Reading comprehension or reading the passage is the ability of making meaning from text. The main objective to read the passages is to gain an overall understanding of what is described in the text. In Class 10 examination reading section consist of 20 Marks.
Types of Passages
In the examination , two types of passages have been included
i) Factual Passage (300-350 words) : A factual passage composed information is a direct manner about a particular subject. These passages focus completely on details or facts. It may include instructions, a report or a description. It helps the reader to develop a complete idea of a specific person, place, object or being.
ii) Discursive Passage (350-400) : A discursive passage may include the opinion of a person which are generally argumentative, persuasive and interpretative. It allows students to arrive at a conclusion through reasoning and understanding rather than intuition. It presents a balanced and objective approach towards the subject being discussed.
Types of Questions
In the examination , the students are tested on a variety of questions that test their inferential and understanding skills.
In Factual Passage
- 8 Objective Type Questions (including Multiple Choice Questions) are asked carrying 1 mark each.
In Discursive Passage
- 4 Short Answer Type Questions are asked carrying 2 marks each.
- 4 Objective Type Questions (including Multiple Choice Questions) to test vocabulary are asked carrying 1 mark each.
Vocabulary based questions may include word formation, meanings, synonyms and antonyms.
Steps to Attempt Reading Comprehension
- Read each and every line of the passage carefully. Reading the passage twice is always helpful, as it helps in better understanding and makes it easier for the student to find answers.
- If the title of the passage is given, read it first, as it gives the central idea of the passage.
- Underline the difficult words while reading the passage, as you might be tested on these words in the very short answer type questions.
- Always give emphasis on the beginning and end of the passage. These parts often hold the most important information of the passage.
- While answering , be sure that you’ve clearly understood the question. Answer must be relevant to the question.
- Ensure that you answer the question according to the marks it carries.
- Try to use your own language and frame the answer according to the question.
- Make sure in the answer that you use the same tense in which the question has been asked.
- Write the question number on each answer very carefully in the answer sheet to avoid mistakes.
How to Answer Vocabulary Based Questions
These questions test the student’s knowledge of words and their meanings in the context that they are written in the passage, as well as the meaning of proverbs and idioms commonly used.
The types of questions asked are:
- Word Meaning Based if you are not sure of the meaning of the word, you will have to guess it from the context in which it is used. Just find a word or a phrase from the options given that makes the same sense as before.
- Synonym Based Rewrite the sentence in which the word is used, inserting only one word from the options given so that the sentence makes the opposite sense from before.
- Antonym Based Rewrite the sentence in which the word is used, inserting only one word from the options given as that the sentence makes the opposite sense from before.
- One Word Substitution Based Rewrite the sentence in which the word is used, inserting only one word from the options given so that the sentence makes the same sense as before.