Active Learning Seminars

Presented by Nigel Veal

Please take part!

for the IELTS

Reading Test

What is in the IELTS reading module?

Reading passages

Three passages from magazines, books, journals or newspapers

Topics of general interest

At least one passage presents a detailed logical argument

Time allowed:60 minutes

Number of Questions:40

Format of questions

Multiple choice questions

Gap-fill questions

Short answer questions

Matching questions

True/False/Not given questions

Pine tree

Giant Tortoise

Humans

Answer Key1. A

2. C

3. organisms

4. conception

5. maximum

6. female

7. 120 years

8. 4000 years

9. female

10. E

11. A

12. C

Reading Strategies

What successful candidates do

•SKIM the passage to get a general understanding of the main points in the passage.

• SCAN the passage to locate the specific information needed to answer a question.

• READ this information INTENSIVELY to decide on the answer.

Skimming

Scanning

1.TV schedule scan2.Telephone directory scan3.Magazine skim4.Newspaper skim5.Train timetable scan6.travel brochure skim

Reading intensively

The reading skills you need

1. Understanding the words

Guessing: A useful strategy

Computers have been used for most kinds of crime, including fraud, theft, larceny, embezzlement, burglary, sabotage, espionage, murder and forgery, since the first cases were reported in 1958.

Computers have been used for most kinds of crime, including murder and since the first cases were reported in 1958.

? , ? ,? , ? , ? , ? , ? ,

? ,

2. Understanding what writers are doing.

Writers

describe

argue

Reading definitions

The lemming is a rodent that is closely related to the vole and the meadow mouse.

Tea is the beverage that is made when the processed leaves of the tea plant are infused with boiling water.

3. Matching information when you read

Betty

Betty the crow

Project Delphis

Reflection

Orang-utanLanguage Project

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Text 1: Crows Text 2: Dolphins Text 3: Orang-utans

Organization that carried out the research 1

---------------1 ---------------

1 ---------------

City or place where research took place 2

---------------2 ---------------

2 ---------------

Main aim of research 3 Test ability to

---------------

3 Discover if

---------------

3 Test ability to

---------------

Text 1: Crows Text 2: Dolphins Text 3: Orang-utans

Organization

City or place

Main aim

Zoology Department,Oxford University

EarthtrustSmithsonian National Zoological Park

Oxford Hawaii New York

make (simple) tools dolphins are self-aware communicate

Text 1Method used to conduct testsCrows chose hook or straight wire in order to 1 ……………... container. After male crow took hook, the female bird (Betty) 2 ……………. wire to make another one. Researchers gave Betty more straight wire and in ten tests she managed to make a hook 3 ………….…….. times.

Research findingsCrows able to make an appropriate tool from 4 ……………… that they had not seen or used much, providing new evidence of animal intelligence.

lift/retrieve

bent

nine

materials

Text 2Method used to conduct testsZinc oxide was put on sides of bottleneck dolphins and their behaviour was filmed through a 1 ……………………. . After seeing 2 ………..………….. The dolphins moved about a lot suggesting they had noticed the 3 ………………………………………….. .

Research findings Dolphins, like 4 …………..………….………. may be self-aware.

one-way mirrortheir reflection

zinc oxide/mark/zinc oxide mark

man/humans and apes

Text 3Method used to conduct testsObjects were passed into the orang-utans’ cages and as they touched a computer screen a corresponding 1 ……………….. would appear. They then learnt which of these matched which object. If they made the 2 ……………………… choice a bell rang and they received 3……………………………., which could be food or praise.

Research findingsOrang-utans showed the 4…………………………………….. by making connections between abstract symbols and objects.

symbol

right/correcta reward/rewards

ability to communicate

Scanning

for the IELTS

Reading Test

to

Success!

English is your

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