Reading comprehension of an English-language text
What the task asks
The reading section of the Madrid PAU English exam tests whether you can extract information from an English-language text, separate main ideas from details, interpret reference words and justify answers with evidence. The text is typically a newspaper-style article or opinion piece of about 400–500 words on a current topic. Questions usually ask for short answers, true/false with justification, synonym or antonym finding, and occasionally inference or the writer's purpose.
Question types and what they reward
- Direct-detail questions: the answer is stated in one or two sentences. Answer in your own words but keep the same level of specificity.
- True/false with justification: the mark depends on quoting or closely paraphrasing the exact line that proves your choice. A correct true/false with no textual evidence normally scores nothing for the justification.
- Inference questions: the answer is implied, not stated. Stay within what the text supports and do not add personal opinion.
- Reference questions ("What does this refer to?"): look at the previous sentence or clause, not the whole paragraph.
- Vocabulary in context: choose the meaning that fits the sentence, not the most common dictionary meaning.
Worked example
Text: "Although the council doubled the number of bike lanes, few commuters have abandoned their cars, largely because secure parking at stations remains scarce." Question: "Why have most commuters not switched to cycling?" Reasoning: the keyword is why. The sentence supplies the cause after largely because: lack of secure parking at stations. Few … have abandoned means most have not. A strong answer is: "Because there is not enough safe parking for bicycles at stations." Copying the whole sentence wastes time and may not directly answer the question.
Traps that cost marks
- Answering with a vague comment ("because cycling is difficult") instead of the specific cause given in the text.
- Missing negatives and quantifiers: few, hardly, not only, rather than.
- Confusing the writer's own view with an opinion the writer reports and then rejects.
- Exceeding the word limit, or writing a full essay where a short answer is required.
- Guessing vocabulary from similarity to a Spanish word rather than from the surrounding sentence.