Types of READING COMPREHENSION questions

2. Types of READING COMPREHENSION questions H.M. Suparman, M.A., Ph.D. ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM UNIVERSITY OF LAMPUNG ENGLISH EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF PROF. DR. HAMKA JAKARTA e-mail: suparman@unila.ac.id Mobile phone: 08127236836

3. Types of reading comprehension questions • There are ten kinds of questions generally found on the TOEFL. • The first five types are asked most frequently (75 to 80% of all questions). • the last five types are asked less frequently (20 to 25% of all questions).

4. Most frequently asked questions: • Main idea questions • Factual questions – positive • Factual questions – negative • Inference questions – specific applications • Inference questions – general applications

5. Less frequently asked questions: • Analogy questions • Written expression questions • Organization questions • Following-on questions • View point questions

6. Main idea questions Purpose • You will be asked to identify the main idea or topic of the whole passage. There is usually onloy one main idea. • This is a very important question type, because each passage usually has one main idea question.

7. Words/Phrase to look for • main point • mainly discuss • main idea • best title • main purpose • mainly concerned • main topic

8. Sample questions • What is the main idea of the passage? • With which of the following is the passage mainly concerned? • What is the main part of the passage? • Whih of the following does the author mainoy discuss? • Which of the following would be the best title?

9. Factual questions – positive Purpose • You will be asked for specific information discussed in the passage. • This is a very important question type, because each passage usually has several factual questions.

10. Words/Phrase to look for • According to the author, … • According to the passage, … • Who, what, when, where, why, how which

11. Sample questions • Which of the following questions does the passage answer? • According to the passage, which statement is true? • When did ‘something” happen? • Who did “something”?

12. Factual questions – negative Purpose • You will be asked to identify information NOT discussed in the passage. • This is a very important question type, because each passage usually has several factual questions.

13. Words/Phrase to look for • NOT • EXCEPT • LEAST • MOST • These words are always capitalized on the TOEFL.

14. Sample questions • The author discussed all the following in the passage EXCEPT … • According to the passage, which is the most likely reason? • Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

15. Inference questions – specific applications • You will be asked to form a conclusion based on information discussed in the passage. Purpose

16. Sample questions Words/Phrase to look for • It can be inferred that … • The author implied that … Which of the following does the author imply? Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

17. Inference questions – general applications • You will be asked to apply information from the passage to general situations outside the passage. Purpose

18. Sample questions Words/Phrase to look for Likely agree with… Most likely to … How does the author feel about the characters mentioned in the passage? Which of the following best describes the author’s purpose? What is the general tone of the passage?

19. Analogy questions Purpose You will be asked to compare the question’s answer choices to ideas discussed in the passage.

20. Sample questions Words/Phrase to look for • Similar to • Compare to • Analogous to • like Which of the following is like “the main idea?” Doing “something” is analogous to which of the following?

21. Written expression questions • You will be asked the meaning of words in the context of a passage or the referents (antecedents) for pronouns Purpose

22. Sample questions Words/Phrase to look for • refers to • means in this contect The wotd this in the last sentence refers to... What does “word” mean in the context of this passage?

23. Organization questions Purpose • You will be asked to determine how the author presented the information. Words/Phrase to look for which details present this dioscussion

24. Following-on questions Purpose • You will be asked to guess what information might follow the passage. Words/Phrase to look for In the next paragraph, ... Next sentence

25. Sample questions • In the next paragraph, the author will most likely mention.... • How might the author conclude the discussion?

26. View point questions • You will be asked to determine the author’s tone, attitude or purpose. Purpose Words/Phrase to look for

27. Words/Phrase to look for • point of view • author’s purpose • author’s attitude • general tone • feel

28. Sample questions • How does the author feel about the characters mentioned in the passage? • Which of the following best describes the author’s purpose? • What is the general tone of the passage?

29. Individual assignment • To practice this knowledge, please make the 10 types of reading comprehension questions, 2 questions for each type. Therefore, you have to make 20 reading questions that should be handed in to me next week, in the following meeting. • The passage should be taken from the Jakarta Post or Indonesian Times. • Use the most current issues as presented in the newspaper.

30. THANK YOU Mobile phones: 0812 7236836 (Simpati); 087886481614 (XL); 07217386876 (Fleksi) and 08972558022 (3 Mau?) suparman@unila.ac.id ujang.suparman2010@gmail.com