Subjects:

Objective:

To locate specific information in a text and use it to make clear decisions while not being distracted by information designed to confuse.

The student also needs to learn to develop a general idea of what a piece of text is about, and the intentions of the writer in writing it.

Method:

In this question we are given some text with information and a set of 5 questions, each with 4 options A, B, C and D, and we have to compare the information in the text with the information in the questions to decide which option is correct. We also have to do this quite quickly, so we need an efficient method.

The first step is to quickly read the text without worrying about any words you don't understand. You are just trying to get an idea of what the text is about, and where different pieces of information are.

Then we need to look at the first question and its options, understand it, identify key words, and then look at the text to find the information which is related to this question.

Once we locate the relevant information, we use it to decide which three of the four options are incorrect. It is easier to identify an incorrect answer than it is to identify the correct answer.

Questions 1 and 5 ask about the whole text, so they should be left till the end.

Let's look at a typical exam question:

Let's start by looking at question 2:

2) What does the writer say about eating a lot of sugar?

A) It gives you energy.

B) It can affect your behaviour.

C) There isn't really a problem.

D) You need to drink a lot of water as well.

Then we identify the key words:

2) What does the writer say about eating a lot of sugar?

A) It gives you energy.

B) It can affect your behaviour.

C) There isn't really a problem.

D) You need to drink a lot of water as well.

Let's look for relevant information in the text:

eating large amounts of sugar causes dogs to become hyper and unfocused, and can also result in dental cavities, diabetes, and obesity

then to highlight the key information:

eating large amounts of sugar causes dogs to become hyper and unfocused, and can also result in dental cavities, diabetes, and obesity

This information doesn't say anything about energy, so A is wrong.

It doesn't say there isn't a problem, so C is wrong, and it doesn't mention drinking water, so D is wrong.

That means B must be the correct answer, and it mentions behavior, which is what the text mentions with the key words HYPER and UNFOCUSED.

Let's look at question 3:

3) Why did the writer mention bacon?

A) Because it is more expensive than ice cream.

B) Because dogs shouldn't eat bacon.

C) Because bacon snacks for dogs already exist.

D) Because bacon makes dogs fat.

The key words are:

3) Why did the writer mention bacon?

A) Because it is more expensive than ice cream.

B) Because dogs shouldn't eat bacon.

C) Because bacon snacks for dogs already exist.

D) Because bacon makes dogs fat.

Let's look for relevant information in the text:

there are already treats like strips of jerky, bacon , and cookies for them on the market

then to highlight the key information:

there are already treats like strips of jerky, bacon , and cookies for them on the market

This information doesn't say anything about more expensive, so A is wrong, it doesn't say dogs shouldn't eat bacon, so B is wrong, and it doesn't say it makes dogs fat, so D is wrong.

That means C must be the correct answer, and that is confirmed by the key words treats like bacon on the market, so the correct answer is C.

Let's look at question 4:

4) What does the writer say about how the dogs feel?

A) They weren't sure at first.

B) They didn't notice the difference.

C) It made them nervous.

D) They let their tails do the talking.

The key words are:

4) What does the writer say about how the dogs feel?

A) They weren't sure at first.

B) They didn't notice the difference.

C) It made them nervous.

D) They let their tails do the talking.

Let's look for relevant information in the text:

While there is no verbal confirmation, judging from the wagging tails and eager licks, the pooches appear to be loving ice cream as much as humans do.

This information doesn't say the dogs were unsure, so A is incorrect, It doesn't say the dogs didn't notice the difference, so B is incorrect, and it didn't say it made the dogs nervous, so C is incorrect. That means the remaining option D must be the correct one. That is confirmed by the key words

the wagging tails ... the pooches appear to be loving ice cream

It is important to notice that the information needed for question 4 is located in the text after the information needed for question 3, which is located after the information needed for question 2. So you don't need to read the whole text every time.

Looking at question 1, this kind of question, which asks what the writer's objective is, comes in nearly every exam, and needs the student to have a basic understanding of what is happening in the text. This information is easy to have once questions 2, 3 and 4 have been answered because they force you to understand the text.

Looking at question 1:

1) What is the writer trying to do in this text?

A) To describe a new product.

B) To advise people how to look after dogs.

C) To explain the dangers of eating too much icecream.

D) To convice people to buy his icecream.

The key words here are:

1) What is the writer trying to do in this text?

A) To describe a new product.

B) To advise people how to look after dogs.

C) To explain the dangers of eating too much icecream.

D) To convice people to buy his icecream.

Each verb used has a different meaning, and the writer is not advising people, so B is wrong, he is not explaining dangers, so C is wrong and he is not trying to convince people, so D is wrong.

He is in fact describing a new product, so A is the correct answer.

Looking at question 5:

5) Which of the following could also be a title for this text?

A) DOGS GET A GOOD LICKING

B) KEEP THE DOG AWAY

C) THERE'S TROUBLE ON THE HORIZON

D) THAT DOG ATE MY ICE CREAM

A title for some text acts like a very brief summary.

Looking at the key words:

5) Which of the following could also be a title for this text?

A) DOGS GET A GOOD LICKING

B) KEEP THE DOG AWAY

C) THERE'S TROUBLE ON THE HORIZON

D) THAT DOG ATE MY ICE CREAM

The words KEEP AWAY do not reflect the content of the text, so B is wrong. The word TROUBLE is also not relevant to the text, so C is wrong, as are the words MY ICE CREAM, so D is wrong.

The correct answer then is A with A GOOD LICKING.

It is important to underline all the information used as the questions are being answered so later checking becomes very easy, and underlining helps you to focus on the correct information.

Your document should now look like this:

So, the correct answers are:

1 A

2 B

3 C

4 D

5 A