Close reading tests involve three types of questions: 1) Understanding questions test comprehension by asking students to restate ideas in their own words, answer context questions about word meanings, and identify links between paragraphs. 2) Analysis questions examine word choice, imagery, structure, and tone. 3) Evaluation questions assess how effectively the writer uses different techniques to communicate their ideas.

1. CLOSE READING
U Tests your Understanding of the
writer’s ideas.
A Tests your skills of Analysis by
looking at word choice, imagery,
sentence structure, tone
E Asks you to Evaluate how successful or
effective the writer is in using particular
techniques.

2. Close Reading
Understanding the Meaning

3. Introduction…
 There are 3 types of questions that will test
your understanding of the meaning of a
passage.
 Using your own words.
 Context Questions.
 Link Questions.
 All these questions are marked with a “U”
beside them on the question paper.

4. Using your own words…
 Means simply, re-wording something or
explaining the meaning of something, but
using your own words to do so.
 You must NOT “lift” or copy parts of the passage.
You will get no marks!
 You must look at the number of marks beside the
question, to see how detailed you need to be.

5. Task 1…
 Look at the example on page 7 of the
Higher Language Skills book.
 Now try questions 1-4 “For Practice” on
pages 7-8.

6. Task 1 – Answers…
Question 1.
 His hair was not as short/grown very long.
 His cheeks had less colour (unhealthy colour)
 Clothes were torn
 He was smaller/thinner than he used to be.
 He was double the age he used to be.
(Any 4 = ½ mark each)

7. Task 1 – Answers…
Question 2(i).
 The work was difficult and physically
demanding.
 The people had to do everything manually
 and had little control over the speed of
crops growing or the weather.
(Any two: 1 mark each)

8. Task 1 – Answers…
Question 2(ii).
 Villages were far apart/isolated
 The roads were not used very often.
 The only modes of transport were walking
or by horse.
 No motorised vehicles
(Any 3 = 1 mark each)

9. Task 1 – Answers…
Question 3.
 Ordinary people were in control.
 The buildings were used by ordinary
people.
 Walls had radical graffiti on them.
 Churches had been damaged.
(1 mark each)

10. Task 1 – Answers…
Question 4(i).
 He was not interested/bored with the
simplicity of Titian’s shapes and colours.
 The art was beautiful, but did not stir
people’s emotions.
 Titian’s paintings did not bring the religious
stories to life.
(1 marks for each)

11. Task 1 – Answers…
Question 4(ii).
 He wanted people to appreciate/feel
excited and moved by the scenes he was
painting.
(1 mark)

12. Context Questions…
 Context questions ask you to explain how
the context of a paragraph helps you to
understand the meaning of a word or
phrase.
 You are usually asked to do two things:
1) Explain the meaning of a
word/phrase.
2) To show how you worked out the meaning
(by looking at the words around it).

13. Answering context questions…
Question Suggested answer
“Show how the context “The word/phrase ______
helped you to arrive at the means ______________.
meaning of _____”
I can work this out from the
context because it says
__________ which also
means _____________.”

14. Task 2…
 Look at the example on page 10 of the
Higher Language Skills book.
 Now try questions 1-3 “For Practice” on
page 10.

15. Task 2 – Answers…
Question 1:
 The word implacable means unstoppable or
relentless. (1 mark)
 I can work this out from the context
because it says “years of patient searching”
and “showed no mercy” which also mean
he could not be stopped or was relentless
(1/2 mark for each point)

16. Task 2 – Answers…
Question 2:
 The word vacillated means to sway between
alternative options. (1 mark)
 I can work this out from the context because the
question , “Should he .. Or.. “ reveals his options.
The word, “hesitation” also means he could not
decide and kept swaying between his choices.
(1/2 mark each)

17. Task 2 – Answers…
Question 3:
 The word minorities means children or
young people. (1 mark)
 I can work this out from the context
because it says “no adult succession”
which also means children or young people
are involved. (1 mark)

18. Link Questions…
 Link questions test your understanding of
the way paragraphs can link on from each
other.
 The “link” sentence will usually refer back to
the previous paragraph and ALSO
introduce the idea that will be discussed in
the new paragraph.

19. The 5 Step “Link Question” answer…
1. Quote the word/s in the linking phrase that
relates BACK to the previous topic.
2. Explain WHAT the previous topic was about.
3. Quote the word/s in the linking phrase that
introduce the new topic.
4. Explain WHAT the new topic is going to be
about.
5. State the Conjunction that links the two ideas if
there is one. (e.g. However, but, regardless,
whilst)

20. Answering link questions…
Question Suggested answer
“The phrase _(1)____ links
“Show how the sentence back to the idea of
_____ acts as a link in _(2)____ discussed
previously.
the argument” The phrase __(3) ___
introduces the idea of
__(4)___ which will be
discussed next.”
The conjunction linking the
two ideas is ____(5)__.

21. Practice Link Question
“This is not the first book that Bronson has
written from behind bars, having already
published Birdman Opens his Mind, which
features drawings and poems created by
Bronson while in prison. And he is not the first
prisoner to discover creative expression while
residing at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
Jimmy Boyle, the Scots sculpture and novelist,
discovered his artistic talents when he was
sent to Barlinnie Prison’s famous special unit,
which aimed to help inmaes put their violent
pasts behind them by teaching them how to
express their emotions artistically.

22. And (he is not the first prisoner) (to discover
creative expression) while residing at Her
Majesty’s pleasure.
The phrase “to discover creative expression”
links back to the first idea of Bronson
discovering his creative ability in prison.
The phrase “he is not the first prisoner” links
forward to introduce Jimmy Boyle …
The conjunction/linking word between the two
ideas is AND.

23. Task 3…
 Look at the example on page 12 of the
Higher Language Skills book.
 Now try questions 1-3 “For Practice” on
page 12-13.

24. Task 3 – Answers…
Question 1:
 The phrase “the illicit grandeurs of her forbears”
links back to the idea of an important past,
discussed previously. The phrase “ordinary
poverty” introduces the idea of a difficult life,
which will be discussed next.
The conjunction which links the ideas is “But”

25. Task 3 – Answers…
Question 2:
 The phrase “the position” links back to the
idea of a fixed place, discussed previously.
The phrase “little benefit” introduces the
idea of no positive effect, which will be
discussed next.
“However” is the conjunction which links the
two ideas.

26. Task 3 – Answers…
Question 3:
 The phrase “the appearance” links back to
the idea of her looks, discussed previously.
The phrase “also the character” introduces
the idea of her personality, which will be
discussed next.
The conjunction that links the two ideas is
“but”.

27. In summary…
 Using your own words:
 Never quote.
 Context Questions:
 Use the suggested answer template.
 Include the meaning AND how you worked out the
meaning from the passage.
 Link Questions:
 Show how the sentence refers back and forward
using the 5 steps.