Reading Comprehension of Informational and Functional Texts
What to know
Informational texts include short articles, notices, instructions, invitations, timetables and announcements. Functional texts are read to do something: follow a recipe, find a bus time, fill in a form. You must locate specific information quickly, understand the purpose of the text, and read tables and lists accurately.
Skills examiners test
- Finding a single fact (a date, a price, a name, a place).
- Following a sequence of steps in instructions.
- Understanding abbreviations and symbols (ч., мин., лв.).
- Recognising the audience: for whom is this notice written?
- Comparing two pieces of information in a table.
Traps to avoid
- Reading too fast and confusing similar numbers or times (14:00 and 4:00).
- Ignoring small print such as “except Sundays” or “only for pupils”.
- Answering from memory of a similar text instead of this one.
- Missing that a question asks why something is done, not what is done.
Rule of thumb
Underline the key word in the question first, then scan the text for that word or a synonym. Read the whole line, including the condition attached to it.
Worked example
Notice: Library open Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00. Closed on the first Monday of each month for cleaning. Question: Can you borrow a book at 10:00 on the first Monday of March? Answer: No. Although Monday is normally open, the first Monday is closed for cleaning, so the opening hours do not apply that day.