CSE
Professional LevelSub-Professional Level
Practice Exams

Reading Comprehension Strategies (Professional)

Reviewer's Note: Read the questions BEFORE the passage. This focuses your brain on finding specific answers rather than just reading passively. Don't let long paragraphs intimidate you!

Reading Comprehension questions test your ability to understand, analyze, and interpret written passages.

Sa madaling salita: Basahin muna ang tanong bago ang passage. Makakatulong ito para alam mo na agad ang hinahanap mo habang nagbababasa.

Core Strategies

Applying a set of proven strategies can significantly improve your score and speed in this section.

  1. Read the Questions FIRST:

    • This gives you a purpose for reading.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Para alam mo na kung anong details ang kailangang tandaan (names, dates, ideas).

  2. Skim and Scan:

    • Skimming: Reading quickly to get the "gist".
    • Scanning: Looking for specific keywords.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Huwag basahin ang bawat salita kung naghahanap ka lang ng specific na date o pangalan.

  3. Find the Main Idea:

    • Usually found in the first or last sentence.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Ano ba ang gustong sabihin ng author sa buong text? Ito ay ang "Topic Sentence".

  4. Inferencing:

    • "Read between the lines."
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Kailangang intindihin ang mensahe kahit hindi ito direktang nakasulat. (Example: "The child was crying beside a broken toy." Inference: The child is sad.)

  5. Elimination Strategy:

    • Eliminate choices that are too broad or too specific.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Halimbawa, kung ang passage ay tungkol sa "Apple", ang choice na "Fruits" ay "too broad", habang ang "Apple seeds" ay "too specific".

Example Passages and Questions

Practice applying the strategies above to these sample passages.

Passage 1: The Philippine Eagle

"The Philippine Eagle is one of the rarest birds in the world. It is endemic to the Philippines. Deforestation and illegal hunting have severely reduced its population. Conservationists are working to prevent its extinction."

Questions:

  1. What is the main idea?

    • A. Eagles eat monkeys.
    • B. The Philippine Eagle is found in Luzon.
    • C. The Philippine Eagle is rare and needs protection.
    • D. Conservationists breed birds.
    • Answer: C.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Sinasakop ng choice C ang lahat ng mahalagang points: rare siya, endemic, at kailangan ng conservation.

  2. What can be inferred about the eagle's status?

    • A. It is thriving.
    • B. It is in danger of disappearing forever.
    • C. It has migrated.
    • D. It attacks humans.
    • Answer: B.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Ang salitang "extinction" ay nangangahulugang mawawala na nang tuluyan.

Passage 2: Public-private partnerships (PPPs)

"PPPs are collaborations between government and private companies to build projects. They allow projects to be completed sooner. However, critics argue they can lead to higher costs for consumers."

Questions:

  1. According to the passage, what is an advantage of PPPs?

    • A. Guaranteed lower costs.
    • B. Faster project completion.
    • C. Increased government control.
    • D. No risk.
    • Answer: B.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Nakasulat sa text na "allow projects to be completed sooner". Ito ay isang clear advantage.

  2. Which of the following would a critic be concerned about?

    • A. Finish ahead of schedule.
    • B. New technology.
    • C. High fees for the public.
    • D. Government involvement.
    • Answer: C.
    • Hack (Ibig sabihin): Ang "higher costs for consumers" ay halimbawa ng inaalala ng mga critics.

Tips for Speed

  • Do not memorize the passage. (Huwag kabisaduhin, unawain lang.)
  • Focus on keywords.
  • Use context clues for difficult words.

Note: In the Professional level, passages are often longer and use more technical or abstract language. Practice reading editorials to improve your comprehension speed.