Second part of things to be kept in mind while doing reading
1. Where there are equal number of matching questions and matches, one wrong selection will make another one wrong. Five questions and five options. Four right selections will make the fifth obviously right.
2. Fewer are the number of choice; greater is the chance to get it right. Eliminating the wrong one takes you close to the answer. Three options. One is eliminated. There is fifty-fifty chance with the remaining two options.
3. Try to have enough synonyms for common words. Mock at, ridicule, parody, make fun of, laugh at, jeer etc. mean almost same. So questions may have one of these words and the body part will have another one of these.
4. So is the case with antonyms: well off-poor, strong-weak, brave-coward etc.
5. Huge paragraph should not scare you. The first or/and last sentence will give you what it is all about.
6. As questions get finished, mark out the paragraphs that have been done.
7. The area which gives you a paragraph heading will give you at least one more answer. So mark out that part. So you can avoid reading the whole para again.
8. If you are sure that you have got para heads right, write them against all corresponding paragraphs. It saves you time reading them second time for another answer like yes or no, true or false or a gap fill.
9. Summary of a paragraph or a few paragraphs may come with gaps to be filled. Look at: full stops, commas, semicolons, clauses- conditional-sub and main.
10. A missing word after a full stop is easy to identify. A word before a full stop is easy as well. And if the exact middle part of the sentence is missing, it is easier too. Read aloud sentences with filled in words.
11. Singular words for plural ones, plural words for singular ones, continuous form for bare forms, bare forms for continuous forms, past word for present and present word for past and the like are critical.
12. So is the case with wrong prepositions, adding one when there is no need for one, failing to do one where is need for one and the like are very important sensitivities of reading.
13. Constant reading may make you predict answers. Never leave the string of thought a sentence has while reading it. If a sentence begins this way, it has to end this way. This sense comes only when you read variety to writings.
14. Some answers may give indication/s to following answers. Like a No answer will make you predict a multiple choice’s answer or a gap fill sentence.
15. Remember, please, every point counts and every point is counted. For example, different readings have different band builds.
16. However, randomly, we can say, a 24 will give you 6. A 28 will give 6.5. and 29 will get you 7. But, 30 or 31 or 32 or 33 will not get you anything, but a 34 will get you 7.5. So never underrate a point. I repeat, every point counts and every point is counted.
A word of caution. Always try to do fresh readings. Doing a reading second time does not help. Used reading gives you clues. It will give you a wrong confidence. It won’t work in an exam condition. You should have done minimum 10 fresh readings you sit the test. Always remember, an ordinary reader like you can get 20 answers right if you do a test without any preparation. So, all your preparation is to take this 20 up to 30. It’s no big deal either. Ajaypeesdoc. 27.7.011