Higher
Close Reading
Close Reading skills can be improved by practice; however
there is something that many pupils do not realise: there are
techniques that you can learn!
Your NABs and exam ask similar types of questions and
recognising those questions can give you a real advantage.
TRY THIS!
Olny srmat poelpe can.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was
rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a
rscheearer at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, maens it deosn't mttaer in waht
oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the
frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses
and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the
huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a
wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was
ipmorantt!
Just as the human mind does not read individual letters, you
do not need to know all of the words in a passage to work
out the meaning as a whole.
This also raises something fundamental about Close Reading
skills – have you thought about the way you read?
If you are a fast reader there is a good chance you are careless,
skipping not only letters but words.
You may need to modify the way you read to improve your Close
Reading skills.
Teachers know that many pupils who do not know the answer to
something can suddenly know what to do when the passage is read
aloud to them.
Why is this? They did not read carefully – it had nothing to do with
their comprehension and everything to do with sloppy reading!
Context Questions
Understanding Questions
Link Questions
Learning Objectives for Contextual Questions
• To identify contextual clues surrounding unknown words within
a text.
Copy
down
• To categorise unknown
words
(verb, noun, singular, plural etc)
things in green
• To identify the meaning of unknown words and explain the
boxes!!
connection between the word and the passage.
• To use the set formula to successfully answer contextual
questions within close reading papers.
Look at the following passage and answer
the questions
“Ben quickly entered the didot and cleaned the various misturaes he
had been using to repair the wuipit. He had often thought that this
job was extremely yullning. However, he had to admit that this time
things seemed to be a bit easier. When he finished, he put on his
redick and went back to the study to relax. He took out his favourite
pipe and settled into the beautiful new pogtry. What schnappy. Only
300 yagmas!”
Questions
1) Identify unknown words in the first sentence.
2) What types of words are these? ( nouns, adjectives, prepositions…)
3) Along with this identification, what else would help us to arrive at a
meaning for these unknown words?
“Ben quickly entered the didot and cleaned the various misturaes he
had been using to repair the wuipit.”
Questions
4) Pick out other clue words from the first sentence which help to
identify the meaning of the unknown words.
Example: “misturaes” - the clue word is “repair”, which suggests that
this is some sort of tool used to mend or fix something that is broken.
You should not use words from the text in your explanation. As is the
case with many formats to answering Close Reading questions, use this
formula:
Context Questions Formula
State meaning + Explain how surrounding sentences
Remember! Copy down
helped you to arrive at the meaning
things in green boxes!!
“Ben quickly entered the didot and cleaned the various misturaes he
had been using to repair the wuipit. He had often thought that this
job was extremely yullning. However, he had to admit that this time
things seemed to be a bit easier. When he finished, he put on his
redick and went back to the study to relax. He took out his favourite
pipe and settled into the beautiful new pogtry. What schnappy. Only
300 yagmas!”
Questions
5) Show how the context of the passage helps you to arrive at
the meaning for the words in red.
Now let’s use English to do the same thing!
For the following extracts:
• State the meaning of the words in red
• Show how you arrived at this meaning
Extract 1
She was five years old, due to start school in three months time. It was a
torrid, but beautiful day and she was playing between the film of shimmering
heat. It was the kind of heat that could wear a mere mortal down his bare
bones. I saw her lying on her stomach in the grass, picking daisies and making
daisy chains with laborious pleasure. The sun burned on her pale red hair and
made her skin look very white, but she continued with a dogmatic
determination.
(based on “Harry” by Rosemary Timperley)
‘Torrid’ means very hot and dry. We can tell this because the passage refers
to it being a very hot day ‘a film of shimmering heat’, which is ‘torrid, but
beautiful’, the word ‘but’ suggesting that it is unpleasantly hot.
Extract 1
She was five years old, due to start school in three months time. It was a
torrid, but beautiful day and she was playing between the film of shimmering
heat. It was the kind of heat that could wear a mere mortal down his bare
bones. I saw her lying on her stomach in the grass, picking daisies and making
daisy chains with laborious pleasure. The sun burned on her pale red hair and
made her skin look very white, but she continued with a dogmatic
determination.
(based on “Harry” by Rosemary Timperley)
‘Laborious’ means requiring a lot of time and effort. We can tell this because
the passage refers to her making daisy chains with a ‘dogmatic determination’
which suggests that she is working continuously and concentrating hard on her
task.
Extract 2
The Good natured young man hurried away, and Philip full of petulant rage,
attempted to keep his childish temper in check, as he flooded her with a final
stream of advice and injunctions- where to stop, how to learn Italian, when
to use mosquito nets, what pictures to look at.
(Based on an extract from “Where Angels Fear to Tread.”)
‘petulant’ means sulky or bad-tempered. We can tell this because the word
‘rage’ and the phrase ‘childish temper’ tell us that he is angry and behaving in
an immature manner.
‘injunctions’ means instructions or orders. We can tell this because the passage
refers to ‘a stream of advice’ and then lists a series of orders, starting with
‘where’, ‘how’, ‘when’ and ‘what’.
Extract 3
Only hunger brought him in at noon, but then, sandwich in hand, he was
back searching, his face both fearful and pleased, excited and depressed, a
furious charge and counter-charge evaporating his sweat as he traversed the
room.
‘traversed’ means travel across or through. We can tell this because the passage
describes the man coming ‘in at noon’ and then going ‘back searching’ which
suggests that he has come into and crossed the room.
Extract 4
I seem finally to be learning what you were always trying to teach me, that
my own country is exotic and even as perilous as Algeria. It is impossible to
survive it without a good mind and a fully functioning gun.
‘perilous’ means dangerous. We know this because the passage tells us that
it ‘is impossible to survive’, implying that there is great danger in the country.
Extract 5
Harry Waldsworth’s job entails using complex technology and Microsystems
to collate and disseminate information for investment bankers at Goldman
Sachs. Much of the information is specialised and it requires a certain level
of intellect just to understand it, let alone decode it. He is highly intelligent,
motivated and was close to being selected for MI5. He also has Asperger’s
Syndrome.
‘disseminate’ means spread or disperse widely. We know this because the
passage tells us that Waldsworth’s job requires him to collect and analyse
information and then ‘disseminate’ it for bankers, suggesting that this means
sharing it with them.
Learning Objectives for Understanding Questions
• To identify the difference between fact, opinion, debatable,
non-debatable, subjective and objective topics.
• To translate words of a similar meaning to create the same
meaning. (In your own words)
• To identify Link questions and know how to answer them
Good writers, particularly
journalists, are skilled at
manipulating opinion.
You need to know the difference
between fact and opinion – it
isn’t always really obvious.
FACT OR OPINION?
Using one sentence, write
down what you believe to
be the difference between a
fact and an opinion.
Look at the following statements:
1. Brazil is almost definitely going to win the World Cup.
2. Tony Blair was Prime Minister.
3. Acupuncture relieves arthritis.
4. Girls outperform boys at school.
Quickly, agree with a partner which of the above statements
are facts and which are opinions.
SUBJECTIVE OR OBJECTIVE?
There are also two types of opinion:
Subjective opinion: relies upon an individual’s knowledge
of a subject and what they believe to be right or wrong.
Objective opinion: looks at a subject from several different
points of view, without bias.
Look at the statements below. Decide which are subjective and which
are objective:
1. Based on the opinions of several prominent doctors in the field, Dr
Clause came to the conclusion that the disease must be cancer.
2. I feel that there is not enough opportunity for pupils to participate
in sport during their high school years. This is an opinion that is
shared by many.
3. It could be argued that tax should be raised to provide better
facilities for society. Others would counter this argument by stating
that the same money could be spent improving services for the
individual in a private system. (Dr Stanfield, Tax Expert)
Subjective and Objective Comments
Do not quote a subjective comment as evidence, present it as
an opinion and be aware of a different viewpoint.
Look to see who is making the comment and think about
where their loyalties might lie!
Trust no-one in writing!
How Do You Answer “In Your Own Words” Questions?
These questions test that a candidate has a varied enough
vocabulary to use different words to convey the same meaning.
Example
The boys jumped across the river at its narrowest point.
could be translated to
The young men traversed the stream at the easiest place to cross.
Look at the following extracts and translate the meaning into your own words:
1. The jockey had won several races on the same horse.
2. Children should be seen, but not heard.
3. The fire swept through the building inflicting massive damage to both life and
materials.
4. Elocution is vital to the defense of the English language from Americanisms.
5. Circumlocution is a device used by politicians to avoid the truth.
6. Brevity would lead to a better experience, especially when the subject is
irksome.
Possible Answers
1. The jockey had won several races on the same horse.
The rider had been victorious in several contests on the same horse.
2. Children should be seen, but not heard.
Young people should not make a lot of noise when they appear in public.
3. The fire swept through the building, inflicting massive damage to both life and
materials.
The building burned rapidly, killing people and destroying resources.
Possible Answers
4. Elocution is vital to the defense of the English language from Americanisms.
It is very important to speak clearly if we are to prevent English being
corrupted by American pronunciation and turns of phrase.
5. Circumlocution is a device used by politicians to avoid the truth.
Politicians often use many words where fewer would do in order to be
evasive about the correct version of facts.
6. Brevity would lead to a better experience, especially when the subject is
irksome.
The concise and exact use of words would lead to improved practice,
particularly when the topic is tedious and annoying.
Understanding Questions Formula
Identify the answer from the text + translate it into our own words
Look at the following examples and answer the question in your own words.
Remember, if you see (U) at the end of the question, you will be expected to
use your own words and not those of the passage.
Extract 1
The boy’s behaviour was clearly effusive. Like a volcano he bubbled and
finally exploded in a torrent of expletives. There was no sign of remorse
as his tantrum seemed to climax. By this time he had gone too far and a
Depute had to be called in order to save the victims from his tirade.
• What was the boy’s attitude and how was this demonstrated? U (2)
(The relevant words have been underlined to help you)
• Suggest what might have happened had the Depute not been
called? U (2)
Extract 1
The boy’s behaviour was clearly effusive. Like a volcano he bubbled and
finally exploded in a torrent of expletives. There was no sign of remorse
as his tantrum seemed to climax. By this time he had gone too far and a
Depute had to be called in order to save the victims from his tirade.
• What was the boy’s attitude and how was this demonstrated? U (2)
(The relevant words have been underlined to help you)
The boy was furious and his anger was out of control, described using
the metaphor of an exploding volcano. The word ‘torrent’ describes his
‘tirade’, a raging flow of swearing and aggression, likening it the
uncontainable lava from the volcano. The people he is shouting at are
described as ‘victims’, suggesting that the boy is terrorising them.
Extract 1
The boy’s behaviour was clearly effusive. Like a volcano he bubbled and
finally exploded in a torrent of expletives. There was no sign of remorse
as his tantrum seemed to climax. By this time he had gone too far and a
Depute had to be called in order to save the victims from his tirade.
• Suggest what might have happened had the Depute not been
called? U (2)
Although the tantrum has ‘seemed to climax’, suggesting it had reached
its most explosive point, the Depute is described as coming to ‘save the
victims of his tirade’, which would suggest that there would have still
been more ranting and shouting for them to suffer if he had not been
called.
Extract 2
The government must crack down on reckless motorists by encouraging
the spread of roadside cameras, boosting the number of traffic police
and ensuring speed limits are enforced more strictly, a report from MPs
urged yesterday.
• What three things must police do in order to crack down on reckless
motorists? U (2)
The police must:
• promote further widespread use of speed cameras
beside roads;
• increase the quantity of officers patrolling the roads;
• make sure that drivers who exceed speed limits are
appropriately punished.
Extract 3
NASA is to launch an audacious deep-space mission to save the ailing Hubble
telescope, the giant orbiting camera that has provided scientists with
stunning images of far-off planets and the dawn of time.
The space agency yesterday reversed a decision made after the 2003
Columbia shuttle disaster to abandon the $1.5 bn (about £768m) structure
to a premature and fiery end on re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere within the
next few years.( Guardian 1/11/06)
• What kind of mission is NASA launching? U (1)
• What advantages has the Hubble telescope given to Scientists? U (2)
• What was the fate of the 2003 Columbia shuttle? U (1)
Extract 3
NASA is to launch an audacious deep-space mission to save the ailing Hubble
telescope, the giant orbiting camera that has provided scientists with
stunning images of far-off planets and the dawn of time.
The space agency yesterday reversed a decision made after the 2003
Columbia shuttle disaster to abandon the $1.5 bn (about £768m) structure
to a premature and fiery end on re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere within the
next few years.( Guardian 1/11/06)
• What kind of mission is NASA launching? U (1)
A daring / bold / risky mission
Extract 3
NASA is to launch an audacious deep-space mission to save the ailing Hubble
telescope, the giant orbiting camera that has provided scientists with
stunning images of far-off planets and the dawn of time.
The space agency yesterday reversed a decision made after the 2003
Columbia shuttle disaster to abandon the $1.5 bn (about £768m) structure
to a premature and fiery end on re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere within the
next few years.( Guardian 1/11/06)
• What advantages has the Hubble telescope given to Scientists? U (2)
It has given scientists amazing pictures (‘stunning images’) of
distant (‘far-off’) planets and the start of the existence of the universe
(‘the dawn of time’).
Extract 3
NASA is to launch an audacious deep-space mission to save the ailing Hubble
telescope, the giant orbiting camera that has provided scientists with
stunning images of far-off planets and the dawn of time.
The space agency yesterday reversed a decision made after the 2003
Columbia shuttle disaster to abandon the $1.5 bn (about £768m) structure
to a premature and fiery end on re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere within the
next few years.( Guardian 1/11/06)
• What was the fate of the 2003 Columbia shuttle? U (1)
The shuttle was destroyed in an accident during a mission
Extract 4
Four years ago, ministers gave the go-ahead to a scheme whose scope
was breathtakingly ambitious. They wanted to transform the NHS into a
high-tech, computerized service, connecting more than 30,000 Gps to
nearly 300 hospitals. A key part of it was the plan to put the medical
records of 50 million patients on a single database.
• What was the aim of ministers four years prior to the current
situation? U (2)
• What was the most important aspect of this plan? U (1)
Extract 4
Four years ago, ministers gave the go-ahead to a scheme whose scope
was breathtakingly ambitious. They wanted to transform the NHS into a
high-tech, computerized service, connecting more than 30,000 Gps to
nearly 300 hospitals. A key part of it was the plan to put the medical
records of 50 million patients on a single database.
• What was the aim of ministers four years prior to the current
situation? U (2)
They wanted to change the NHS into a service which used advanced
information technology to link many local community doctors (GPs) to a
large number of hospitals.
Extract 4
Four years ago, ministers gave the go-ahead to a scheme whose scope
was breathtakingly ambitious. They wanted to transform the NHS into a
high-tech, computerized service, connecting more than 30,000 Gps to
nearly 300 hospitals. A key part of it was the plan to put the medical
records of 50 million patients on a single database.
• What was the most important aspect of this plan? U (1)
Medical histories and information about 50 million individuals would be
kept centrally in one structured set of data.
Link Questions
Just as with the links in a chain, the link sentence must connect to the topic
discussed in the previous paragraph AND the topic to be discussed in the
paragraph to come.
Without the link sentence, the piece of writing has no flow or progression.
Formula for Link questions
They are usually worth two marks:
1st mark = naming the previous topic AND quoting the part
of the link sentence which relates back to it.
2nd mark = naming the topic about to be discussed AND
quoting the part of the link sentence which relates
forward to it.
Example:
Her mother left her at the age of five. As a result, she was forced to fend for
and pay for herself: ensuring she had enough to eat; clothes to wear and
shelter from the elements.
Despite her harsh childhood, Emma’s ancestry linked her to wealth and social
standing. Her grandmother was Lady of the local clan, with a grand manse
and estate to her family name, which was renowned throughout the country.
Question: Show how the sentence in italics acts as a link within this piece of writing.
• Which part refers back?
• Which part refers forward?
Example:
Her mother left her at the age of five. As a result, she was forced to fend for
and pay for herself: ensuring she had enough to eat; clothes to wear and
shelter from the elements.
Despite her harsh childhood, Emma’s ancestry linked her to wealth and social
standing. Her grandmother was Lady of the local clan, with a grand manse
and estate to her family name, which was renowned throughout the country.
Question: Show how the sentence in italics acts as a link within this piece of writing.
Answer:
• ‘Despite her harsh childhood’ links back to the previous paragraph where the author looks
at the poverty Emma experienced, following the untimely death of her mother. She was
responsible for herself and had to find her own food, clothe herself and find her own
lodgings. (1 Mark)
• ‘ancestry linked her to wealth and social standing’ acts as a link forward, allowing the
author to mention the fact that, two generations previously, her family had owned a large
home with a great deal of land. They were very well known and admired in their area – a
family at the head of other families in the area. (1 Mark)
More often than not, the link sentence is:
• found at the beginning of a paragraph,
• with the first half linking backwards to the previous topic
• and the second half linking forward to the topic to come.
Using the linking questions formula, show how the red, underlined
sentence acts as a link within the following passages:
Extract 1:
The company said it had studied more than 50 other potential sites for a
reservoir, from Cricklade in the West to Bicester in the North. It chose Abingdon
from a shortlist of six because it was remarkably flat, the geology was right –
clay – it was close to the Thames and near to the railway line which will be
needed to bring in construction materials.
Perhaps, more importantly than all the beneficial elements of this choice, it was
not heavily populated. Only around 20 households stand to lose their homes.
But the nearby villages of Steventon, Drayton and East Hanney will suffer years
of disruption. Homes will have to be rebuilt and families will need to be rehoused. Also, buildings and businesses vital to the local area, such as libraries,
schools and supermarkets, will need to be relocated.
• ‘the beneficial elements’ refers back to the reasons why this site was chosen
which are outlined in the previous paragraph (1 mark)
• ‘not heavily populated’ refers forward to the fact that there are ‘only 20
households’ which will lose their homes. (1 mark)
Extract 2:
The couple separated acrimoniously last year after 20 years. Friends said Yorke
was mild mannered, a keen sportsman and ‘the last person to do something like
this’, and neighbours all spoke highly of him.
Despite this outward appearance of calm and normality, privately he was
tortured by the break-up of his family. Spiraling into depression, he became
obsessed with guns and carried out target practice in his back garden, leading
up to the shooting of his wife.
• ‘this outward appearance of calm and normality’ refers back to the
description of the man in the previous paragraph as ‘mild mannered’ and ‘the last
person to do something like this’ (1 mark)
• ‘privately he was tortured by the break-up of his family’ refers forward to the
description of his negative behaviour which is outlined in the rest of the paragraph
(1 mark)
• ‘despite’ also signals a contrast / change in direction between his normal behaviour
outlined in the previous paragraph and his abnormal behaviour in the next paragraph
(1 mark)
Extract 3:
Mr MacDonald, from Edinburgh, wore full tartan regalia as he was installed in a
ceremony in Fort William, the clan’s heartland. He claimed the title after he
was recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, which deals with heraldic
matters, and the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Despite what appears to be a high level of acceptance of Mr MacDonald’s
position, some of his critics say he has no right to the title. They note that he
comes from an illegitimate side of the family and argue that his ancestor
Alexander was born out of wedlock in 1832.
• ‘what appears to be a high level of acceptance of Mr MacDonald’s position’
refers back to the MacDonald’s recognition by the Court of the Lord Lyon and the
Court of Session in Edinburgh in the previous paragraph (1 mark)
• ‘some of his critics say he has no right to the title’ refers forward to the reasons
outlined in the rest of the paragraph as to why he should not hold the title (1 mark)
• ‘despite’ also signals a contrast / change in direction between the acceptance of
MacDonald’s position outlined in the previous paragraph and the lack of acceptance in
the rest of the paragraph (1 mark)
Extract 4:
‘First-time buyers are continuing to find ways of getting a toehold on the property
ladder, showing just how popular home-ownership is to many young people,’ CML
director general Michael Coogan said.
Despite this, higher income multiples, coupled with higher interest payments as a
proportion of income, suggest that they are stretching themselves to do so. The
research follows fears of a rise in home repossessions among young people. The
Citizens Advice Bureau said that 770,000 people had missed a mortgage payment this
year, and that many of them were young first-time buyers.
• ‘Despite this’ refers back to the popularity of home ownership among young people
outlined in the previous paragraph (1 mark)
• ‘stretching themselves to do so’ refers forward to the evidence, such as missed
mortgage payments, that they are stretching themselves which are outlined in the rest
of the paragraph (1 mark)
Extract 5:
‘Almost half of adults are expected to continue using credit cards when they retire,
raising fears of a debt crisis among pensioners. Forty-five percent of people are
expecting to continue to use cards when they retire, according to research by the
insurance group AXA, despite evidence that today’s pensioners are increasingly
suffering from debt problems. The majority of pensioners struggle to maintain their
lifestyle on such a small budget, having to cut back in essential areas such as grocery
shopping and heating bills.
Despite the problems of surviving on a basic weekly state pension, people are still
dreaming of a golden retirement, AXA says. About 28million adults expect to take at
least one holiday a year after they retire, with 27million also hoping to escape on
weekend breaks or day trips. A large portion of their weekly budget would also be
spent on indispensable items, such as cigarettes and the National Lottery.
Extract 6:
‘Large numbers of pigs are to be released into the New Forest to forage for an
exceptionally bountiful harvest of acorns, which are poisonous to ponies and cattle
that roam the ancient woodland. Each year ‘commoners’, as local landowners are
known, are allowed to let pigs roam freely for a 60-day period, known as Pannage. The
animals feast on green acorns, which are harmful to the New Forest ponies and cattle
that graze the area. Due to the colder, wetter, windier weather normally associated
with Hampshire, the amounts of acorns produced by a single oak tree are minimal.
Therefore, usually no more than 200 pigs are required to deal with this problem of
nature.
However, despite the low acorn count and pig requirement due to poor weather
conditions of previous years, a call has gone out to local farmers to provide as many
pigs as possible because this year’s crop is so heavy, probably as a result of the hot, dry
weather. Soaring summer temperatures and fewer frosty spells have initiated a
change to the production of acorns in Hampshire. It is estimated that three times the
usual number of pigs will be necessary to deal with the 50,000 acorns expected to be
produced by each single mature oak in the forest. As the forest covers an area of
70,000 acres, there is an abundance of oak trees.’