1. “Unravelling the Mysteries
of the Written Word”
Done By: Hao Ming (S4-08)
Thursday, April 18, 2013

2. Contents
Types of Comprehension Qns
Techniques
Analysing Visual Texts
Thursday, April 18, 2013

3. Inferential Qn
Eg. What does Paragraph 3 suggests about ...?
★ Look for clues and make deductions
★ Read between the lines
★ Qns with answers not directly from passage
★ Same expression has different meanings
Thursday, April 18, 2013

4. Proof of Evidence Qn
Eg. “Andy is strong”. Give evidence to support your
answer.
★ Deduction given, evidence needed
★ Evidence: Phrases or words
Ann: I think Man’s own carelessness is a source of
great danger in cave exploration. Identify any 2
examples from Paragraph 3 that Ann can give to
support her view.
Thursday, April 18, 2013

5. Language Use for
Impact Qn
Eg. What is unusual about [a word/expression] used
by the author? OR What is effective about [a word/
expression used by the author]?
★ Need to look into nuances of meaning of words
★ Nuances: Associated Words
Thursday, April 18, 2013

6. Literal vs Figurative
Head in the clouds
Barking up the wrong tree
Thursday, April 18, 2013

7. Literal vs Figurative
Head in the clouds
Barking up the wrong tree
Thursday, April 18, 2013

8. [Word/Expression]
★ Simile - Comparison between 2 things with “like”
★ Metaphor - Comparison, using “A is B”
★ Personification - Attribution of human characteristics to
non-human things
★ Pun - 1 word with 2 different meanings OR 2 words that
sound similar but have different meanings
★ Paradox - Self-contradictory statement with meaning
★ Oxymoron - Juxtaposition of 2 contradictory terms
★ Hyperbole - Exaggeration; esp. to show irritation
Thursday, April 18, 2013

9. Irony Qns
3 types of Irony Qns:
1. Words used by author clearly opposite of his meaning
2. Use of language with outer and inner meaning
3. Irony of a situation: What actually happens is opposite of
what is expected to happen
Thursday, April 18, 2013

10. Ambiguity
Eg. The boy hit the man with the rock
★ Sentence with 2 or more possible meanings
Thursday, April 18, 2013

11. Ambiguity
Eg. The boy hit the man with the rock
★ Sentence with 2 or more possible meanings
Thursday, April 18, 2013

12. Vocab in Context Qn
Eg. Identify word that suggests a violent action:
battering
★ Need to look into nuances of meaning of words
★ Words can be positive, neutral or negative
Thursday, April 18, 2013

13. Factual Qn
Answers are facts that come from the given text
Thursday, April 18, 2013

14. Use your Own Words
Factual Qn that requires answers to be in own words
1. Find the answer in the author’s words
2. Identify the keywords / key ideas to substitute
3. Find suitable substitutes for each
4. Phrase answer in a complete sentence
Explain what the author means by a word/phrase
Thursday, April 18, 2013

15. Global Qn
Tests understanding or the Narrative text as a whole
1. Flow Chart
2. Cycle
3. Pie or Bar Chart and Others
Thursday, April 18, 2013

16. Visual Text Qns
Type of Visual Text (eg. Brochure, Advertisements)
Target Audience (eg. Teenagers, Parents)
Purpose of Text (eg. educate, persuade, convince)
How text’s designer hopes to achieve purpose (eg. present
facts, tempt reader with sth, appeal to reader emotions)
How the visuals complement the text (eg. reinforce)
Thursday, April 18, 2013

17. Sources
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/idiom-examples-
of-idioms.html
http://www.clipartof.com/portfolio/toonaday/
illustration/cartoon-man-carrying-a-heavy-
problem-rock-1047577.html
Thursday, April 18, 2013