Solving comprehension passage based questions - a 7-step approach

Comprehensions are an important section in several competitive exams. English Language Comprehension tests a candidate’s ability to read, understand, and interpret. Each comprehension is followed by a set of questions. If you can answer one question well, there is good chance of scoring on a bunch of questions. On the other side, if you have problems with a comprehension, you lose out on more than one question.

In order to be good at Comprehension, a candidate must have the ability to understand the basic information given to solve a question / problem on the basis of rules. Candidates need to follow a certain structure to solve the comprehensions. Comprehensions fall under variety of topics and are formulated in diverse ways. One needs to consider the following structured process to solve the comprehensions with ease:

1. Context of the Question:

It’s important to understand what the passage’s focus is. For example: A passage could be talking about a teacher who served as a nurse in World War II.   Out of these three subjects what is the most important idea in the passage the person, the events, or the work the person is undertaking, or may be something else.

We need to read the entire passage carefully so that we can comprehend the context that has been outlined in the passage. Many a times, the context is not mentioned directly. We need to understand the point that is mentioned in the passage based on the basic facts and information sketched within.

2. Information:

Information is usually the easier part to identify in a passage. Usually the passage depicts a lot of information in the form of events, information, incidents, situations and adhering to these set of points the story of the passage is outlined.

3. Facts:

These are the finer points in the information. Who? What? When? How? How much? Where?

Often, the key challenge here is that there might be too many facts in the passage. In such a case, noting down each and every fact may be a waste of time. Look at the facts and try to understand their importance in the passage.

4. Point of View:

Author’s point of view is one of the most important things to be analyzed in the passage. Is the author critical or appreciative of the situation or is the tone of passage ironic or satirical. Does the author agree or disagree with the events in the passage. Make a note of it.

5. Analysis:

Very often, the passage would analyze a situation. It could be a political situation with an analysis on its effect on people or a business situation with some analysis using numbers. The questions on the passage may point to the analysis itself.

6. Inference or Outcome:

Note what are the key findings, conclusions, or outcomes in the passage. This is very often, the basis for at least one question.

Here is a 7-Step approach to solve questions based on comprehension.

Step 1. Review the context

                Get a feel of the main idea, the key focus of the passage

Step 2. Understand the point-of-view of the author

                Is the passage in criticism, or appreciation, or is it just an analysis

Step 3. Classify the information in the passage into “Themes”

                Identify the major theme, the minor theme, and other extra information in the passage

Step 4. Read Fast. Keep classifying information into major and minor themes but speed is very important at this stage. Do not try to remember each and every detail in the passage. You would not be able to.

Step 5. Reread the first few sentences in the passage

Very often, the first few sentences in the passage provide critical information. While, the information may be a bit unclear, it becomes much easier to grasp after going through the entire article. Make sure to read the first few sentences at least twice.

Step 6. Map the ideas. Note down the major and minor themes and mark the linkages that you see between them.

Step 7. Pay special attention to questions and the alternatives. Several times, two of the four alternatives may have no connection to the question. This will help you make efficient in your search for the right answer.

Comprehension passages could be long, full for data, and sometimes boring. But remind yourself, that there is more than question at stake. Never get scared by a long passage. The key to solving a comprehension passage based questions is focus.