Reading Comprehension
Section: Reading | Syllabus: Cambridge Primary English First Language (0058)
Finding and Summarising Explicit Information
- Explicit meaning is information that is stated directly in the text - you don't have to work it out
- To find explicit information quickly, scan the text for key words from the question rather than re-reading everything
- Sometimes you need to combine explicit details from more than one point in a text to fully answer a question
- Look for the answer in one place, then check whether another part of the text adds more to it
- When summarising, use your own words for the key facts rather than copying whole sentences
Text: "Sea otters are marine mammals that live along the coasts of the North Pacific Ocean. Unlike most sea mammals, they do not have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm. Instead, sea otters have the densest fur of any animal on Earth, with up to one million hairs per square inch. To keep their fur clean and trapped with insulating air bubbles, otters spend several hours a day grooming themselves. Sea otters are also known for using tools: they often use rocks to crack open the shells of clams and mussels, holding the rock on their chest as they float on their backs."
Question 1: According to the text, how many hairs per square inch can a sea otter have?
Scan the text for the key word "hairs". Find the exact detail: "up to one million hairs per square inch". Answer 1Up to one million hairs per square inch.
Question 2: Summarise, in your own words, two ways sea otters keep themselves warm and clean.
Find the first detail: their extremely dense fur traps warm air against their skin. Find the second detail, from a different sentence: they groom themselves for several hours a day to keep the fur clean. Answer 2Sea otters stay warm because their very dense fur traps insulating air, and they keep this fur clean and effective by grooming themselves for several hours every day.
Making Inferences and Predictions
- Inference is using clues in the text to work out something that isn't directly stated - "reading between the lines"
- A good inference must always be supported by evidence from the text, not just a guess
- Ask yourself: which word or sentence in the text made me think that?
- To predict what might happen next, look for clues about a character's feelings, the setting and any hints the writer has given
An inference always combines a clue from the text with what you already know - it is never just a guess
Worked Example: Making Inferences and PredictionsText: "Maya stood at the edge of the diving board, her fingers gripping the rough metal rail. Below her, the water rippled silver in the afternoon sun, and the shouts of her friends seemed to fade into the distance. She had told everyone at school that she wasn't scared of anything. Her big toe curled over the edge of the board. She glanced down at the number '10' painted in bold red letters beside the pool, then quickly looked away."
Question: What can you infer about how Maya is really feeling? Use evidence from the text, and predict what she might do next.
Evidence: "her fingers gripping the rough metal rail" suggests she is holding on tightly, which people often do when nervous. Evidence: "quickly looked away" from the "10" sign suggests she does not want to think about the height. Inference: Although Maya claims she "wasn't scared of anything", these physical clues suggest she is actually very nervous. Prediction: Because she is scared but doesn't want anyone to know, she will most likely hesitate for a moment and then force herself to jump anyway, so she doesn't lose face in front of her friends. AnswerThe text implies Maya is nervous despite her claim of fearlessness (evidence: gripping the rail, avoiding the "10" sign), so she is likely to pause briefly before jumping to keep up her brave reputation.
Common Mistakes
MistakeMaking up an idea about a character's feelings that isn't actually supported by anything in the text
Fixevery inference must be backed by a specific word or detail from the text - if you can't point to it, it's a guess, not an inference
MistakeWriting a "summary" that just copies whole sentences from the text word-for-word
Fixput the key facts into your own words, keeping only the important details
Supporting Answers with Evidence
- A strong answer doesn't just state an idea - it proves it using a quotation or a clear reference to the text
- To quote directly, copy the exact words from the text and put them in speech marks
- Useful phrases for referring to evidence: "This is shown when...", "For example, the text says...", "This is supported by..."
Question: How does the writer show that Maya is trying to hide her fear? Support your answer with a quotation.
Choose the most relevant short quotation rather than a whole sentence. Explain what the quotation shows. AnswerThe writer shows Maya hiding her fear when "she quickly looked away" from the "10" sign. This is supported by the earlier detail that she "had told everyone at school that she wasn't scared of anything", which contrasts with her nervous behaviour on the diving board.
Interactive revision notes, videos and practice questions load below.