CLOSE READING UTests your Understanding of the writer’s ideas. ATests your skills of Analysis by looking at word choice, imagery, sentence structure, tone EAsks you to Evaluate how successful or effective the writer is in using particular techniques.

Close Reading Understanding the Meaning

Introduction… There are 3 types of questions that will test your understanding of the meaning of a passage. Using your own words. Context Questions. Link Questions. All these questions are marked with a “U” beside them on the question paper.

Using your own words… Means simply, re-wording something or explaining the meaning of something, but using your own words to do so. You must NOT “lift” or copy parts of the passage. You will get no marks! You must look at the number of marks beside the question, to see how detailed you need to be.

Task 1… Look at the example on page 7 of the Higher Language Skills book. Now try questions 1-4 “For Practice” on pages 7-8.

Task 1 – Answers… Question 1. His hair was not as short. His cheeks had less colour. He was smaller than he used to be. He was double the age he used to be.

Task 1 – Answers… Question 2(i). The work was difficult and physically demanding. The people had to do everything manually and had little control over the speed of crops growing or the weather.

Task 1 – Answers… Question 2(ii). Villages were far apart. The roads were not used very often. The only modes of transport were walking or by horse.

Task 1 – Answers… Question 3. Ordinary people were in control. The buildings were used by ordinary people. Walls had radical graffiti on them. Churches had been damaged.

Task 1 – Answers… Question 4(i). He was not interested in the simple visual appeal of the art. The art was beautiful, but had no movement. They did not bring the religious tales to life.

Task 1 – Answers… Question 4(ii). He wanted people to appreciate the excitement of what he was painting.

Context Questions… Context questions ask you to explain how the context of a paragraph helps you to understand the meaning of a word or phrase. You are usually asked to do two things: Explain the meaning of a word/phrase. To show how you worked out the meaning (by looking at the words around it).

Answering context questions… Question “Show how the context helped you to arrive at the meaning of _____” Suggested answer “The word/phrase _____ means _____. I can work this out from the context because it says _____ which also means _____.”

Task 2… Look at the example on page 10 of the Higher Language Skills book. Now try questions 1-3 “For Practice” on page 10.

Task 2 – Answers… Question 1: The word implacable means unstoppable. I can work this out from the context because it says “patient” and “showed no mercy” which also mean he could not be stopped.

Task 2 – Answers… Question 2: The word vacillated means failed to act. I can work this out from the context because it says “hesitation” which also means he did not act.

Task 2 – Answers… Question 3: The word minorities means children. I can work this out from the context because it says “no adult” which also means children or young people are involved.

Link Questions… Link questions test your understanding of the way paragraphs can link on from each other. The “link” sentence will usually refer back to the previous paragraph and ALSO introduce the idea that will be discussed in the new paragraph.

Answering link questions… Question “Show how the sentence _____ acts as a link in the argument” Suggested answer “The phrase _____ links back to the idea of _____ discussed previously. The phrase _____ introduces the idea of _____ which will be discussed next.”

Task 3… Look at the example on page 12 of the Higher Language Skills book. Now try questions 1-3 “For Practice” on page

Task 3 – Answers… Question 1: The phrase “the illicit grandeurs of her forbears” links back to the idea of an important past, discussed previously. The phrase “ordinary poverty” introduces the idea of a difficult life, which will be discussed next.

Task 3 – Answers… Question 2: The phrase “the position” links back to the idea of a fixed place, discussed previously. The phrase “little benefit” introduces the idea of no positive effect, which will be discussed next.

Task 3 – Answers… Question 3: The phrase “the appearance” links back to the idea of her looks, discussed previously. The phrase “also the character” introduces the idea of her personality, which will be discussed next.

In summary… Using your own words: Never quote. Context Questions: Use the suggested answer. Include the meaning AND how you worked out the meaning from the passage. Link Questions: Show how the sentence refers back and forward.