ge11-R3· Reading· ~15 min

Reading: Environment & Global Issues

Read texts about the environment and global challenges.

Reading comprehension tests your ability to understand written English texts. First, skim the passage quickly to understand the general topic and main idea. Then read each question carefully and scan the text for specific details such as numbers, names, or facts. For vocabulary questions, use the sentences around the word to guess its meaning from context. Practice with different text types — articles, project descriptions, and research reports — to build your reading confidence.

Key terms

main idea — The most important point or message that the writer wants to communicate in a text.
detail — A specific piece of information stated directly in the text, such as a number, name, or fact.
inference — A conclusion you reach by thinking about what the text says, even though it is not stated directly.
skim — To read a text quickly to get a general sense of what it is about, without focusing on every word.
scan — To look through a text quickly to find a specific word, number, or piece of information.
vocabulary in context — Guessing the meaning of an unfamiliar word by looking at the words and sentences around it.
Reading Strategies for Comprehension Questions
StrategyWhat to DoBest for Question Type
SkimRead the passage quickly to understand the topic and main message.Main idea questions
ScanLook for specific keywords, numbers, or names in the text.Detail questions
Read carefullyRead the relevant sentences slowly and think about what they mean.Inference and vocabulary questions
EliminateCross out choices that are clearly wrong, then pick the best remaining answer.All question types

Four strategies to help you answer reading comprehension questions accurately.

✎Example: Answering a Main Idea Question
  1. 1Step 1: Skim the passage: Read the short text quickly. Ask yourself: 'What is this mostly about?' In a text about plastic waste and solutions, the main idea is not just the problem — it includes the solutions too.
  2. 2Step 2: Read the question: Question: 'What is the main message of the text?' This asks for the overall point, not a small detail.
  3. 3Step 3: Check each choice: Compare each answer choice to the whole text. A choice that only talks about one part of the text (just the problem, or just one solution) is too narrow to be the main idea.
  4. 4Step 4: Choose the best answer: Pick the choice that covers the text's overall message. In this case, the correct answer includes both the problem and the idea that it can be solved.
🚫Common mistake

Don't choose an answer just because it contains words from the text. Distractors often use the same vocabulary as the passage but say something different from what the text actually means.

💡Note

When a question asks 'What does the word X mean?', always go back and read the full sentence — and the sentences before and after it. The context gives you clues about the meaning.

⚠️Caution

Beware of answer choices that are true in real life but are not mentioned in the text. Your answer must be based only on what the passage says, not on your own knowledge.

Rules

  1. 1Skim the passage first to understand the general topic before reading the questions.
  2. 2Read each question carefully and identify what it is asking: main idea, a specific detail, an inference, or a word meaning.
  3. 3Go back to the text to find evidence for your answer — do not rely on memory or outside knowledge.
  4. 4For vocabulary questions, read the sentences before and after the word to guess its meaning from context.
  5. 5Eliminate clearly wrong choices first, then choose the best answer from the remaining options.

Practice

4 easy · 4 medium · 4 hard

10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed