iGCSE Portuguese CAIE

Reading Comprehension

UNIT 1: UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

• Begin by scanning the text to get an idea of its overall structure and topics.
• Concentrate on finding the main idea of each paragraph or section - it's usually expressed early on.
• Hunt for synonyms or definitions in the text that can help figure out any unfamiliar Portuguese words.
• Pay attention to transition words such as "however", "in addition", "on the other hand", etc. They usually signal a change or addition in ideas.

UNIT 2: WORKING WITH THE DETAILS

• Answering detail-oriented questions requires thorough reading and re-reading of the text. Don't skip this part.
• Make good use of context clues. Often, the surrounding sentences will provide hints.
• Highlight or underline important information as you go along. This allows for easier reference and review.
• Be cautious with inferring information. Make sure your assumptions are grounded in textual evidence.

UNIT 3: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION

• Analyse the author's purpose. What is he/she trying to persuade, inform, or entertain the reader about?
• Notice the tone, mood, and stylistic choices. They offer important insights into the text.
• Evaluate the validity, objectivity and reliability of the text, especially when dealing with non-fiction.

UNIT 4: EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES

• Don't rush. Take your time to comprehend each sentence instead of merely 'getting the gist'.
• Use a dictionary wisely, but don't rely on it for every unfamiliar word. Try to understand words in context first.
• Practice frequently with varied text-types. The more you read in Portuguese, the better your comprehension skills will become.
• Lastly, don't panic if you don't understand everything. Focus on what you CAN understand and build your understanding from there.