Comprehension Check Critical Reading

A  Reread it and think about how it may connect to other parts of the text, paying careful attention to connecting words like “however,” “therefore,” or “on the other hand.”

B  Use an online translator to translate it to your first language.

C  Email the author to complain about it.

D  Assume that the author is probably explaining something you already know.

A  Try to guess the meaning, but do not bother looking it up in a dictionary.

B  Underline it or write it down, but try to wait until you finish reading to look up the definition.

C  Ignore it; it probably isn’t important.

D  Stop reading and look up the word in a translator.

A  Make notes in the margins and ask questions about the text.

B  Nothing; you should just begin reading, and form opinions after you read.

C  Read the title, and decide whether you agree with the author or not.

D  Learn some background information, such as who the author was and when the text was published, and think about what you know about the topics of the text.

A  Read a paper copy, and use colored pens to make notes and mark important passages.

B  Ignore any passages that you do not understand.

C  Ask yourself questions, such as “Why does the author include this example?” and “Who is the author’s target audience?”

D  Read the text more than once, because you will gain a better understanding each time you read.

A  Reading to evaluate the author’s use of vocabulary and grammatical structures.

B  Reading something serious, such as a textbook or academic article, rather than something fun like a novel.

C  Reading to find reasons to disagree with the author.

D  Reading to understand not only what the author is saying, but why and how they are saying it.