【Grade 9 English】Mastering Reading Comprehension!
Hello! As a 9th grader, you’ll notice that the volume of "reading comprehension" on English tests and entrance exams increases significantly. Many of you might be feeling nervous, thinking, "I know the words, but when the sentences get long, I lose the meaning..."
But don't worry! A long passage is really just a "collection of short sentences." Once you know the rules and grab the tips for reading, you’ll definitely be able to handle them. Let’s learn the secrets to reading long passages smoothly together on this page!
1. Equip Yourself with the "Ultimate Weapons" for Reading Comprehension
9th-grade reading passages are full of the grammar you've learned so far. These three points, in particular, are the "culprits" that make sentences long and complicated. Once you can spot these, your reading speed will improve dramatically.
① Relative Pronouns (who, which, that)
Relative pronouns act as "glue" to provide detailed explanations about the noun that comes before them (the antecedent). They are the biggest cause of long sentences, but just keep in mind that they are "simply explaining from the back to the front."
Example: The boy who is running in the park is Ken.
(The boy ← who is running in the park is Ken.)
Tip: Make it a habit to put parentheses around relative pronoun clauses and link them to the word before them!
② Post-modifying Present and Past Participles
Phrases that mean "doing..." or "done..." are attached behind the noun they describe.
Example: The book written in English. (A book written in English)
Just like relative pronouns, this is just adding an explanation from behind.
③ it is ... (for someone) to 〜
This is a construction that means "It is ... (for someone) to do ~." Even if there is an It at the beginning of the sentence, it is just a placeholder subject; the real meaning is in the to part that follows.
Tip: If you see It is important to study English, link "studying English" and "important" in your mind.
【Summary so far】
When you encounter a long sentence, the trick is to first find the "who (subject)" and the "what they do (verb)"!
2. Three Steps to Increase Your Reading Speed!
If you try to read at full intensity from beginning to end, you’ll run out of time. Let's look at a smarter way to read.
Step 1: Glance at the "Questions" first
Before you read the main text, check what is being asked. If you read with the "purpose" of finding answers—like "What time?", "Where?", or "Why?"—the necessary information will naturally jump out at you.
Step 2: Focus on the "beginning and end" of paragraphs
In English texts, the main point of a paragraph is often written at the beginning or the end. Simply reading the first sentence carefully can tell you whether the topic is about "environmental issues" or "a story about friendship."
Step 3: Identify the true identity of pronouns (it, they, he, she)
If you see it or they in a sentence, make it a habit to pause and ask, "What is this referring to?" The answer is almost always hidden in the "previous sentence."
Common mistake: If you only learn they as "people," you’ll get confused when it refers to things. Don’t forget that they can refer to both people and things!
3. Look Out for "Signal Words" that Connect the Flow!
There are words that act like "road signs" to tell you where the writing is heading. Marking these will make it easier to follow the development of the story.
① Reversal Signs (However): But, However
→ The author's real point often comes right after these! This is the most important point.
② Reason Signs (Because): Because, So
→ These show the relationship between cause and effect. The answer to "Why?" questions is very likely to be found here.
③ Example Signs (For example): For example, Such as
→ After a difficult discussion, the author provides an easy-to-understand example. These are your lifesavers if you didn't understand the previous sentence!
④ Sequence Signs (First, Next): First, Second, Then, Finally
→ These are used to show the order of events or when listing several reasons.
4. Quick Tip: What to do when you encounter an unknown word?
Don't panic if you see a word you don't know during a test!
The trick is to simply imagine if it’s "positive or negative." For example, in the sentence, "The view was splendid," even if you don't know what splendid means, if the context around it is happy, it’s enough to assume it has a "good meaning" and keep reading. The ability to find hints from the context is a lifelong skill that will be useful even when you become a high schooler.
5. Finally: How to become good at reading comprehension
"It might feel difficult at first, but you’ll be okay."
Reading comprehension is like a sport—the more you practice, the more "reading muscle" you will build.
【Tips you can start today】
・Slash Reading: Practice putting a slash / where thoughts break off and translate from the beginning.
・Reading Aloud: Take a passage you’ve already read and try reading it aloud five times. The English word order will soak into your brain.
・Vocabulary Memorization: Ultimately, the more words you know, the easier it gets. Let’s increase your vocabulary a little bit every day.
【Summary of this section】
1. Firmly identify the subject and verb!
2. Recognize that relative pronouns are just "explanations from the back"!
3. Read the questions first and look for the answers while reading!
4. Pay attention to signal words (But, Because, etc.)!
As 9th graders, you will encounter many long passages in preparation for your entrance exams. Step by step, I hope you enjoy expanding your English world. I'm rooting for you!