Comprehension — Important Questions

It should have the same gender, tense, and number as the original word

When replacing words in vocabulary questions, the substitute must match the original word's grammatical properties - gender, tense, and number. For example, 'boast' (verb) should be replaced with 'brag' (verb), not 'proud' (adjective). This ensures grammatical correctness and maintains the sentence structure. Word length (option A), language family (option C), and rhyming (option D) are not relevant criteria for vocabulary substitution.

Quote the exact lines verbatim without any changes

When asked to quote lines from text (indicated by phrases like 'Which sentence in the passage tells you that...'), you must write the exact words from the passage without any modifications. This tests your ability to locate specific information. Paraphrasing (option A), summarizing (option C), or using memory (option D) changes the original text and doesn't fulfill the requirement of quoting exact lines.

Reported speech

Summaries should be written in reported speech (indirect speech) to maintain objectivity and formal tone. This means converting direct quotes and first-person statements into third-person reporting. For example, 'I am happy' becomes 'He/She was happy.' This creates distance between the summarizer and the original content. Active voice only (option A) or passive voice only (option B) are too restrictive. Direct speech (option D) involves quoting exact words, which is not appropriate for summaries.

To identify main points and connect them with questions

The second reading is crucial for identifying the main points of the passage and understanding how they relate to the questions asked. After the first general reading and reviewing the questions, the second reading becomes more focused and analytical. This is when you should identify points for summary writing. Checking spelling (option A), counting paragraphs (option C), and finding the author's name (option D) are not primary purposes of strategic reading for comprehension.