HSK 2 Reading: Matching, Cloze and Grammar Signals
What the section tests
HSK 2 Reading is 25 questions in about 22 minutes. Four task types: matching a sentence to one of several pictures, completing a sentence by choosing one of three options, matching a question with a suitable reply, and filling blanks in a short passage or dialogue from a word list. All wording stays inside the 300-word list, so items turn on grammar and collocation, not on translation.
Rules that decide most items
- 的 / 地 / 得: 我的书 (before a noun), 认真地写 (before a verb), 写得好 (after a verb, degree).
- 都 covers everything before it; 也 needs a matching situation: 我们班同学都是中国人 versus 我也是中国人.
- 还是 offers a choice inside a question (你喝茶还是咖啡？); 或者 links options in a statement.
- 会 is a learned skill, 能 is present possibility, 可以 is permission.
- Measure words: 一个朋友, 两件衣服, 三本书, 四只猫, 五张票.
Worked example
A: 你姐姐也是老师吗？ B: ____，她是医生。 A 是的 B 不是 C 对 The answer is B. 也 assumes the first speaker believes the sister is a teacher, and 她是医生 contradicts that, so the reply must be a negative plus a correction. 是的 and 对 both signal agreement and clash with the second clause.
Traps that cost marks
- Picking the option that fits the meaning but not the grammar slot, such as 的 where 得 is required.
- Time and place order: 我下午在学校看书, never 我看书在学校下午.
- 太…了 takes 了; 有点儿 and 一点儿 do not.
- In the matching part three replies look possible, so check which one reuses the same verb or answers the same question word.