Part III.        How to approach questions requiring you to identify the writer’s views

Step 1: Read the instructions carefully. Note that you are asked to identify the writer’s opinion, which may not necessarily be the same as the facts. Note also the difference between the three categories you have to use, particularly:

No                   The statement contradicts the writer.

Not Given     The writer does not give an opinion on this point.

Step 2: Skim through all of the statements to get an idea of the topics you will be searching for in your reading of the text. 

Step 3: Read the first statement again more carefully. Note the main point or opinion given in the statement.

Step 4: Skim the text for the section which refers to that idea. If you come across information relating to other statements, put a mark beside the section so that you can find it quickly again later.

Step 5: Once you have found the appropriate section of the text, read more carefully. Decide if the statement agrees with the view of the author (mark Yes on your answer sheet) or disagrees with the author (mark No on your answer sheet). If the author doesn’t give an opinion which agrees or disagrees with the statement then mark Not Given on your answer sheet.

Reading task type four: multiple choice

Task description

In this question type you will be given a ‘stem’ which may be an incomplete sentence or a question. The stem will be followed by three or four options – one will be correct (the answer) and three may seem possible but are in fact incorrect in some way (the distracters).  In tackling this type of question, it is very important to read the stem carefully. Candidates often make careless mistakes when they misread the stem and so choose the wrong option.

What is being tested

Multiple choice questions can be designed to test a wide variety of reading skills. The questions may require you to have an overall understanding of the main points of the text as in Question 1 of the sample task, in which case you will need to be able to read for gist. Or they may require you to have a detailed understanding of particular points as in questions 2 and 3 of the Sample Task, in which case you will need to be able to read for specific details. Multiple choice questions may also ask you to identify facts or opinions in the text.

Sample task

Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write your answers in boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

1.       Which is most at fault for the magnitude of the Titanic disaster?

A.  The ship

B.   The Titanic’s owners and builders

C.  Standard operating procedure

D.  The captain and crew

2.       The number of lifeboats on the Titanic …

A.  would have been sufficient if all boats had been filled to capacity

B.   met the regulations for much smaller ships but not the Titanic

C.  had been designed in 1894 by the British Board of Trade

D.  could carry more people than required under the regulations

3.       The Titanic was …

A.  higher than the tallest buildings of her day

B.   divided into 16 watertight compartments

C.  unsinkable

D.  the most technologically advanced liner of her time

Answer 3    Part 4