Reading Comprehension

-how to get the main idea

Suzhou No.5 Middle School

- Xuwenyan

1

Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health. Experiments show that cigarette smoking can cause cancer. Besides the most serious and terrible disease(illness), cancer, cigarette smoking also can cause other health problems. For example, it can give one a “smoker’s cough”. Finally, studies have shown it is easy for cigarette smokers to catch colds. Whether you get an unimportant cold or terrible killer, cancer, smoking is harmful. Is it worth it?

Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health.

2

Often no one looks more guilty than the

innocent. On the other hand, nobody may look

more innocent than a professional criminal. And

the man who knows “everything” may really only

be trying to hide his own weakness. So, it is foolish

to try to judge a person only by his appearance.

So, it is foolish

to try to judge a person only by his appearance.

3 If you were planning to buy a television set, the followi

ng advertisement would certainly draw your attention: “Color TV. Only ＄ 79. Two days sale. Hurry.” However, when you go to the store ready to buy,you may discover that they are sold out. But the shop assistant is quick to tell you that he has another model- a much better set which is “just right for you” .It costs ＄ 395.

This sales method is called “bait and switch”. Buyers are baited with a sales advertisement, and then they are switched to another more expensive one. Buying things on sale needs careful consideration of the goods and the reason for the sale.

This sales method is called “bait and switch”.

4 Tom studied four years at the University of Paris and decided to leave before his graduation. He transferred to the University of Berlin and graduated with honors. Harvard Law School and, later, Boston College provided him with an excellent legal background. He is presently a corporation lawyer in Miami, Florida.

Types Of Paragraph Structures

type The position of the topic

At the beginning

At the end

In the middle

No clear topic sentence

practise getting the main idea■ read the article in the group

(4 persons as a group)

■ decide the structure or the topic sentence

of each paragraph

■ answer the question at the end of the article

■ fill in the form

■ present your result of the discussion

to the whole class

Passage One (NMET2003) Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literac

y skills( 读写能力 ). With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence ( 自信心 ), according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).

　　 The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.

　　 Last November the two groups started “ Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.

　　59. What is mainly discussed in the text?

　 A. Children’s reading difficulties. B. Advantages of raising dogs.

C. Service in a public library. D. A special reading program.

Passage One (NMET2003) Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literac

y skills( 读写能力 ). With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence ( 自信心 ), according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).

　　 The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.

　　 Last November the two groups started “ Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.

　　

Example and success of the program

59. What is mainly discussed in the text?

　 A. Children’s reading difficulties. B. Advantages of raising dogs.

C. Service in a public library. D. A special reading program.

Passage Two Magellan’s men were the first to make the trip around the world. It took them mo

re than two years to do so by ship. Magellan was from Portugal, but he sailed for the King of Spain. On Septe

mber 20, 1519, he left Spain with five ships and 240 men. After passing the tip of South America, they reached the Pacific Ocean, on which they sailed more than one year. Very often they could not see a piece of land for months and they suffered greatly from the lack of food and fresh water. Many of them died of hunger and diseases. They even had to live on sawdust. Finally in April 1521, Magellan got to the Philippine Islands, where he was killed. His men fled and continued their voyage across the Indian Ocean. It was with the greatest difficulty that they passed the Cape of Goed Hope. By the time they returned to Spain on December 21,1521, seven out of every eight men had died.

• Magellan’s voyage proved that men could sail around the world and that our earth is but a huge ball.

Which of the following do you think is the best title for this passage? A. Magellan’s death B. Going Around The World C. The World Is Round D. Magellan’s Voyage

Passage Two Magellan’s men were the first to make the trip around the world. It took them mo

re than two years to do so by ship. Magellan was from Portugal, but he sailed for the King of Spain. On Septe

mber 20, 1519, he left Spain with five ships and 240 men. After passing the tip of South America, they reached the Pacific Ocean, on which they sailed more than one year. Very often they could not see a piece of land for months and they suffered greatly from the lack of food and fresh water. Many of them died of hunger and diseases. They even had to live on sawdust. Finally in April 1521, Magellan got to the Philippine Islands, where he was killed. His men fled and continued their voyage across the Indian Ocean. It was with the greatest difficulty that they passed the Cape of Goed Hope. By the time they returned to Spain on December 21,1521, seven out of every eight men had died.

• Magellan’s voyage proved that men could sail around the world and that our earth is but a huge ball.

Which of the following do you think is the best title for this passage? A. Magellan’s death B. Going Around The World C. The World Is Round D. Magellan’s Voyage

Paragraph 1:

Magellan’s voyage was the first trip around the world .

Paragraph 2: The process of Magellan’s long difficult voyage

Paragraph 3:

Magellan’s voyage proved the earth is round.

Magellan’s

voyage

Passage Two Magellan’s men were the first to make the trip around the world. It took them mo

re than two years to do so by ship. Magellan was from Portugal, but he sailed for the King of Spain. On Septe

mber 20, 1519, he left Spain with five ships and 240 men. After passing the tip of South America, they reached the Pacific Ocean, on which they sailed more than one year. Very often they could not see a piece of land for months and they suffered greatly from the lack of food and fresh water. Many of them died of hunger and diseases. They even had to live on sawdust. Finally in April 1521, Magellan got to the Philippine Islands, where he was killed. His men fled and continued their voyage across the Indian Ocean. It was with the greatest difficulty that they passed the Cape of Goed Hope. By the time they returned to Spain on December 21,1521, seven out of every eight men had died.

• Magellan’s voyage proved that men could sail around the world and that our earth is but a huge ball.

Which of the following do you think is the best title for this passage? A. Magellan’s death B. Going Around The World C. The World Is Round D. Magellan’s Voyage

Paragraph 1:

Magellan’s voyage was the first trip around the world .

Paragraph 2: The process of Magellan’s long difficult voyage

Paragraph 3:

Magellan’s voyage proved the earth is round.

Magellan’s

voyage

(too narrow)

(too narrow)(too broad)

(proper)

Passage Three(2004 年全国高考卷 )

When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your anger.

But forgiveness is possible - and it can be surprisingly helpful to your physical and

mental health. Indeed, research has shown that people who forgive report more energy,

better appetite ( 胃口 ) and better sleep patterns. "People who forgive show less anger

and more hopefulness," says Dr. Frederic Luskin, who wrote the book Forgive for Good.

" So it can help save on the wear and tear on .our system and allow people to feel more

energetic."

So when someone has hurt you, calm yourself first. Take a couple of breaths and think

of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, someone you love.

Don' t wait for an apology. "Many times the person who hurt you may never think of

apologizing," says Dr. Luskin. "They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don't see

things the same way. So if you wait for people to apologize…You may realize that he or

she was acting out of ignorance ( 无知 ) , fear - even love. To gain perspective, you may

want to write a letter to yourself from that person' s point of view.

65、 The text is mainly written to explain _______.

A. how to keep yourself from being hurt

B. how to stay mentally healthy

C. how and when to remain calm

D. why and how to pardon others

Paragraph 1:

The reasons to forgive others who have hurt you

Paragraph 2: The ways to forgive others who have hurt you

(2006年普通高等学校夏季招生考试英语四川卷 )

  Welcome to Ontario Parks, a new body set up to manage Ontario’s most treasured

special places, the parks in our area.

We are entering a very exciting year for Ontario Parks. Last season we asked some 15,000

visitors in 45 parks how we could improve our programs and services. We also looked at

the thousands of comment cards … and we’ve made other facility improvements. In addition,

… to excite your curiosity about nature and history.

   Through the Internet, you’ll be happy to know that you can now explore all 270 parks

on line. Let your family plan your park vacation, study a map of canoe routes, listen

to the call of a loon or find up-to-date information about programs, services and facilities.

   So come and discover what Ontario Parks has to offer. Our parks are places to go with

...They are places where we can enrich our souls and “recharge our internal batteries”…

You’ll enjoy some of the best outdoor experiences available anywhere in the world.

 We urge you to make 2006 the year that you come out and have an Ontario Parks experience!

59.The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to _______.

    A.tell more people the improvements in Ontario Parks

    B.attract more people to explore the parks on line

    C.praise the beauty of nature in Ontario Parks

    D.have more people visit the parks

Homework

7. A sample passage for NMET

8. Passage A(NMET 2005)