Comprehension of Given Passages

What the official syllabus says

Main Written Examination, Paper I: English and English Essay. The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas: clearly and correctly in English.

• (ii) Comprehension of given passages.

Topics in detail

Understanding the passage

• Main idea and purpose of the passage
• The author's argument, the reasons given and the conclusion reached
• Tone and attitude of the writer
• Facts stated, as distinct from opinions and inferences
• Meaning of words and phrases in the context of the passage
• Figurative language: metaphor, irony and allusion as used by the writer

Answering the questions

• Answering in complete, grammatical sentences in one's own words
• Keeping to what the passage says when the question asks for its view
• Giving a reasoned personal view only where the question asks for one
• Keeping each answer to the length the marks suggest
• Explaining a word or phrase by its meaning in the passage, not only its dictionary meaning
• Suggesting a title and justifying it, where asked

Kinds of passages

• Discursive prose: essays and articles that argue or reflect
• Passages on public affairs, history, science, society, education and ethics
• Literary prose with description and narration

Building the skill

• Regular reading of serious prose: editorials, essays and non-fiction
• Writing short answers to questions on practice passages and checking them against the text
• Learning the meaning of new words met in reading

Answering well

A comprehension answer is judged on understanding and on expression. Read the whole passage before the questions, then find the lines each question refers to. Answer in your own words, in complete sentences, and only as long as the marks justify. Where a question asks for the meaning of a word, give the meaning it has in that sentence. Where it asks what the writer thinks, keep your own view out of the answer.

Overlaps

The Hindi paper tests understanding through the explanation of Hindi passages: see Hindi and Hindi Essay.