English Reading passages and Tests

Summary completion text and question The following Part 3 extract is taken from a sample IELTS Academic Reading test about language. In this question type, an incomplete summary will appear below the text with a box containing words or phrases that you will select for the missing gaps in the summary. With an exercise like this, you will need to use reading skills such as skimming and scanning to make sure you can identify where in the text you need to read to understand the main idea and to choose the correct words. You will also need to rely on your own vocabulary knowledge and to be able to identify which word type is missing. You should be able to identify if you need a noun, a verb, an adjective or adverb. ©IELTS idp @readingwithabducreator

The summary completion task often appears in the IELTS Academic Reading test. It assesses your ability to understand details within the text and to identify the main idea and will usually be on one part of the text rather than the whole text. In this question type, you will see an incomplete summary presented with missing words. There are two variations of this question task type where you either select words directly from the text, or where you select words from a list of answers. If you select words directly from the text, the instructions will make it clear how many words or numbers you should use in your answer. If you select words from a list, these words can be synonyms (words of similar meaning) or antonyms (words that have opposite meaning) of the words that appear in the text, or they can be taken directly from the text. Therefore, it is essential to prepare for IELTS Reading by increasing your vocabulary range and by learning how to identify word groups. We will focus on the second variation of this task where we choose words that have been given to us to fit the gap. Let's take a look at a reading passage and learn how best to prepare for this question type. @readingwithabducreator

One of the best and fastest ways to improve Reading score is to learn solving questions. I want to talk about each question type separately for better understanding. @readingwithabducreator

Tips for the IELTS reading test #1⃣ Look at the first few questions, identifying keywords and qualifying words and getting a clear idea of what you are required to do (word limit in the answer, for example). Then go to the text for the first time, scanning for something that relates to question. ✅POSITIVES: you will be answering questions within the first two minutes and don’t need to spend time reading sections of the text that don’t relate to any of the questions. ❌NEGATIVES: even by the end of the test, you may not have a clear idea of everything in the text – only the sections which relate to the answers. #2⃣ Writing your answers in CAPITAL LETTERS Write your answers in CAPITAL LETTERS – that way you won’t risk losing points for punctuation (e.g. ‘LONDON’ is better than ‘london’) and your writing will be clearer and easier to read. #3⃣ Don’t get stuck on an answer With 60 minutes to answer 40 questions, as well as time to skim and scan the text and locate answers, you have approximately one minute to answer each question. If you find you are spending more time than that, make a clear mark on the question paper to indicate that you haven’t answered that particular question then move on to the next question. If there is time later, then you can go back to that question, but spending time on a difficult answer may mean you lose more points on answers which you may have found easier. Remember that it is one point per correct answer, regardless of how difficult or easy you think it may be. ©Ultimate IELTS Series Book 3 @readingwithabducreator

“Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes.” — Albus Dumbledore

There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow.

Today a reader. Tomorrow a leader.