Exam Buster Reading comprehension (2) Study Tip • When you read there will always be some words you do not know. So it is important to learn what to do when you meet a new word.
Fill the gaps
1 Below is a check list of what to do when you meet new words. Complete the gaps with the missing words.
adjective
yes
no
dictionary
guess
need to
1 Do I ........... understand this word to understand the text? .......... , go to step 2. / No, continue to read the text. 2 Is it a noun / verb / ........... / adverb? 3 Can I . . . . . . . . . . . the word from the context? Yes, continue to read the text. / ........... , go to step 4. 4 Use my . . . . . . . .... .
Reading
2a Quickly read the text below. Underline any words you don’t know. Then practise working out their meaning using the new words checklist above.
The more you practise this method, the quicker and easier reading in English will become. Homecoming Queen - A Day to Remember In the USA and Canada, a girl is chosen by her classmates to be the ‘Queen’ during ‘Homecoming’. Homecoming takes place during the autumn and usually involves the school (or university) football game. There can be lots of different activities too, such as marching bands, parades, dances. It is a great honour to be chosen as the Homecoming Queen. Katie could not believe it when she was chosen to be the Homecoming Queen for her school. I heard the alarm clock ring and jumped out of bed. I was so nervous and excited at the same time. Only two hours to get ready! I’d prepared everything the night before and my clothes lay on the chair next to my bed. I ran downstairs to the kitchen where my mother was preparing breakfast. ‘Oh no mum. I don’t want anything. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach! I’m so nervous,’ I said. ‘You’ve got to eat something,’ she replied. ‘You’ve got a long day ahead of you’. I grabbed a pancake covered in maple syrup and started nibbling at it. Of course I only ate a small bit and then I ran back upstairs, I had a shower, got dressed and made myself look pretty as fast as I could. As I closed the door behind me, I heard mom shout, ‘Good Luck! Hope all goes well’. As I got nearer to school, I saw lots of cars and people heading in the same direction. Some were running and some were walking slowly. And as I walked towards the football field, the crowds of people started cheering. Today was the big match and I was the Homecoming Queen! It was going to be a day I would remember for the rest of my life.
2b Now choose the correct answer. 1 Homecomings usually take place in...
2 Homecoming never takes place in which of these months?
A
the USA
A
August
B
Canada
B
September
C
the USA and Canada
C
October
D
all over the world
D
November
1
3 How did Katie feel when she was chosen to be the homecoming Queen? A
Unhappy
B
Sad
C
Nervous
D
Bored