IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510

Topic: Reading

Objective: Select relevant details when reading for a specific purpose

This section focuses on developing your ability to identify and extract information from texts that is directly relevant to a particular question or task. It's a crucial skill for exam success, as you'll often be asked to find specific details within a passage.

Understanding the Task

Before you even begin reading, carefully analyze the question you are asked. Identify the keywords and phrases. These keywords will guide your search for relevant information within the text. Ask yourself: What is the question *really* asking me to find out?

Strategies for Selecting Relevant Details

1. Skimming and Scanning: Quickly read the text to get a general idea of the topic and identify potential areas where the answer might be located. Then, scan for keywords.
2. Identifying Key Words and Phrases: Underline or highlight keywords from the question. Look for these words and their synonyms within the text.
3. Paying Attention to Topic Sentences: Topic sentences often summarise the main idea of a paragraph and can provide clues to relevant information.
4. Considering Context: Don't just pick out isolated facts. Consider the surrounding sentences and paragraphs to understand the context and ensure the detail you select is truly relevant.
5. Distinguishing between Main Ideas and Supporting Details: Focus on identifying the main points the author is trying to convey. Supporting details provide evidence or examples for those main points.

Example

Text Excerpt:

“The Amazon rainforest is often called the ‘lungs of the Earth’ because it produces a significant amount of the world’s oxygen. This is due to the vast number of trees that engage in photosynthesis. However, deforestation is a major threat to the rainforest. As trees are cut down, less oxygen is produced, and the soil becomes vulnerable to erosion. Furthermore, the loss of habitat puts many species of plants and animals at risk of extinction. Sustainable farming practices and reforestation efforts are crucial to protecting this vital ecosystem.”

Question: Why is the Amazon rainforest called the 'lungs of the Earth'?

Relevant Detail: “because it produces a significant amount of the world’s oxygen. This is due to the vast number of trees that engage in photosynthesis.”

Irrelevant Detail: “Furthermore, the loss of habitat puts many species of plants and animals at risk of extinction.”

Table: Identifying Relevant vs. Irrelevant Information

Information	Relevant? (Yes/No)	Reasoning
The rainforest is in South America.	No	While factually correct, it doesn't answer the question about why it's called the 'lungs of the Earth'.
The rainforest produces a lot of oxygen.	Yes	Directly answers the question.
Deforestation is a problem.	No	While related to the rainforest, it doesn't explain *why* it has the nickname.
Trees produce oxygen through photosynthesis.	Yes	Explains the reason for the nickname.

Practice

Practice identifying relevant details from different types of texts. Look for opportunities to answer questions that require you to find specific information. The more you practice, the better you will become at selecting relevant details efficiently.