Using Context Clues, Recognizing
Cognates, Using Word Analysis,
Scanning & Skimming

• Words in a text can often give you clues to the meaning of new words.
• For example:
« Stan’s world was being threatened; he began to shake with fear when he read the
spiteful message on his computer. »
• The message made Stan
«shake with fear» so it must have said something scary. Even if we don’t know what spiteful means, we can conclude that it was hateful or menacing.

• Many English words have Latin or French origins and look similar.
You can often guess the meaning of words by relating it to French.
• However, you have to be careful because some words only look similar.
• Example:
– Choose: Choisir
– Forest: Forêt
– Paste: Pâte
Occasionally vowels disappear in English:
• School: École
• Study: Étudier

If you know the meaning of the different parts of a word, you can usually work out the meaning.
• The prefix comes before the stem.
• The stem is the basic part of the word.
• The suffix comes after the stem.
For example:
Prefix:
Mon-
Monarchy
Stem:
-arch-
Suffix:
- y

Scanning can help you find specific information faster.
• Determine the words or numbers you are looking for.
• Start at the beginning of an article and quickly pass your eyes over the information in a diagonal direction.
• You are not attempting to make sense of the passage. You just have to locate the information.

For Example:
• What is the article about?
• How many types of reading content questions are there?
• What are some advantages from knowing these different types of questions?

Studying for a Content Test
Preparing yourself for a content test; or a reading comprehension test, can seem intimidating, especially if the idea of reading through lengthy passages and writing long essay answers makes your stomach turn. But here are some study tips to help you master even the longest most boring content test.
There are six basic types of reading content questions. If you familiarize yourself with this style of questioning ahead of time it can save you loads of time when taking a content test, because you can pick apart the content question, find the important sections of the passage, and focus your answers.

Getting the gist of it!
Skimming is looking at a text quickly to get the main idea without reading every word.
• Read the title
• Read the subheadings
• Look at the illustrations, figures, charts, or tables and understand their purpose.
• Read the introduction of the paragraph, which usually contains the main idea. (first sentence)
• Read the last sentence of the paragraph.

Getting the gist of it!
(Continued)
• Look at words underlined, in bold or in italics and read them.
• In longer passages, look at the final paragraph, particularly the last sentence and find the author’s conclusion
• Highlight all information you think is important.

Studying for a Content Test
Preparing yourself for a content test; or a reading comprehension test, can seem intimidating, especially if the idea of reading through lengthy passages and writing long essay answers makes your stomach turn. But here are some study tips to help you master even the longest most boring content test.
There are six basic types of reading content questions. If you familiarize yourself with this style of questioning ahead of time it can save you loads of time when taking a content test, because you can pick apart the content question, find the important sections of the passage, and focus your answers.