Communication Skills (English and Filipino)
What to master
Communication items test whether you can extract meaning, not just decode words. Focus on main idea vs. supporting detail, inference (what the text suggests but does not state), context clues for unfamiliar words, fact vs. opinion, and tone/purpose (to inform, persuade, entertain, instruct). For Filipino, the same skills apply: pangunahing diwa, konklusyon, katuturan ng salita ayon sa gamit, opinyon vs. katotohanan, and tayutay (simile/metaphor/personification). Review grammar basics too: subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, verb tense consistency, and correct aspekto ng pandiwa (perpektibo, imperpektibo, kontemplatibo).
Common traps
- Choosing an answer that is true in real life but not supported by the passage. Always return to the text.
- Confusing the main idea with the first sentence or with a vivid detail.
- Treating a strongly worded opinion as fact. Signal words: I believe, should, best, clearly vs. according to, measured, records show.
- In Filipino, words that look similar but differ in affix meaning (e.g., sinulat vs. isunulat).
Rule of thumb
For inference questions, ask: Which choice could a careful reader defend using only this passage? Eliminate choices needing outside knowledge. For vocabulary, cover the word and predict a synonym from the surrounding sentence before reading the options.
Worked example
Passage: "The barangay planted mangroves along the shore. Months later, fewer homes were flooded during the storm." Question: What does the passage suggest? A) Mangroves are beautiful. B) Mangroves helped reduce flooding. C) Storms never happen there. D) Planting is expensive. Only B is supported. A is plausible but unstated; C contradicts "during the storm"; D is never mentioned.