Reading literacy: text analysis

The reading literacy section gives several texts, each followed by questions. This section makes up a large part of the test, so every point here matters. What is tested is not a grammar rule but the ability to understand a text: finding the main idea, picking out details, understanding a word’s meaning in context, drawing conclusions, and reading data from tables and charts. The good news is that this skill develops quickly with a clear strategy and regular practice. This lesson covers text types, question types, a working strategy, context and inference questions, literary texts and non-continuous texts (tables, charts). The test texts are in Uzbek, so the examples are given in Uzbek with translations.

§1. Text types

• Literary text — a short story, an extract from a novel, a poem. Questions: a character’s mood, the author’s attitude, literary devices, symbolic meaning.
• Popular science text — science for a general reader. Questions: facts, cause and effect, explaining a term.
• Journalistic text — an article, interview or opinion piece. Questions: the author’s position, arguments, purpose.
• Official and practical text — a notice, instructions, a table, a chart, a rule. Questions: finding exact information, applying conditions.

Texts also differ in form: a continuous text is made of sentences and paragraphs, while a non-continuous text presents information in separate parts — a table, chart, map or notice. Reading the second kind needs a different skill.

§2. Question types and how to approach them

1. Main idea. "Which answer gives the main content of the text?", "A suitable title". The right answer covers the whole text — neither too narrow (one paragraph) nor too broad (a general truth about life). The main idea is often in the first or last paragraph.
2. Detail. "According to the text, when ...?" The answer is stated explicitly. Find the key word (name, date, number) and reread the 2–3 sentences around it.
3. Meaning in context. "In what sense is the word ... used?" You are asked not for the first dictionary meaning of a polysemous word but for its meaning in this very sentence.
4. Inference. "What can be concluded from the text?" The answer is not written word for word, but it follows logically from the facts in the text.
5. Author’s purpose and attitude. "Why does the author give this example?" Look at evaluative words: afsuski (unfortunately), ajablanarlisi (surprisingly), shubhasiz (undoubtedly), achinarli (regrettably).
6. Text structure. Paragraph order, linking words (birinchidan — firstly, biroq — however, shuning uchun — therefore, xulosa qilib aytganda — to sum up), which sentence is redundant.
7. True / false / not given. Comparing a claim with the text: the text confirms it, contradicts it, or says nothing about it.

§3. Working strategy

1. Skim the questions first — know what you are looking for.
2. Read the whole text once: mentally label the main idea of each paragraph with one word.
3. Find evidence in the text for every answer — you should be able to point to the exact supporting sentence.
4. Separate "the text says" from "I know" — true information that is not in the text is a wrong answer.
5. Beware of strong words: hech qachon (never), doimo (always), faqat (only), hamma (everyone), butunlay (completely) — if the text is less absolute, the option is wrong.
6. Learn to spot distractors: they repeat words from the text but distort the meaning, or fit part of the text but do not answer the question.
7. Manage your time: don’t get stuck on one question — come back to it later.

Worked example

Text (written for this lesson): Orol dengizi XX asr o‘rtalarida dunyodagi eng katta ko‘llardan biri edi. 1960-yillardan boshlab Amudaryo va Sirdaryo suvining ko‘p qismi sug‘orishga yo‘naltirildi. Natijada dengiz sathi keskin pasaydi, suv sho‘rlanib, baliqchilik deyarli to‘xtadi. Bugun olimlar qurigan tubda saksovul ekib, qum va tuz ko‘chishini kamaytirishga harakat qilmoqda. ("In the mid-20th century the Aral Sea was one of the largest lakes in the world. From the 1960s most of the water of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya was diverted for irrigation. As a result the sea level fell sharply, the water became salty and fishing almost stopped. Today scientists are planting saxaul on the dried seabed to reduce blowing sand and salt.")
Question: "According to the text, what is the main cause of the Aral Sea drying up?" A) climate warming; B) river water being used for irrigation; C) fishing stopping; D) planting saxaul.

1. Question type — a cause-and-effect detail.
2. The key word natijada (as a result) — the sentence before it gives the cause: the water was diverted for irrigation.
3. A is not in the text (our own knowledge); C is a result, not a cause; D is a later measure.
4. Answer: B.

§4. Context and inference questions

In a context question, substitute each option for the word: if the sentence still makes sense, the option is right. For example, in Bu xabar uni yerga qaratib qo‘ydi the expression yerga qaratmoq means "to put to shame", not literally "to make look at the ground".
In an inference question, eliminate three kinds of option:

• one that contradicts the text;
• one with no basis in the text (even if true);
• one that overgeneralises from the text.

The remaining option must rest entirely on facts in the text. An inference is an idea not written in the text but one the text "points to".

Worked example

Question on the Aral text: "What can be concluded from the text?" A) the Aral Sea has been fully restored; B) human activity can strongly affect nature; C) saxaul is the most useful plant; D) fishing has stopped everywhere.

1. A contradicts the text: no restoration is mentioned; on the contrary, the seabed has dried.
2. C has no basis: saxaul is not compared with other plants.
3. D overgeneralises: the text is only about the Aral.
4. B — that irrigation (human activity) led to the sea drying up follows logically from the text.
5. Answer: B.

§5. Reading literary texts

• A character’s state — look at verbs, description and speech: qo‘llari titrardi (his hands were trembling) → excitement, fear.
• The author’s attitude — epithets and judgements: mehribon chol (kind old man), ochko‘z boy (greedy rich man).
• Symbolic meaning: a literary detail often carries a wider meaning (a road — life, spring — renewal).
• Figurative meaning: yuragi tosh (heart of stone) — cruel; ko‘zi to‘rt bo‘ldi — waited impatiently.

In fiction the author often does not name a feeling directly but shows it through action and detail. So look for the answer to "what state is the character in?" not in adjectives but in verbs and description.

Worked example

Extract (written for this lesson): Anvar xatni uchinchi marta o‘qidi. Derazadan tushgan quyosh nuri xona bo‘ylab yoyilgan, lekin u buni sezmasdi. Qo‘lidagi qog‘oz sekin g‘ijimlanardi. ("Anvar read the letter for the third time. Sunlight from the window had spread across the room, but he did not notice it. The paper in his hand was slowly crumpling.") Question: what state is Anvar in?

1. "Read it for the third time" — the letter has affected him deeply; he can hardly believe it.
2. "Did not notice the sunlight" — he is cut off from his surroundings, absorbed in thought.
3. "The paper was slowly crumpling" — inner tension and distress.
4. Answer: Anvar is agitated and distressed — the letter may have brought bad news.

§6. Reading tables and charts

In a non-continuous text, first read the title, the units (per cent, thousands, years) and the column and row labels. Many errors come from ignoring units: "20" might mean 20 people or 20 per cent. Compare the question’s words — "increased", "decreased", "the most" — with the values in the table, and do the calculations on paper.

Check yourself

1. What is the best option in a main-idea question like?

2. An option is true but not stated in the text. Can you choose it?

3. The option says doimo (always) but the text says ko‘pincha (often). What about the option?

4. What relation does natijada express in the Aral text?

5. What does tosh mean in Uning yuragi tosh edi?

6. If the text says nothing about a claim, what is the answer?

7. What should you look at first when working with a table?

8. In which question type do you eliminate contradicting, baseless and overgeneralised options?

Common mistakes

• Choosing true information that is not in the text.
• Taking one detail or paragraph as the main idea of the whole text.
• Choosing a word’s dictionary meaning instead of its meaning in context.
• Falling for an option that repeats the text’s words but distorts the meaning.
• Mistaking an effect for a cause.
• Ignoring the units in a table.