{"id":9851,"date":"2022-08-26T12:59:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T07:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oliveboard.in\/blog\/?p=9851"},"modified":"2025-05-28T00:18:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T18:48:08","slug":"how-to-solve-reading-comprehension-for-banking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oliveboard.in\/blog\/how-to-solve-reading-comprehension-for-banking\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Solve Reading Comprehension in Banking Exams? A complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

How To Solve Reading Comprehension :<\/strong> Dear Aspirants, We have been getting a lot of requests to provide more topic-wise detailed articles on the English Language section. Hence, we will be publishing detailed articles on each of the popular topics under the English Language section, starting with the Reading Comprehension. Keep reading for the complete information regarding “How To Solve Reading Comprehension”. let us first of all know what reading comprehension is.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dos<\/p>\n

What is Reading Comprehension (RC)?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Reading Comprehension is one of the most scoring topics under the English Language sections of Banking and Government exams. RC is very crucial if you want to clear your sectional cut off marks. It\u00a0tests your ability to read text, analyze it and understand it\u2019s meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n

RCs basically test these two aspects: Vocabulary<\/strong> and Text Comprehension<\/strong>. These two aspects play a very significant role in understanding a passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Reading Comprehension, candidates are given a passage with 4-5 (or more) paragraphs. The passage is followed by questions related to the passage. Each question has around 4 options and the candidate is supposed to answer it by choosing the correct option.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to approach Reading Comprehension<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

There are several approaches to solve Reading Comprehension. However, we are providing a basic approach which you can use as a guideline to formulate your own approach:<\/span><\/p>\n

Skim through the passage:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

The first and foremost thing you should do is go through the entire passage<\/strong>. While reading the passage, it is very important that you make a mental note of the Main idea, Implied idea, Tone of the author, Sequence used in the passage and the Keywords (vocabulary).<\/span><\/p>\n

Main\/Central idea:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Main idea is the subject the author is talking about or the main message<\/strong> that the author is trying to convey through the passage. The passage can also contain supporting ideas<\/strong> (facts, examples, reasons, etc.). The supporting ideas give evidences to support the main\/central idea or theme of the passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Implied idea:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Sometimes, an idea is not directly stated. An idea that is indirectly stated is an implied idea. To find this, club together difference sentences, try to read between the lines, make inferences of what is not directly said and use the reasoning to reach to conclusions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Author\u2019s tone:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Another important thing to make note of while reading the passage is the tone of the author. Try and identify the tone of the author; Is it formal or informal?<\/strong> Analyze the tone to determine whether the given passage is\u00a0narrative\/supportive\/analytical\/critical<\/strong>, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

The author\u2019s tone will also help you determine if the given passage is persuasive or informative<\/strong>. While an informative passage contains information, a persuasive passage contains facts and opinions of the author, weaved together in a convincing way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sequence:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Every passage has a logical sequence to it, viz, the beginning, middle <\/strong>and the end (conclusion)<\/strong>. Usually the first and the last paragraphs contain the gist or main idea of the article. However, there are questions related to words (vocabulary) that can be present anywhere in the given passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Words:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Words play a very significant role in RC passages. Words help you establish the motive of the author<\/strong>, connect the different ideas in a passage and highlight the important ideas or transitions in a passage. Below are a few common structural word types that you can expect in an RC passage:<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuity:<\/strong> Words that are used by the author to support his point of view further. These words are also used to connect ideas.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Examples :<\/strong> Lastly, However, Moreover, Further, After, Soon, Next, Immediately, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Opinionated:<\/strong> Opinions are the beliefs that the author has based on facts. These words contain adjectives like Big, Small, Concrete, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contrasting:<\/strong> Words used by the author when he is introducing an idea that is contrasting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong> Nonetheless, Though, But, However, Regardless, Although, Despite, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusive:<\/strong> Conclusive words are used by the author when concluding something or summing up his\/her argument in the passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong> Therefore, Thus, in conclusion, thus we conclude, Hence, in summary, to summarize, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Positive words:<\/strong> Words used by the author when he\/she supports the idea of the passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples<\/strong>: Good, Bright, Passionate, Effective, Fruitful, Productive, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Negative words:<\/strong> Words used by the author when he\/she is against the main idea of the passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong> Alarming, Tiring, Unproductive, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

The passages also contain questions on Synonyms, Antonyms, etc. which will require you to know the meaning of the words. However, if your vocabulary isn\u2019t very good, you can always read the sentences before and after the word in case<\/strong>, to get a rough idea and guess the meaning of the word based on the context.<\/span><\/p>\n

Questions and options:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Once you\u2019re done reading the passage and making a mental note of the above aspects, go through the questions and try to identify the right answer from the given options. The questions are broadly Vocabulary based, inference based, or conclusion based.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you cannot answer a particular question, don\u2019t waste your time on it and do not guess the answer. Simply skip the question and answer the next one. Another approach that you can follow if you\u2019re running out of time, is to read the questions and options first and then look for the right answers in the given passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eliminate:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Use the elimination technique to eliminate the wrong answers and arrive at the right one. If you cannot eliminate all three wrong options, then at least try and eliminate the ones that you\u2019re sure are wrong (obvious ones, too broad ones, extreme or strange ones) so you\u2019re left with less options to compare.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re running out of time<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Follow this technique if you\u2019re running out of time:<\/span><\/p>\n

Selection of passage:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Select a passage which is small (has less number of words) and is based on a topic you\u2019re familiar with (related to your field of interest).<\/span><\/p>\n

Skim through the passage:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Skim quickly through the passage in 30-40 seconds. Read the first and last paragraphs (or first and last few lines) to get an idea of what the author is trying to convey (the gist). Try and identify the tone of the author: Formal\/informal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read the questions and locate the answers:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Read questions before reading the entire passage and try to locate the answers in the passage. Try to find the answers in the first and the last paragraphs (or first and last few lines). If you cannot find the answers in first\/last paragraphs move on to the other paragraphs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prioritize questions:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

You don\u2019t have to answer the questions in the order they appear. Identify and answer the easy questions first and then move on to answer difficult ones. It\u2019s a good idea to start answering with the vocabulary based questions, then move on to fact based and main-idea based questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips to improve in Reading Comprehension<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n