Exam Focus: Reading

English Department, Huzhou TeachersCollege

Objectives

1) To familiarize students with the content of the reading, listening, writing and speaking tests.

2) To provide useful exam tips.

Tasks and Schemes

1. To provide an overview of the reading test and some tips on how to succeed.

2. Take students through each part of the reading test : students do an exam-related activity for each part.

3. To provide exam tips and warn students against typical traps they might fall into.

4. To provide an overview of the listening test and familiarize students with tips on how to succeed before, while and after listening.

一、 The reading test.

I. Overview: the reading test has six parts testing various reading skills. Part four specifically tests a candidate’s knowledge of vocabulary.

 

1 Five 90 word texts Matching sentence with texts

2450-500 word text Sentence level gap-filling

3500-600 word text Multiple-choice

comprehension questions

4250 word text Single word multiple choice

gap-filling

5250 word text Single word gap-filling

6150-200 word text Proof-reading identifying

extra words

II. The tips on how to succeed in doing reading tests:1) Read all instructions carefully.2) Begin with the part of the reading test you feel most confident

about. You do not need to do the parts of the test in order.3) Leave difficult questions and return to them later if you have

time.4) Never leave a question unanswered. If you run out of time or

have no idea, guess.5) Read through the whole text once before looking at the

questions.6) The question are generally in the same order as the answers.

If you are confident that an answer is correct, begin reading for the next answer from that point, not from the beginning.

7) Underline the answers in the text – it will make checking quicker.

8) Only write one answer for each question.9) Use any time you have left to check your answers.

III. Reading test part one: it tests the ability to read for both gist and specific information.

—— Exam tips on reading test part one.1) The correct sentence will not normally use

exactly the same words as the text.2) Words from the other, incorrect, sentences

might appear in the text.3) Each text will normally be used at least once.4) Decide which is the best technique for your:

reading each text first and then all the options, or reading each option first and then all the texts.

—— explanation of the reading task:1) The authors argue that imagination and lateral

thinking, not technical know-how, are the key sources of competitive advantage.

水平思考（方法），指解决问题时从各个不同角度来思考而不是固定从一个方面来思考的方法。

2) More than 100 case studies are analyzed, showing how the Internet strengths have been successfully exploited. used

书中分析了 100 多个案例，说明人们如何成功利用网络优势。

Practical ability or skill 专门知识，技能

IV. Reading test part two tests the ability to ensure that the overall meaning of a text is clear and that ideas are logically ordered and linked.

—— Exam tips on reading test part two.

1) Read at least one sentence either side of each gap before filling it.

2) Ensure that each sentence fits the gap grammatically.

3) Pay special attention to linking words, reference words and pronouns.

4) Check each sentence fits in with the logic of the text as a whole.

5) Read the completed text to check your answers.

—— explanation of reading test part two.1) This might not cheap, but neither is losing key staff

that the company has invested in over several years.

这也许不便宜，但公司若损失了投资培养多年的骨干员工一样代价昂贵。

V. Part three tests the ability to read for specific information.

—— Exam tips on reading test part three.

1) Scan the text to find the relevant passage and read it carefully.

2) Be careful of options that use the same words as in the test.

3) Base all answers on information printed in the text – not world knowledge.

4) Choose only one answer for each question.

—— explanation of reading test part three.1) Freefone stands for the service of free phone charged

by manufacturers.2) Freefone product information hotline.

免费产品信息热线

3) Call centres are not about telemarketing techniques such as cold calling consumers in the middle of their diner to sell them double-glazing; they are a response to the fact that consumers now expect quick access to information when it suits them and not the company.

Double-layer glass

Happen to call somebody without appointment

打冷不防电话或无约电话

呼叫中心不是什么诸如在吃饭时间给顾客打冷不防电话兜售双层玻璃的营销手段；它是为了迎合客户要求，满足他们尽快得到所需信息的愿望，而不是与公司打交道。

Ⅵ Part four tests vocabulary. Candidates complete a text by choosing one of four options to fill each gap. Before looking at the options underline the words around each gap indicating the type of word missing . Think of a word for each gap.

—— Exam tips on reading test part four.

1) Read the whole text first to get a feel for the context and style.

2) Use the words around each gap to predict the word missing.

3) All the options are grammatically possible but only one is correct.

4) Read the completed text to check your answers.

3) Fund means a store or supply of non-material things ready for use as needed, focusing on large quantity; such as a fund of labour. ( 储备、储存 ) Pool refers to a quantity or number of money, people or things that available for an organization or group to use. （机构或小组集中起来使用的一批款项、设备或人员） Collection is a group of similar things that you have deliberately acquired, over a period of time. Store means a great number of or plenty of.

4) Present 陈述、提交； arise 产生、出现； happen 发生；develop 发展、逐渐产生、开始。

5) Progress 进步，当及物动词时之表示物理意义上的的“使前进、使推进”； elevate 提高职位、形象，改善生活；advance 促进； raise 使升高、提高

—— explanation of reading test part four.2) It enables the company to retain high-calibre, committed staff

and thus offer a better product to our customers.Advanced level or high qualified Offering one’s whole loyalty to

sth.

6) Officiate 指在某一场合“行使职务” Our focus on staff development and our policy of internal

recruitment where possible mean that skilled employees have the opportunity to advance their careers rapidly within a framework which offers the necessary training to help them function effectively in more senior positions.

我们注重员工发展，并且实行只要可能就从公司内部招聘的方针。这意味着熟练员工有机会在公司提供的框架中，接受必要培训，使其晋升高级职位时能有效行使职能，促进事业快速发展。

7) Monitor: regularly check its development or progress and sometimes comment on it.

8) Outline 指要点总结式的 “概述” ，与 appraisal procedures搭配意为“对评估过程做了简要概述”，与文章语境相符；portray主要用语文学作品中的“描绘、描写”； represent主要指代表，也指绘画、讲述中的“描绘、表现”；display 展览

9) Keep a record 为常见搭配。 Training portfolio 指“培训组合”，即公司员工所接受的诸

如市场营销、计算机操作、外语课程等各种培训的总体资料。

10) Assess 与 appraisal 相对应。 Ⅶ Part five tests grammar and understanding of cohesion.

Candidates complete a gaped text with suitable words. No options are given. Underline the words around each gap which help you identify the missing word.

—— Exam tips on reading test part five.

1) Read the whole text first to get a feel for the context and style.

2) Read at least one sentence either side of each gap before filling it.

3) Fill each gap with only one word.

4) Read the completed text to check the grammar is correct and keep the overall meaning clear.

—— explanation of reading test part five.1) WestLink Small Business Services 西联小型企业服务公司2) Start-ups 新开办的企业3) The growth in women owned businesses in

areas such as nannying, , fitness training, gardening and interior design.

Nannying: nursing or housekeeping Fitness training: bodybuilding4) Few banks are addressing this issue. 没有几家银行来解决这个问题。

VIII. Part six tests proof-reading ability. Candidates identify any extra words in the numbered lines of a short text. Some lines are correct.

—— Exam tips on reading test part six.

1) Read the whole text firs to get a feel for the context and style.

2) Underline any words which seem strange.3) Concentrate on small grammatical words such as

articles, pronouns and prepositions.4) Make sure you have no more than one mistake on

any single line.5) Read the whole sentence to check whether your

answer is correct.6) Read the completed text to check your answers.

VIII.Read the information on page 63 and 64, realizing the components of listening test and its relevant tips of different parts.

• Assignment: try to do the exercises of exam focus in your spare time.

Thank U 4 your attendance!