Read Like a Detective

Comprehension is not about reading faster. It is about reading like a detective: looking for clues and keeping the proof.

Three moves. First, skim the whole text so you know the shape of it. Second, scan for the key words in the question. Third, underline the place where you found your answer, so you can check it later.

Question words tell you what to hunt. Who sends you looking for a person. Where sends you to a place. Why sends you to a reason, and the reason is almost always after because.

Try this. Lerato grabbed her umbrella because the clouds were black and heavy. Why did she take it? The word because gives it away: the clouds looked like rain. Notice that my answer is a full sentence, and it uses words from the question.

How to answer. Full sentence. Use the words from the question. So not: umbrella. But: Lerato took an umbrella because the clouds were black and heavy. That is a mark earned.

You can now skim before reading closely, use question words as clues, and answer in full sentences. Let's practise on a real text.