Comprehension and Summary | Jamb Use of English

Introduction

What is Comprehension?

Skills Needed for Comprehension

1. Active Reading: Read attentively and focus on understanding the passage.
2. Critical Thinking: Analyze the passage to determine the writer’s purpose, tone, and implied meaning.
3. Vocabulary Knowledge: Understand the meaning of words and how they contribute to the passage’s meaning.
4. Inference and Deduction: Read between the lines to determine the meaning that is not explicitly stated.
5. Skimming and Scanning: Quickly identify important information in the passage.

Types of Questions in Comprehension

• Literal Questions: These require direct answers from the passage.
• Inferential Questions: These require students to deduce meanings that are not explicitly stated.
• Vocabulary-Based Questions: These test the meaning of words in context.
• Main Idea Questions: These require identifying the central message of the passage.
• Fact and Opinion Questions: These test the ability to differentiate between factual statements and personal views in the passage.

Steps to Answer Comprehension Questions Effectively

1. Read the passage carefully before looking at the questions.
2. Identify the main idea and take note of key points.
3. Underline important words or phrases in the passage.
4. Read the questions thoroughly and refer back to the passage for answers.
5. Answer in clear and concise sentences without unnecessary details.
6. Pay attention to instructions (e.g., “Answer in your own words” means you should not copy directly from the passage).

What is Summary?

Key Features of a Good Summary

1. Conciseness: A summary should be brief but cover the main points.
2. Accuracy: It should retain the original meaning of the passage.
3. Clarity: It should be easy to understand, without complex or ambiguous sentences.
4. Objectivity: A summary should not include personal opinions or additional explanations.

Steps to Write a Good Summary

1. Read the passage carefully to understand the main idea.
2. Identify key points by eliminating irrelevant details and examples.
3. Rewrite in your own words, ensuring clarity and conciseness.
4. Use simple and precise language to express the essential points.
5. Avoid direct lifting (copying) from the passage unless necessary.
6. Ensure your summary is within the required word limit, if specified.

Common Mistakes in Summary Writing

• Writing too much detail instead of focusing on key points.
• Including personal opinions or adding information that is not in the passage.
• Copying sentences directly from the passage without rephrasing.
• Using long, complicated sentences instead of simple and clear expressions.

Tips for Effective Preparation

• Practice with past questions to familiarize yourself with the exam format.
• Read a variety of texts, including newspapers, essays, and academic passages.
• Improve your vocabulary to enhance comprehension skills.
• Time yourself when answering comprehension and summary questions to improve speed and accuracy.
• Review your answers to check for errors and ensure clarity.

Passage for UTME Use of English Comprehension Questions

Passage: The Value of Time

Questions and Answers

1. Comprehension of Part of the Passage

2. Comprehension of Words, Phrases, Clauses, Sentences, Figures of Speech, and Idioms

3. Coherence and Logical Reasoning (Deductions, Inferences, etc.)

4. Deducing the Writer’s Intention, Mood, Attitude, and Opinion

Summary of Key Points

• The passage emphasizes the importance of time management and how it affects success, work, and relationships.
• The passage uses the idiom "time and tide wait for no man" to illustrate the irreversible nature of time.
• The writer encourages discipline and conscious efforts in time management.
• Logical inferences suggest that wasting time leads to missed opportunities and regrets.
• The passage maintains an informative and encouraging tone.

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