eng8-R1· Reading· ~15 min

Reading: Free Time & Food

Read texts about free-time activities and food around the world.

To answer questions about a short text, first read it quickly to understand the main topic — this is called skimming. Then read each question and go back to the passage to find the answer. When a question asks what a word means, look at the words around it — the context often helps you guess. All the answers you need are in the passage; you do not need any outside knowledge.

Key terms

main idea — The most important point or central message of a text — what the whole passage is mainly about.
detail — A specific piece of information that is stated directly in the passage.
inference — A conclusion you reach by thinking about what the text says, even if it is not stated directly.
context clue — Words or sentences around an unknown word that help you guess its meaning.
skim — To read a text quickly to get a general understanding without focusing on every word.
scan — To look through a text quickly to find a specific piece of information, such as a name, number, or date.
Four Common Reading Question Types
Question TypeWhat It TestsExample Question Starter
Main IdeaUnderstanding the central message of the textWhat is the text mainly about?
DetailFinding specific information stated in the textAccording to the text, what / where / when …?
Inference / ReferenceDrawing a logical conclusion or understanding what a pronoun refers toWhat can you conclude from the text? / What does the word ‘it’ refer to?
Vocabulary in ContextUnderstanding the meaning of a word as used in the passageWhat does the word ‘X’ mean in the text?

The four question types you will meet in this lesson, what each one tests, and how they are typically worded.

✎Worked Example: Vocabulary in Context
  1. 1Step 1 — Find the word: Locate the word in the passage. Read the full sentence where it appears.
  2. 2Step 2 — Read the context: Read the sentence before and the sentence after. The surrounding words often explain the meaning.
  3. 3Step 3 — Guess first: Try to guess the meaning of the word before you look at the four answer choices.
  4. 4Step 4 — Check each choice: Replace the word with each choice. Which one keeps the same meaning of the sentence? Eliminate the three that do not fit.
🚫Common mistake

Do not choose an answer just because it sounds true in real life. The correct answer must be supported by the passage, not by your outside knowledge or personal opinion.

💡Note

The same passage is used for four different questions. After reading it once, return to the relevant sentence for each question — do not try to remember everything.

⚠️Caution

Do not spend too much time on one question. If you are stuck, mark it, move to the next question, and come back later if you have time.

Rules

  1. 1Read the text once quickly to get the main idea before looking at the questions.
  2. 2Read each question carefully and find the part of the text it is asking about.
  3. 3If a question asks what a word means, look at the sentence before and after it for clues.
  4. 4For inference questions, use information from the text to reach a logical conclusion — do not guess based on your own opinion.
  5. 5Eliminate answer choices that are clearly wrong according to the passage.
  6. 6If you are unsure, go back to the text — the correct answer is always the one with stronger text evidence.

Practice

4 easy · 4 medium · 4 hard

10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed