Skills for Life E1 Reading True / False questions – teacher’s notes

Description

In this activity students are introduced to True / False questions and the very similar Yes / No question-type. The activity also shows students how they might approach these types of questions.

Time required: 30 minutes

Materials required:

Student’s Worksheet 1 – one copy for each student. Project on to an electronic whiteboard / with overhead projector if available. (Text slightly adapted from Part 3 of Entry 1 Reading Past Paper 2007 available on Teacher’s Resources website)

Student’s Worksheet 2 – one copy for each student. (Questions slightly adapted from Part 3 of Entry 1 Reading Past Paper 2007 available on Teacher’s Resources)

Aims: to introduce students to True / False and Yes / No question types that are common in the Entry 1 Reading exams

to show students how they might approach these types of questions

Procedure

1. Ask the whole class the following questions:

Do you use public libraries in your area / town?

What can you do in the library? (accept any plausible answers – e.g. borrow books, borrow CDs and DVDs, get information, use computers, do computer classes, read newspapers, do homework)

2. Show Student’s Worksheet 1 on the electronic whiteboard or overhead projector if available. If you can’t do this, hand out Student’s Worksheet 1 to each student. Ask the following questions:

• Is this a form? No

• Is it a letter? No

• Is it an email? No

• Is it a leaflet? Yes, maybe

• Is it a notice? Yes, maybe

• Is it information about library opening times? No

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• Is it a timetable for courses at the library? Yes

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3. Remove Student’s Worksheet 1 from electronic whiteboard or overhead projector OR ask students to cover Student’s Worksheet 1 if you have handed it out to them. Write the following on the board:

Computer classes are only in the afternoon. True or False?

4. Ask students which the most important words in the sentence are. Underline key words as follows:

Computer classes are only in the afternoon.

5. Show Student’s Worksheet 1 on the electronic whiteboard / overhead projector again OR ask students to look at paper copy of Student’s Worksheet 1. Ask students to read the text to find if the sentence about computer classes is true or false. Check answer with whole class. Ask students to justify their answer. (FALSE – Using the Internet is in the afternoon [12.30-3.00] but IT for Beginners is in the morning [9.00-12.00], so it’s not only in the afternoon.)

6. Remove Student’s Worksheet 1 from electronic whiteboard or overhead projector OR ask students to cover Student’s Worksheet 1 if you have handed it out to them. Hand out Student’s Worksheet 2. Ask students in pairs to read statements in Question 1 and to underline / highlight the important words. Monitor students doing this. Then check with whole class. Accept any reasonable suggestions (see key for suggested words to underline / highlight).

7. Hand out paper copies of Student’s Worksheet 1 if you haven’t done so already. Ask students to find the answers for Question 1 and to underline / highlight the words in the text which tell them the answers. Monitor students doing this. Then check with whole class.

8. Ask one student to read the rubric for Question 2. Then ask students which part of the text they need to look at for this question. (Just the last section headed Where can I get more information?)

9. Ask students in pairs to read statements in Question 2 and to underline / highlight the important words. Monitor students doing this. Then check with whole class. Accept any reasonable suggestions (see key for suggested words to underline / highlight).

10. Ask students to find the answers for Question 2 and to underline / highlight the words in the text which tell them the answers. Monitor students doing this. Then check with whole class.

11. Explain to students that the way people prefer to do reading tasks varies. However, True / False and Yes / No questions usually do not require students to read every word in the text. The important thing is to know what information you are looking for and to scan the text quickly for that information. The following approach may be helpful:

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1. Read the text quickly for a general idea about the format and main subject matter.

2. Read the first statement, underlining or highlighting the important words.

3. Look through the text highlighting / underlining words relating to the statement.

4. Read the highlighted / underlined words carefully before choosing the answer.

5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 for subsequent statements.

Remind students that they may not find exactly the same words in the question and the text, but that they should look for words with the same or similar meanings (paraphrases ).

Additional information

At Entry 1, ‘wordspotting’ may sometimes be possible, particularly in reading tasks which require scanning for specific, concrete information. However, students should be careful not to assume that word matches always work.

Suggested follow-up activities/questions (and answers)

1. See Past Papers on Teacher’s Resources website for more True / False and Yes / No questions.

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Skills for Life E1 Reading True / False questions – answer keys

Key to Procedure steps

Step 6: suggested words to underline / highlight in Question 1:

A. Computer classes are only in the afternoon.

B. 4-year-old children can go to Children’s Story Time

C. Keeping Healthy is for ESOL learners only.

D. The Help Desk is open all day.

E. Only library members can take these classes.

Step 7: words in text that indicate answers for Question 1:

A see step 6

B Children’s Story Time (ages 3-5) – so, 4 year-olds can attend

C Maths for ESOL and Every Picture Tells a Story are for ESOL students only. All other classes are open to everyone. This means Keeping Healthy is not for ESOL Learners only.

D Help Desk can answer your questions from 9am-1pm (Mon-Fri). So, the Help Desk is not open all day.

E You don’t need to join the library to study in these classes. So the classes are not just for members.

Step 9: suggested words to underline / highlight in Question 2:

A. It finds jobs for students.

B. It pays for transport for students.

C. It helps students get library cards.

D. It helps students with accommodation.

.

Step 10

A We don’t help people look for work. So the Help Desk doesn’t find jobs for students.

B We … help with money for travel for courses. So the Help Desk pays for transport.

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C We … help students to join the main library. So he Help Desk helps students get library cards.

D We don’t help people look for work or help with housing problems. So the Help Desk doesn’t help students with accommodation.

Key to Student’s Worksheet 1

Question 1

A. Computer classes are only in the afternoon. False

B. 4-year-old children can go to Children’s Story Time. True

C. Keeping Healthy is for ESOL learners only. False

D. The Help Desk is open all day. False

E. Only library members can take these classes. False

Question 2

A. It finds jobs for students. False

B. It pays for transport for students. True

C. It helps students get library cards. True

D. It helps students with accommodation. False

.

© UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo Skills for Life E1 Reading True / False questions – answer keys www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org Page 5 of 7

Skills for Life E1 Reading True / False questions Student’s Worksheet 1

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CENTRAL LIBRARY

FREE CLASSES Times Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 9.00 – 12.00 IT for

Beginners

Hassan Roble

102

Every Picture Tells a Story

Ozge Gulabi

Children’s Story Time

(ages 3-5)

Maths for ESOL Learners

Justin Fletcher

101

12.30 – 3.00 Keeping Healthy

Hazel Benton

106

Using the Internet

Jillie Brown

102

Who can come to the classes?

• Maths for ESOL and Every Picture Tells a Story are for ESOL students only. All other classes are open to everyone.

• You don’t need to join the library to study in these classes.

Where can I get more information?

The Help Desk can answer your questions from 9am-1pm (Mon-Fri).

• We enrol students on courses, help with money for travel for courses and help students to join the main library.

• We don’t help people look for work or help with housing problems. There is an Advice Desk on the second floor for these problems.

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Skills for Life E1 Reading True / False questions Student’s Worksheet 2

Question 1

Look at the sentences. Are they true or false? Tick (√) TRUE or FALSE for each sentence.

TRUE FALSE

A. Computer classes are only in the afternoon.

B. 4-year-old children can go to Children’s Story Time

C. Keeping Healthy is for ESOL learners only.

D. The Help Desk is open all day.

E. Only library members can take these classes.

Question 2

What does the Help Desk do for course students? Tick (√) YES or NO for each sentence.

YES NO

A. It finds jobs for students.

B. It pays for transport for students.

C. It helps students get library cards.

D. It helps students with accommodation.

© UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo Skills for Life E1 Reading True / False questions Student’s Worksheet 2 www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org Page 7 of 7