by Mr. Agung
1. Get a general sense of what the
sentence is saying.
Understanding what message the writer wish to convey helps us recognize
sentence components and their proper forms better.
2. Identify the basic sentence
components (subject-verb-complement).
No flaw is allowed at this stage, as we are English teachers after all.
3. Make sure the main clause is correct.
This is where our flair for tenses takes hold.
4. Work on the other clause(s).
Sometimes things got just a little complicated when it comes to complex
sentences. It might require a certain level of analyses for words composition,
such as subject-verb inversion, and different formats of emphasizing ideas.
5. Mind the connectors (coordinate,
subordinate, and the like).
It shouldn’t really be a problem, the right connector for the right noun (clause).
6. Make the most of your hunch when you
are stuck.
It is never a bad idea to read a lot and know different writing styles, even
awkward writers do mind their grammar.
7. Be tactful.
There is no point of pondering a sentence over and over again when you
are lost. Move on to the next one and deal
with this particular one when you are ready.
8. Practice
Not all grammar points and sentence
constructions are tested, there is always a thing called ‘most frequently
asked’ problems.
Reading Comprehension Trivia
The Real Deal
1.
Make
sure you work on the easiest parts of each passage first. Things like finding
the ‘synonym’ and ‘specific information in a particular line’ guarantees us
points every now and then. Only then we can move on to the questions that
require analysis such as finding the ‘main idea’ and or ‘topic’ and also ‘the
proper topic for the subsequent paragraph’. But stick to one passage at a time, jumping from one passage
to another drains our brain as it has to tap into our previous knowledge on the
subject over and over again.
2.
Be
knowledgeable, despite the fact that all answers to every question in the test
are strictly factual to the information mentioned in a certain passage, trying
to answer questions on a subject we know absolutely nothing about can be very
distressful. Background knowledge helps us work more confidently and aids us in
making the necessary analysis for each and every question we have to answer.
3.
Read
a lot. It doesn’t have to be fictional works or text books that require us days to comprehend. Recent trends in
mobile apps from news corporations enable us to learn scanning and skimming
even better. Most of the news covered are in their short versions – a few paragraphs
long, similar to those on the TOEFL test -
that only take us a minute or two to get the gist of them. This is definitely a perfect reading practice
regime.
4.
Most
of us only have 90 minutes of utter concentration working on something. Hence,
the last part of the TOEFL test requires us to extend that limit further. Make
sure you have a great slumber the night before and is perfectly fit for the D-day. It is always a good idea
to consume multivitamin and/or any supplement that boost your level of
concentration. And one more thing, all appointments and chores should be fixed
that day, remembering things that are left undone or needed further attention
ruins everything.
The Other Side
5.
It
is said that tests like TOEFL, GMAT and the like have certain racial tendencies
toward the Whites. Get rid of this sentiment, as we learn their language, we
have to learn their culture. It is perfectly alright to learn other cultures in
religious teachings of all faiths. Racial sentiments bring us bad luck. L
6.
Make
the sincerest prayer the night before. Divine intervention beats all odds. J