Reading Comprehension 06 - Factual 1
Reading comprehension is a very important aspect of study for anyone learning the English language, not just for those studying at Upper Primary school. The purpose of any language is to communicate and comprehension is the understanding of a communication, in this case a factual one.
You can communicate in written English or spoken English. In both forms of communication grammar is a vital component. While reading and writing are important for written communication, pronunciation and listening are important for oral communication.
Comprehension is defined, according to one of the dictionaries, as an exercise consisting of a previously unseen passage of text with related questions, designed to test a student's understanding. For a person to have a comprehension he must know the rules by which the passage is written or spoken. Only then can the person comprehend what is written or spoken.
To be a good reader or listener one must know the language well. Knowing the language well is achieved by learning grammar, spellings, pronunciation, different parts of speech and the various nuances of the language. It is said that practice makes perfect and the best way to learn is through reading and listening carefully.
Reading comprehension may be classified into several types depending upon what is being written. One of the types is factual writing. In factual writing there is very little scope for diverse interpretation and the writer writes what is factually there. Many news stories are factual writing and are printed in newspapers and reach hundreds or thousands of readers. Learning to comprehend factual writing is very useful in daily life, especially when it is related to information that affects your, such as tax information, legal issues and news stories.
The quiz that follows tests your capability to comprehend written factual passages. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.