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P R E F A C E

Reading Strategies is a primary level series of six books which aims to introduce a range of comprehension strategies for young learners. It includes a writing component to reinforce the skills discussed and to provide opportunities for creative expression.

Each of the 12 units focuses on a different reading strategy: finding the main idea; reading for details; using contextual clues; sequencing; comparing and contrasting; summarizing; predicting; making inferences; identifying cause and effect; differentiating between fact and opinion; drawing conclusions; identifying author’s viewpoint and purpose. A total of six Review units have also been included to provide integrated practice of the strategies being revised.

Each unit is based on a broad topical theme for the purpose of contextualizing the presentation and practice. The text types range from information reports and narratives to descriptive articles and functional texts.

There is a Guide for Tutor/Parent accompanying the book in which brief notes detailing the various reading strategies and guidelines clarifying what students need to learn about each strategy are provided. In addition, there is an outline of the different components of each unit which explains clearly the approach adopted in the book.

It is hoped that Reading Strategies will continually engage the young learner in active learning and serve as an effective tool in the development of his or her reading skills.

P2_English_Comprehension_Elise.indb 1 30/09/2014 9:54:11 AM

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C O N T E N T S

Preface i

Guide for Tutor/Parent v

1. Everyone’s Special Day (Finding the Main Idea)Lesson 1: A Party to Remember 1Lesson 2: Birthdays 6Writing Practice 9

2. Food, Glorious Food (Reading for Details)Lesson 1: Grandma’s Chicken Soup 11Lesson 2: Yummy Cafe 16Writing Practice 20

Review 1 Text: The Moon 22

3. Art and Crafts (Using Contextual Clues)Lesson 1: Craft for Children 26Lesson 2: Fun with Play Dough 31Writing Practice 35

4. Amazing Books (Finding the Sequence)Lesson 1: The Lost Book 37Lesson 2: A Librarian’s Day 42Writing Practice 45

Review 2 Text: The Life Cycle of a Frog 47

5. Ice Cold (Compare and Contrast)Lesson 1: Polar Regions 51Lesson 2: Fruity Smoothies 57Writing Practice 62

6. The Sea (Summarizing)Lesson 1: Sea Stars 64Lesson 2: Sea Monsters 69Writing Practice 72


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Review 3 Text: Centipedes and Millipedes 74

7. Gifts (Predicting)Lesson 1: Gift Hunting 78Lesson 2: Wang the Peddler 83Writing Practice 86

8. Royalty (Making Inferences)Lesson 1: The King of Korea 88Lesson 2: Ben’s Role 92Writing Practice 95

Review 4 Text: Holiday in Switzerland 97

9. Water (Cause and Effect)Lesson 1: Drinking Water 101Lesson 2: The Water Cycle 105Writing Practice 108

10. Birds (Fact and Opinion)Lesson 1: Sparrows 110Lesson 2: Hen’s Eggs 115Writing Practice 118

Review 5 Text: A Visit to the Dentist 120

11. Inventions (Drawing Conclusions)Lesson 1: Louis Braille 123Lesson 2: The Invention of Paper 128Writing Practice 131

12. Leisure (Author’s Purpose and Point of View)Lesson 1: Keeping Goldfish 133Lesson 2: Video on Earth Day 137Writing Practice 140

Review 6 Text: Dolphins 142

Answer Key 145


Unit 1 | Everyone’s Special Day 1

UNITEveryone’s Special Day(Strategy: Finding the Main Idea)

UNIT

1L E S S O N 1

A Party to Remember

The main idea is the most important idea of a passage, article or story. To figure out the main idea of a story, ask yourself the question “What is the story about?” The first place to look for clues about the main idea of the story is the title and in the first paragraph. Skimming through the last paragraph also provides clues about what the story is about.

Main idea in a story


Primary 2 | Comprehension for Reading Strategies2

Text Type: Recount

Read the following passage. Answer the questions in As You Read.

Two months before my eighth birthday, I was already making plans for my party. It was going to be the best birthday party I ever had. I started designing the invitations early. It would have a picture of me dressed like a princess on the front. Then I drew up a list of the people I would invite – my classmates and neighbours, Grandma, uncles and aunts.One month and three weeks before the party, I decided that I would have a bigger cake than what I had the year before. It would be a taller cake – three layers. Each layer would have a different flavour. There would also be three colours of frosting and pretty candles on top.One month two weeks before the party, Uncle James offered to put up a magic show for the party. I asked if I could get to keep the bunny when he performs the trick where he takes a bunny out of a hat. He said my friends would get scarves, too!Four weeks before my birthday, Mother agreed that we could play computer games at the party. Other games would be Hangman, Musical Chairs and Treasure Hunt.On the day of my birthday, I was excited and happy. Not everyone could come to my party but I received lovely presents. I did not get the bunny, but my friends and I had a floral patterned scarf each. Everybody sang “Happy Birthday” so loudly that we just had to cover our ears! I blew all eight candles with one breath and made lots of wishes. From Father and Mother, I got a little doggy for a present! It was certainly the best birthday I had.

As You Read

1. Based on the title, what do you think is the main idea of the story?

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Paragraph 3

2. Which sentence tells the main idea of this paragraph?

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Each paragraph in a passage or story contains one main idea. By gathering information about the main idea of each paragraph in an article, you may deduce the central idea that links these ideas together. This is the main idea of the text.

The main idea in a paragraph may be stated in a sentence or it may be unstated. If it is unstated, you need to put all the details together to figure out the main idea. Details are facts that provide further information to support the main idea.

Tutorial for Finding the Main Idea

1. What is the main idea of ‘A Party to Remember’?

(a) a child making decisions about the kind of birthday cake she wants

(b) how to plan a birthday party(c) the way a birthday party turns out after weeks of planning and

preparations(d) a funny magic show

The best answer is _______________.

If you read quickly through the story, you will find that the writer talks about how she planned for the party and what happened on that day. For instance, she planned the games and made the invitations for the party. The correct answer is (c).

Choice (a) tells about one of the writer’s plans for the party. That is not what the whole story is about.

Choice (b) is not the correct answer because the passage does not tell how to plan a party. It is a story about a child’s birthday party.

Choice (d) is also not the correct answer. The third paragraph talks about a magic show but that is not what the whole story is about.



Practice

Refer to the text ‘A Party to Remember’. Choose the best answer and write its letter in the brackets.

1. What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?

(a) making invitation cards(b) who to invite to the party(c) how to decorate the invitations(d) planning the invitations for the party [ ]

2. The main idea of Paragraph 2 is

(a) birthday cakes are delicious(b) a three-layer cake is an ideal birthday cake(c) the writer making decisions about her birthday cake(d) lots of frosting makes a good cake [ ]

3. Paragraph 4 is mainly about _______________.

(a) what games to play at the party(b) computer games being perfect for the party(c) the winners receiving prizes(d) Hangman and Treasure Hunt [ ]

4. Decide if the following sentences tell about the main idea or details of Paragraph 5. Circle the correct answers.

(a) Not everyone who was invited came to the party. Main idea / Detail

(b) Of all the parties the writer had, her eighth birthday party was the best one ever. Main idea / Detail

(c) The writer did not get to keep the rabbit. Main idea / Detail(d) She made many wishes when she blew the candles.

Main idea / Detail(e) Her parents gave her a puppy for her birthday. Main idea / Detail



Write your answers on the lines provided.

5. Explain what the main idea of Paragraph 3 is.

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6. State one detail that supports the main idea of Paragraph 3.

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L E S S O N 2

Birthdays

Text Type: Report

Read the passage. Then answer the questions that follow.Around the world, people celebrate their birthdays in many different ways. Some people celebrate by having fun with their family and friends. They receive presents and have a party where everyone sings a birthday song to the boy or girl. In some countries, people observe traditional customs for happiness and long life on this special day.

First birthdays are important occasions for some people. In Korea, this is the only true birthday that families celebrate for their children. After that, Korean children celebrate being a year older at New Year in January or February. In India, some Hindu families shave their baby son’s head on his first birthday. As Hindus believe that a person has many lives, cutting off a baby’s hair will take away any badness from his or her past life.

In some countries, people celebrate different special birthdays. In Japan, there is a festival for children when they reach the ages of three, five and seven years. The children will receive sweets in bags decorated with

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cranes and turtles, which are animals that signify long lives. Children in Holland celebrate a ‘crown birthday’ when they are five, and every five years after. They are given a big present and they have the privilege of sitting in a chair that is decorated with flowers and balloons.

Special foods and meals are eaten on birthdays around the world. In China, children eat noodles for lunch on their birthday. Friends and relatives will be invited to share the noodles. It is believed that noodles are a lucky food that will bring long life. In Russia, birthday pies are baked with a birthday greeting written on the crust.

Birthday customs and traditions live on in many parts of the world in our modern day and age. After all, our birthday is especially important to us. It is the anniversary of the day when we were born.

Practice

Choose the best answer and write its letter in the brackets.

1. What is the main idea of the text?

(a) children’s first birthdays(b) customs and traditions that are observed on birthdays around the

world(c) people celebrate birthdays for good luck and happiness(d) how birthdays should be celebrated [ ]

2. Paragraph 3 is mainly about _______________.

(a) special birthdays that are celebrated in some countries(b) Japanese children receiving bags of sweets(c) children in Holland who celebrate ‘crown’ birthdays(d) turtles being animals that live long lives [ ]

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3. Decide if the following sentences tell about the main idea or details of Paragraph 4. Circle the correct answers.

(a) Eating noodles will bring you good luck and long life. Main idea / Detail

(b) In China, children eat noodles for lunch on their birthday. Main idea / Detail

(c) Around the world, people eat special foods on their birthdays. Main idea / Detail

(d) In Russia, people eat birthday pies that have a birthday greeting written on the crust. Main idea / Detail

Write your answers on the lines provided. 4. Explain the main idea of Paragraph 2.

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5. What do you think is the main idea of the final paragraph? Explain in your own words.

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Unit 1 | Writing Practice 9

Writing Practice

Getting Ready to Write

Choose a party game that you like playing. Take notes on the following details about the game in the table below.

Name of the Game: ...........................................................

Number of People Needed

Procedure(How the game is played)

Rules

Things needed

Who is the winner?

Start Writing!

Write a paragraph about the party game using the details you have noted above.



A Party Game

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CH E C K L I S T

Begin with a sentence about what party game you like playing. This is your main idea sentence.

In other sentences, you will give details about the game. Use the present tense. Use ‘must’ and ‘have to’ when you write about the rules of

the game.


Unit 2 | Food, Glorious Food 11

UNITFood, Glorious Food(Strategy: Reading for Details)

UNIT

2L E S S O N 1

Grandma’s Chicken Soup

When you read a text, you may need to find a particular piece of information or detail. Usually, this means searching the text for a name, date, a number, a word, or a phrase. You may also have to read a particular sentence or paragraph again to find the information you need to answer a question correctly.

Reading for Details



Text Type: Narrative

Read the passage below. Answer the questions in As You Read.Sandra sat down quietly at the table. All the family was at Grandma’s place for her special Sunday dinner. Looking at the fancy table setting, Sandra felt quite uneasy. Grandma had announced she would serve her double boiled herbal soup tonight. As she thought of the thick, dark soup that Grandma liked to prepare, Sandra could not help but make a face.

“We’ll start off with my Chicken Herbal Soup. It’s a new recipe,” declared Grandma. She began serving the soup as everybody waited eagerly.

“I love chicken soups. They’re full of goodness and delicious,” said Uncle Jack.

“And I’ve added ginseng root and lots of special herbs,” added Grandma. “These herbs are good for your body.”

“Ginseng, especially, gives us energy and stamina,” said Aunt Lucy.

Sandra stared at the earthernware pot on the table. She remembered last June when Grandma made her slurp up her thick, frothy soup. It was so bitter and tasteless.

Grandma began ladling the soup into Sandra’s bowl. Help! I’ll have to take the soup! thought Sandra. No, she couldn’t give it to the dog.

“Children will grow up strong and healthy if they drink herbal soups,” said Father.

“Taking it before an exam helps a great deal. Sandra, you’ll pass your exam with flying colours if you drink up the soup,” said Mother.

Sandra’s ears pricked up. Good grades for English and Math! She looked at the soup before her. Well, there’s chicken in it. She took a spoonful and did not feel uncomfortable. With every spoonful, the soup tasted better.

There was some truth in Mother’s words. Sandra took her last sip and asked Grandma for another bowl of the soup.

Paragraph 1

What adjectives did the writer use to describe the soup?

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Paragraph 2

What soup did Grandma prepare for the dinner?

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You can underline the keywords in the question, like nouns, verbs and adjectives. Decide what information is being asked by the question. Refer to the text and look for the keywords you underlined. Read the information around the keyword to locate the answer.

Look for wh-words in the question like who, what, when and where that will direct you to the specific information required.

Tutorial on Reading for Details

How did Sandra feel while she was sitting at the dinner table?

(a) bitter(b) uneasy(c) eagerly(d) strong

The best answer is _______________.

The question refers to the beginning of the story when Sandra is seated at the dinner table. From the keywords, ‘how’ and ‘feel’, you know that the question asks for information about Sandra’s feelings. Line 2 of the paragraph says that “...Sandra felt quite uneasy”. Hence, the correct answer is (b).

Choice (a) is not correct because ‘bitter’ refers to the soup.

Choice (c) is incorrect. ‘Eagerly’ describes how everyone at the table waited for the soup.

Choice (d) is not the best answer. ‘Strong’ does not tell about Sandra’s feelings. Instead, taking the soup will make Sandra strong.



Practice

Refer to the text ‘Grandma’s Chicken Soup’. Choose the best answer and write its letter in the brackets.

1. Uncle Jack likes chicken soups because they are _______________.

(a) frothy(b) thick(c) delicious(d) dark [ ]

2. Aunt Lucy said that ginseng root gives you _______________.

(a) tasty soups(b) stamina(c) strong bones(d) a muscular body [ ]

3. Children will be _______________ if they take herbal soups.

(a) strong(b) happy(c) contented(d) excited [ ]

4. Sandra decided to take the soup because she _______________.

(a) was forced to do so(b) liked herbal soups(c) wanted to get good grades in the exam(d) Aunt Lucy asked if she liked herbal soups [ ]

5. At the end of the story, Sandra _______________ Grandma’s soup.

(a) hated(b) cooked(c) bought(d) liked [ ]



Write your answers on the lines provided.

6. What did Grandma use to make the Chicken Herbal Soup?

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7. What did Sandra think of the soup Grandma served last June?

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L E S S O N 2

Yummy Cafe

Text Type: Menu

Read the following menu of Yummy Cafe. Then answer the questions that follow.

YUMMY CAFE

Opens 8.00 am to 10 pm daily

Soups Salads

Tomato $5.60 Garden Salad $4.50

Pumpkin $5.60 Caesar Salad $6.50

Minestrone(with seafood) $6.50 Seafood Salad $7.50

Chicken Salad $6.50

Clam Chowder $5.90 Salad Nicoise $7.00



Sandwiches

For an extra $1.00, all sandwiches will be served with French fries and coleslaw.

Tuna fish $4.50 Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato $4.85

Ham & Egg $4.50 Turkey Cranberry $5.90

Cheese & Mushroom $4.85 Meatball Sandwich $6.50

Chicken & Pineapple $4.85 Roast Beef $7.50

Spaghetti Burger

Ham & Mushroom $7.50 Grilled Chicken Burger $6.50

Bolognaise (Chicken) $7.50 Tofu Burger $5.80

Seafood $9.80 Bacon & Omelette $6.50

Fish O Spaghetti $8.50 Cheeseburger $5.50

Desserts Beverages (Cold)

Brownie $3.90 Ice Lemon Tea $2.50

Apple Crumble $8.90 Ice Chocolate $4.50

Strawberry Sundae $6.50 Milkshake

Hot Fudge Sundae $6.50 (Vanilla, Mango, Strawberry) $4.50

Banana Split $7.50 Mineral Water $1.20

Muffin $3.00 Beverages (Hot)

Cheesecake $3.50 Coffee/Tea $2.00

Chicken Pie $3.50 Cappuccino $3.50

Plain Waffle $5.50 Mocha $4.50

Banana Chocolate Waffle $8.50 Hot Chocolate $3.00

Fruit Salad with Cream $6.00 Hot Milk $2.00



Practice

Choose the best answer and write its letter in the brackets.

1. Which is the most expensive soup?

(a) Clam Chowder(b) Tomato(c) Pumpkin(d) Minestrone [ ]

2. How much more do I have to pay if I want my sandwiches to come with French fries and coleslaw?

(a) None(b) $1.00(c) $0.50(d) $2.00 [ ]

3. How much will my meal cost if I have a Grilled Chicken Burger and Ice Lemon Tea?

(a) $9.00(b) $6.50(c) $4.50(d) $2.50 [ ]

4. Two salads come at the same price. Which are they?

(a) Seafood and Caesar(b) Caesar and Chicken(c) Garden and Nicoise(d) Seafood and Nicoise [ ]

5. How many flavours are there for Milkshake?

(a) Three(b) Four(c) Two(d) Five [ ]



6. If I want a cold drink that costs less than $2.00, which may I choose?

(a) Ice LemonTea(b) Ice Chocolate(c) Milkshake(d) Mineral Water [ ]

7. What does Spaghetti Bolognaise contain?

(a) Bacon(b) Tofu(c) Chicken(d) Seafood [ ]



Writing Practice

Getting Ready to Write

Think of the national foods of your country. In the box below, note down some details about a national food that you like.

Name of national food

Hot or Cold

Type of food (cake, noodle, toast etc)

Ingredients it contains

When do you eat it?

Where do you eat it?

Why do you like it?

Start Writing

Using the notes above, write a paragraph about the national food.


Unit 2 | Writing Practice 21

My Favourite National Food

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CH E C K L I S T

Remember to say where the food comes from. Use adjectives like ‘sweet’, ‘salty’, ‘sour’, ‘bitter’, ‘spicy’,

‘savoury’ to describe its taste. Say how often you eat the food if it is an everyday dish e.g.

twice a week, once a week.


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