CU-TEP Reading

Day 4 Short Passage / Long Passage

You’ll be reading passages and answer the questions based on what you read. There is short passage, which is normally one or two-paragraph long. Because it’s very short, you should read the whole passage first and answer these questions in your mind.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? Just in a very brief moment. When you get the idea of what the passage is about, read the questions which are typically covered by the five question words. Be careful of the paraphrase and the interpretation.

Example of short passage

(1) Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. (2) By contrast, in musical theater an actor’s dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. (3) The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. (4) However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. (5) The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.

(Source: http://www.grammarbank.com/short-reading-comprehension-passages.html)

I’ll show you how to analyze each question.

1. It is pointed out in the reading that opera ……………… .

A. has developed under the influence of musical theater

B. is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra

C. is not a high-budget production

D. is often performed in Europe

E. is the most complex of all the performing arts

This one is hard because the choices are about different topic. If they are on the same topic, for example, the origin of opera, you just have to read one sentence at one spot in the paragraph to find the answer. This is why you have to read the passage first. The strategy to attack this question is to analyze the topic of the choices and locate the topic in the paragraph.

A. Relationship between opera and musical theatre – Sentence (2)

B. Relationship between opera and orchestra – Sentence (5)

C. The cost of opera production – not mentioned

D. Opera in Europe – Sentence (1)

E. Complexity of opera in comparison with other performances – not mentioned

Now, you can eliminate C. and E. because they are not mentioned in the passage. For A., the passage only states the difference between opera and musical theater. For D., The passage only states that the opera is originated in Europe. Although, you may think that the opera is often performed in Europe, it’s not stated in the passage. So it’s not the right answer. That leaves B. as the only choice.

For the long passage, if you are a slow reader and you don’t have much time left, read the questions first and use the ‘keyword strategy’ along with ‘skimming and scanning technique’. But if you have enough time, you should read the whole passage first to get the idea.