Reading and understanding a text
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Reading comprehension
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Summary
Reading and understanding a text
In a nutshell
The act of both reading and understanding a text is called comprehension. In this summary, you will learn how to develop your comprehension skills so you can read and fully understand a text.
Comprehension
When you read a piece of writing and can show that you understand the text, either by talking about it or responding correctly to questions, this is known as comprehension. Comprehension is a skill you use regularly, for example, when you look at the timetable at a bus stop or read a recipe before cooking.
Close reading
Actively using the facts given in a text and engaging in thinking, based on conventions of its genre and any other clues, is necessary to fully understand a text. To do this, first read the text, make sense of what is written and ask yourself some questions to check you've understood what the text is saying.
Example
This is an example of a very simple text, followed by a question to test your comprehension.
'The fox is wearing a light blue waistcoat, a light blue hat and round glasses.' |  |
What colour waistcoat is the fox wearing?
If you gave the answer 'The fox is wearing a light blue waistcoat' then you are showing your reading comprehension skills, well done!
Note: With longer paragraphs, pages or even books of writing, comprehension can get more challenging because of the extra details.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
When is comprehension used?
Comprehension is a skill you use regularly, for example, when you look at the timetable at a bus stop or read a recipe before cooking.
How can I practice my comprehension skills?
You can improve your comprehension by reading a text, making sense of what is written and asking yourself some questions to check you've understood what the text is saying.
What is comprehension?
Comprehension is the act of both reading and understanding a text.