Reading Comprehension of Unseen Arabic Passages
Domain 7 - Reading Comprehension uses unseen Arabic passages, so technique matters more than memorised vocabulary.
Question types
- Main idea: الْفِكْرَةُ الرَّئِيسِيَّة.
- Detail: حَسَبَ النَّصّ.
- Word meaning in context: مَعْنَى كَلِمَةٍ.
- Pronoun reference: يَعُودُ الضَّمِيرُ إِلَى.
- Inference: يُفْهَمُ مِنَ النَّصّ.
Method
Skim once for topic, then read each question and locate its keyword in the passage. Underline the sentence that answers it and translate that sentence mentally before writing. Answer in Arabic, in a full sentence, and reuse the passage's key term.
Worked example
Passage: الْمَاءُ نِعْمَةٌ كَبِيرَةٌ. لَا يُمْكِنُ أَنْ نَعِيشَ بِدُونِهِ. لِذَلِكَ يَجِبُ أَنْ نُحَافِظَ عَلَيْهِ وَلَا نُسْرِفَ فِي اسْتِعْمَالِهِ. Question: Why must we not waste water? Reasoning: لَا يُمْكِنُ أَنْ نَعِيشَ بِدُونِهِ means 'we cannot live without it', and لِذَلِكَ introduces the conclusion. The pronoun ـهِ in بِدُونِهِ refers to الْمَاء. Model answer: لِأَنَّنَا لَا نَسْتَطِيعُ الْعَيْشَ بِدُونِ الْمَاءِ.
Traps
- Answering yes or no when the question asks 'why'.
- Ignoring لَا in وَلَا نُسْرِفَ and reversing the instruction.
- Copying a full paragraph instead of the relevant clause.
- Writing the answer in English when Arabic is required.