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READING WORDS IN GROUPS

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Reading words in groups, often referred to as “chunking,” is a technique used to improve reading fluency and comprehension. Instead of reading word by word, readers group words together into phrases or chunks that convey a single idea or meaning. This approach helps the reader process information more quickly and understand the text more naturally, as it mimics the way we speak. Benefits of Reading Words in Groups: 1. Improved Fluency: Chunking helps readers maintain a smoother pace, reducing the time spent on decoding individual words. 2. Enhanced Comprehension: By focusing on phrases, readers can grasp the meaning of sentences more effectively and understand the overall context. 3. Better Retention: Grouping words helps in remembering the information since it organizes related ideas together. Examples of Reading Words in Groups 1. Single Words: • Reading: The dog ran quickly to the park. • Chunked: The dog ran quickly to the park. 2. Grouping Phrases: • Readin...

SUMMARIZING

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Summarizing is the process of condensing a larger text into a shorter version by focusing on the main points and key ideas. It involves restating the most important information in your own words, while leaving out unnecessary details, examples, or elaborations. The purpose of summarizing is to capture the essence of the text, allowing readers or listeners to quickly understand the core message without needing to go through the entire original content. Steps to Summarize: 1. Identify the Main Idea: Focus on the main topic or purpose of the text. 2. Highlight Key Points: Pick out the most important facts, arguments, or events that support the main idea. 3. Use Your Own Words: Rewrite the information in a simpler and more concise way without copying the text verbatim. 4. Avoid Minor Details: Leave out examples, illustrations, and less important details that don’t contribute to the overall understanding. 5. Keep it Brief: A summary should be significantly shorter than t...

USING CONTEXT CLUES

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Using context clues means figuring out the meaning of an unfamiliar word by examining the words and sentences around it. Context clues help you make an educated guess about the word’s meaning based on how it is used within the text. This is a valuable skill because it allows you to understand new words without always having to look them up in a dictionary. There are several types of context clues you can use: 1. Definition or Explanation Clues Sometimes the meaning of the word is directly explained in the sentence or the following sentence. Example: “The city was placed under quarantine, which means that no one could enter or leave until the virus was contained.” • The phrase “which means that no one could enter or leave” explains the meaning of “quarantine.” 2. Synonym Clues The text may use a synonym, a word with a similar meaning, to help clarify the unfamiliar word. Example: “She was known for her benevolence, or kindness, toward the poor in her community.” • The word “kind...

DEALING WITH UNFAMILIAR WORDS

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Dealing with unfamiliar words is a common challenge, especially when reading in a second language, but it’s also a great opportunity to expand vocabulary and improve comprehension. Here are a few strategies to handle unfamiliar words effectively: 1. Using Context Clues Context clues are hints found within the surrounding sentences that help you infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word. The context may provide examples, explanations, or contrasting ideas that can guide your understanding. Example: “The arid landscape stretched for miles, with no signs of water or vegetation. It was a harsh, dry environment.” • Unfamiliar word: Arid • Context clue: “No signs of water or vegetation” and “dry” suggest that arid means extremely dry or lacking in moisture. 2. Breaking the Word Down You can often figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words by breaking them down into their parts (prefix, root, and suffix). Understanding the components of a word can provide insight into its meaning. Examp...

DISTINGUISHING FACTS FROM OPINIONS

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  Distinguishing facts from opinions is a key skill in critical reading and communication, especially in contexts like intensive English reading. It helps readers and listeners better evaluate the reliability and intent of the information they receive. Here’s why this skill is important: 1. Critical Thinking and Evaluation: Being able to differentiate between facts and opinions allows you to critically assess the validity of a statement. Facts are objective and can be verified, while opinions are subjective and reflect personal beliefs or interpretations. This distinction is vital for making informed decisions and forming logical conclusions. 2. Identifying Bias and Persuasion: Many texts, especially in media, advertisements, or political writing, contain both facts and opinions. Understanding the difference helps you recognize bias or persuasive language. Writers and speakers often present opinions as facts to influence audiences, so distinguishing the two prevents being m...

MAKING PREDICTIONS

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Making predictions is an effective strategy in intensive English reading because it actively engages the reader with the text and improves comprehension. Here are a few reasons why prediction is valuable in this context: 1. Engagement with the Text: When readers make predictions, they are encouraged to think critically about the material. This keeps them actively involved in the reading process, rather than passively absorbing information. 2. Improved Comprehension: By predicting what might happen next in a text, readers are more likely to pay close attention to details, such as plot clues or thematic hints. This deepens understanding as they compare their predictions to the actual outcomes. 3. Enhanced Vocabulary and Context Skills: Predicting outcomes based on context helps readers better understand unfamiliar words or complex sentence structures. They can infer meanings and connect new vocabulary to what they know about the subject. 4. Development of Analytical Skill...

UNDERSTANDING HEADINGS

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Understanding headings is crucial because they provide a clear structure to any piece of writing, whether it’s an article, report, or essay. Headings help both writers and readers by organizing content into logical sections, making it easier to follow the flow of ideas. Here’s why they are important: 1. Clarity and Organization: Headings break up long sections of text and make the content more digestible. They act as signposts, guiding the reader through the main points and subtopics. 2. Highlighting Key Information: By using different levels of headings (like main headings and subheadings), writers can emphasize the most important ideas. This allows readers to quickly locate the information they are most interested in. 3. Enhancing Readability: Well-placed headings improve the overall readability of a document. They help prevent readers from feeling overwhelmed by large blocks of text and allow for easier skimming, especially in longer documents. 4. Supporting Visual A...