Cheatsheet: Reading Comprehension | General Aptitude for GATE - Mechanical Engineering PDF Download

Theory

• Comprehend means to take in the meaning, nature, or importance of something or somebody. It is the act of grasping the meaning of a given passage or text. 
•  It is often not realized that comprehension broadly means understanding through reading and integrating it with the knowledge you already have. 
•  It involves a wide range of skills and interests. It is truly a multi-dimensional affair. 
•  It encompasses a variety of abilities with respect to vocabulary, grammar, spirit of the text, inferential processes and contextual knowledge. 
• The most important factors operating in comprehending a text or passage are: 
  • Remembering word meanings
  • Following the structure of a passage
  • Finding answers to questions answered directly or indirectly
  • Recognizing the writer's purpose, attitude, tone and mood
  • And thus drawing inferences from the passage.
•  Usually, making out the meaning of a question and writing the answer down is one way often found in school and college examinations. 
•  Besides this, there is the second kind known as objective comprehension, in which multiple answers are given only to choose the correct answer out of the alternatives given under the questions. 
•  This type is often found in the present competitive examinations. 
  

Tips

Things to remember while answering a RC

• What is the main point the author is trying to make?
• What are the key points he/she puts forward to make that point?
• What is the tone of the author?
• Transition elements, these words generally indicate a change in the tone of the author.

Types of questions asked in a Reading Comprehension

• Perspective questions:These questions are based on the entire essay as a whole and are not limited to a single paragraph of the essay. Questions like
  What is the title of the essay?
  What is summary of the essay?
• Specific Questions: These questions pertain to a specific paragraph in the essay. Most of the questions in banking exams belong to this type and one should go back and find the particular paragraph with which the question belongs.

Solved Example 

Title: The Rise of Renewable Energy

Over the past few decades, the world has seen a significant rise in the use of renewable energy sources. As fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas continue to pollute the environment and contribute to global warming, countries around the world are shifting towards cleaner alternatives like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy.

Solar power, derived from the sun’s rays, has become especially popular due to the falling cost of solar panels. Wind energy is also widely used, particularly in countries with open plains and coastal regions. Hydroelectric power, generated from moving water, has been used for many years and remains one of the largest sources of renewable energy.

Apart from being environmentally friendly, renewable energy is also sustainable, which means it can be used repeatedly without running out. However, there are challenges. Some renewable sources depend on weather conditions — for example, solar power cannot be generated during the night or on very cloudy days. Despite these challenges, the future of renewable energy looks promising, and investing in these technologies is a step towards a cleaner and greener planet.

Q1. What is the title of the essay?
a) Solar and Wind Power
b) The Rise of Renewable Energy
c) Sources of Fossil Fuel
d) Environment and Pollution
Answer: b) The Rise of Renewable Energy

Q2. Which form of renewable energy is mentioned as being popular due to falling costs?
a) Wind energy
b) Hydroelectric energy
c) Solar energy
d) Geothermal energy
Answer: c) Solar energy

Q3. What tone does the author use in the passage?
a) Humorous
b) Critical
c) Optimistic and informative
d) Argumentative
Answer: c) Optimistic and informative

Q4. Which renewable energy source depends on water flow?
a) Solar power
b) Geothermal power
c) Wind energy
d) Hydroelectric power
Answer: d) Hydroelectric power

Q5. What is the main idea or summary of the passage?
a) Fossil fuels are cheaper than renewable sources.
b) Renewable energy is harmful and unreliable.
c) Renewable energy is growing due to its sustainability and environmental benefits despite some challenges.
d) Natural gas is the best form of clean energy.
Answer: c) Renewable energy is growing due to its sustainability and environmental benefits despite some challenges.