NB G5 FI Reading cheat sheet

Skim first for structure (headings, captions, bold words), then scan for the specific keyword or synonym the question uses.

Question order usually follows passage order; use the previous answered item as a starting marker for the next search.

Names, dates, numbers, and capitalised words are easy scan targets because they stand out visually from running text.

A paraphrase in the question rarely matches the passage word for word; search for a synonym or a related idea instead.

Distinguish stated information (directly in the text) from inferred information (must be worked out from clues).

When two details look similar, re-read the surrounding sentence to confirm which one the question actually asks about.

For 'according to the passage' items, the answer must be traceable to a specific sentence, not to general knowledge.

Tables, diagrams, and captions carry retrievable information too; check them before deciding a detail is missing.

Main idea = what the whole text is mostly about; a detail question asks about one part only.

Topic sentence position varies: it may open a paragraph, close it, or be implied across several sentences.

Cause-and-effect links are signalled by words such as because, therefore, so, as a result, and leads to.

Compare-and-contrast links use but, however, whereas, unlike, and on the other hand; the contrast marks the key difference.

Sequence words (first, then, after, finally) show order of events; missing them can reverse the meaning.

A pronoun (it, they, this) refers to the nearest sensible noun or noun phrase that agrees in number.

Character feelings and motives are shown through actions, speech, and reactions rather than stated directly.

A summary must cover the whole text at a general level; an option that repeats one small detail is usually wrong.

Text purpose categories: to inform, to persuade, to entertain, to instruct, and to describe; each has typical features.

Persuasive texts use emotive words, direct address (you), rhetorical questions, and repeated key claims.

Informative texts favour facts, statistics, neutral tone, and headings or subheadings.

Narrative texts contain characters, setting, a problem, and a resolution, often with dialogue.

Instructions use imperative verbs (cut, fold, place) and are ordered as numbered or bulleted steps.

Author's viewpoint is revealed by word choice: 'a reckless plan' and 'a bold plan' describe the same act differently.

Headings, captions, bold print, and bullet points signal which information the writer treats as most important.

Evaluating a text means judging whether the evidence given actually supports the claim being made.

Context clues: the meaning of an unknown word can often be found in a definition, example, or contrast in the same sentence.

Antonym clues appear after but, unlike, or instead of; synonym clues appear after or, that is, or in a following restatement.

Figurative language: a simile uses like or as; a metaphor states one thing is another; personification gives human traits to objects.

Idioms carry a meaning different from their literal words, so the whole phrase must be interpreted as a unit.

Prefixes change meaning (un-, dis-, re-, pre-, mis-); suffixes often change word class (-ful, -less, -ly, -tion).

A word's meaning shifts with context, so the same word can be positive in one sentence and negative in another.

Connotation is the feeling a word carries beyond its dictionary meaning (slim vs skinny; childlike vs childish).

Tone words (humorous, serious, hopeful, critical) describe the writer's attitude, not the reader's reaction.

For multi-paragraph texts, identify which paragraph covers the topic of the question before reading closely.

Keyword matching fails when the question uses an antonym or a negative; check for not, never, and except.

'All of the following except' items require three true statements to be verified and one false statement to be found.

A detail may be spread across two sentences; read the sentence before and after the keyword hit.

A valid conclusion must be supported by at least one stated detail plus a logical link, not by guessing.

Predictions about what happens next should follow from the pattern of events already described.

When asked what a character learns, look for a change in behaviour or an explicit reflective statement near the end.

Distinguish fact (can be checked) from opinion (a judgement or feeling) when interpreting statements.

A single topic can appear in several text types; the form (story, article, advert, recipe) determines what information is included.

Advertisements emphasise benefits and omit drawbacks; news reports aim for neutral reporting of who, what, when, where.

Letters and diaries are usually personal and informal; reports and articles are usually impersonal and formal.

Layout features such as font size, order of sections, and use of images guide the reader's attention deliberately.

Apostrophes show possession (the dog's bowl) or contraction (it's = it is); its without an apostrophe is possessive.

Homophones (their/there/they're, to/too/two) must be chosen by grammatical role in the sentence.

Connective choice changes logic: 'although' concedes, 'because' gives reason, 'so' gives result.

Replacing a word with a synonym can change tone or strength even when the basic meaning stays similar.