. (2003), Reading Keys, Macmillan. 
Patricia Ackert & Anne L. Nebel. (2001), Concepts and Comments, First News. 
Roni Lebauer & Steven Brown. (2001), Journeys 2 Reading, Longman. 
Smith, L & Mare,N. (1990), Issues for Today, Newbury house Publisher.
Soar L. & Soar J. (2000), New Headway 3, VNU Publication.
INTERNET
Using the search engine:
Google.com
Yahoo.com
Ask.com, etc
Finding the key words:
practice reading, reading skill, etc
themes: advantages internet, women role society, etc
online newspapers: CNN, BBC, Washington Post, etc.