Easy SPM Reading Comprehension Steps (SPM 2008)

Aloha!

It feels great to write another entry on how to easily answer SPM Reading Comprehension questions! As we know, comprehension questions in Section C - Paper 2 of SPM gives a total of 10 marks. Many students may find the text intimidating or worry they lack enough time to really understand the text.

Well, for students with limited language skills, here's how you should tackle the comprehension questions. If you do it correctly, you may find it easy to locate the answers. Why? Simply because the answers are all in the text! (Maybe only 1 or 2 questions which may ask for your opinion, in this kind of question, you have to give your own answer)

Easy SPM Reading Comprehension Steps

1. Read the question first! And identify the key words in the question.
2. Match the question with the paragraph. 
3. Locate similar key words in the paragraph, the answer is normally in the same sentence, next to or before it.

Let's give it a try on the same text which we did our summary earlier (<--- click to read awesome SPM summary tips!) taken from SPM Examination Paper 2008 - Paper 2 - Section C (Reading Comprehension) and observe how we find the answer from similar key words.

FIRST: Read the question first! And identify the key words in the question.

My advice for students who find it difficult to read quickly and understand the whole text is to not attempt to read the entire text before reading the questions. Instead, you can try reading the question first and identify the key words in the text. For example (We will use some questions from real SPM Examination Paper 2008):

26. From paragraph 1, where does the writer hunt? [1 mark]

In the question above, I have highlighted the key words I found which are 'where' and 'hunt'. The part highlighted in green is very important as it shows which area of the text you need to focus on to get the answer.

SECOND: Match the question with the paragraph.

The question says 'From paragraph 1', so to find answer to this question, look at paragraph 1. Pretty straight forward, right?

THIRD: Locate similar key words in the paragraph, the answer is normally in the same sentence, next to or before it.

We have identified the key words 'where' and 'hunt'. Now look at 'paragraph 1' and locate similar key words. Here's the text in paragraph 1:

I have spent 20 years hunting wild animals in the Sarawak jungles. The leopard is one of the most unpredictable animals I have ever come across. A cunning animal, it will change its direction for no obvious reason. Although I had faced numerous encounters with ferocious creatures, none scared me the way the leopard did, the day it attacked me. (Paragraph 1)

It is quite a lengthy paragraph for weak students. Yet, fret not! Since we have identified the key words in the question which is 'where' and 'hunt'. Look for similar key words in the paragraph as highlighted above. From the text you can find the word 'hunt' in the first sentence and the answer to 'where' is also in the same sentence which is Sarawak.

Let's try to answer all the other questions in this Reading Comprehension paper too, aite?

27. From paragraph 2,
(a) what had happened to the farmers' livestock? [1 mark]
(b) "... that was the worst mistake of my life." (Line 9)
(i) What was the mistake? [1 mark]
(ii) Why was it a mistake? [1 mark]

Paragraph 2
On January 24, a goat was killed at a nearby farm. Two weeks earlier, farmers had reported missing livestock. A leopard had been seen around the area at dusk. On that very day, fifteen experienced men volunteered to track it. Before the hunting party arrived, I went out to look for the tracks. Without a thought, I left my rifle in the car and that was the worst mistake of my life. Unarmed, I was exposed to danger. (Paragraph 2)

In paragraph 2, you can obviously find the word 'livestock', the answer to it is 'missing livestock'. Then the answer to 'what' and 'why' was it a mistake can be found in the same sentence and in the next sentence as highlighted above according to the colours.

28. From paragraph 4,
(a) what threw the writer off the balance? [1 mark]
(b) which word means fell? [1 mark]

Then it happened. The leopard leapt onto my back. I heard nothing when it hit me as it happened very fast. The impact was enough to set me off balance. For a moment I felt dizzy, as it the surroundings were spinning. I could not make sense of the things around me. They seemed to be blurring. Before I realised it, I slumped onto the ground with the leopard clawing at my back. I could faintly hear the grunting from the leopard. Although I could feel sharp pain all over my back, I still managed to gather enough strength to roll over. My sudden action took the creature by surprise - I had caused it to let go of me and I was free for a short time. (Paragraph 4)

The key word off balance help us to find the answer which is the impact. Students can also copy the entire sentence as answer (provided the sentence is not too long) Meanwhile, 28(b), you will need vocabulary knowledge or try to guess which is the most suitable word. The answer here is 'slumped', with the phrase 'onto the ground' indicates something falling on the ground.

29. From paragraph 7,
(a) what made the young man rush to the scene? [ 1 mark]
(b) why did the young man hesitate to shoot? [1 mark]

A young man, who was a member of the hunting group, was scouting the area. Suddenly, he heard a loud growl. Sensing someone in danger, he rushed towards the scene. He stood hesitatingly about three metres away from the leopard, not knowing whether he could shoot accurately. Frantically, I yelled at him to move nearer. Bang! The first shot went off target. Then the second shot hit the leopard in the spine. This time he did it. There was a loud growl before it went limp. Seeing the lifeless animal next tome me, I was overcome with relief. (Paragraph 7) 

The key words 'rush to the scene' help students find the answer 'sensing someone in danger' which is in the same sentence. The key word 'hesitate' is changed to 'hesitatingly' but it still help students find the answer 'not knowing whether he could shoot accurately' for the question.

30. In your own words, give two reasons why do you think the writer felt sorry for the leopard. [ 2 marks]

For questions like number 30, it asks for your own opinion, basically, any relevant and suitable answer will be accepted here. So, do not leave this empty instead try to write suitable answers such as 'the leopard is also a living thing', 'the leopard is hungry', 'the writer is kind-hearted' and so on based on the key words from the question.

In conclusion, this reading comprehension leads us to few important notes!

1. The key words in the question is usually mentioned in the paragraph either using the same word, or with different grammatical structure or synonymous word. (livestock - livestock/ hunt - hunting/ off the balance - off balance/ hesitate - hesitatingly)
2. Do not leave any question unanswered. The answer is kind of explicit once you know how to identify suitable key words.
3. The answer is normally in the same sentence with the key word found in the paragraph.
4. If you are not sure which part of the sentence to choose as the answer, copy the whole sentence as answer (Provided the sentence is not too long - Do not copy more than 1 sentence!)

Let's count using this question as example, even if the students simply identify key words and copy the sentence with key words as answer, they will get these questions correct:

• 26
• 27 (a)
• 27 (b) (i) 
• 28 (a) 
• 29 (a)
• 29 (b)

Add all together, this section will give the student (who only find key words and copy the sentence with the key words as answer) a total of 6 out of 10. A better student will have no problem to score at least 8.

One more thing, if you notice in this article, we only look at 4 paragraphs (para 1, para 2, para 4 and para 7) but we can still find answers to all the questions. There are actually 8 paragraphs altogether. Therefore, it is also a good way to save time by using these Easy SPM Reading Comprehension Steps, read questions first - identify key words in questions - match key words in paragraph - find the answer. 

Until then, Man Jadda Wajada, practice, practice and practice!

Footnote:

• This text is taken from SPM Examination Paper 2008
• This is not the real answer scheme.
• This is just answering technique. Those who want to master reading in English still need to read a lot of English materials to be proficient.