11-Plus English: Reading Comprehension

Understanding Reading Comprehension for 11-Plus

Reading comprehension is a crucial skill for students preparing for the 11-plus entrance exams. It involves understanding and analysing written texts to answer questions about content, meaning, and inference. Mastering this skill will not only aid in exam success but also enhance overall literacy.

Essential Comprehension Skills

Students will develop several essential comprehension skills, including:

• Identifying Main Ideas: Recognising the central theme or argument of a text.
• Understanding Context: Grasping the circumstances or background that inform the text.
• Making Inferences: Drawing conclusions based on evidence presented in the text.
• Recognising Author's Purpose and Tone: Understanding why the author wrote the text and the attitude conveyed.
• Summarising Content: Condensing the main points of the text into a brief overview.
• Answering Retrieval Questions: Finding specific information within the text to respond to direct questions.

Reading Between the Lines

One of the key aspects of reading comprehension is the ability to read between the lines. This means understanding implied meanings and nuances that are not explicitly stated. Students are encouraged to support their answers with textual evidence, which strengthens their arguments and demonstrates a deeper understanding of the material.

Worked Example

Passage: "The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. As the day turned to night, a sense of calm enveloped the village."

Question: What mood does the author convey in this passage?

Answer: The mood conveyed is one of tranquility and peace, as indicated by the description of the sunset and the phrase 'a sense of calm enveloped the village.'

By focusing on these skills, students will be well-equipped to tackle reading comprehension questions in their 11-plus exams, ensuring they can effectively analyse and interpret various texts.