Read the whole text first and skip the gaps; if there is a little word, find what it points back to and which way it turns; if not, follow the meaning and the argument; check the extra option last.
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Gap-Fill: Paragraph Summaries
Methods in this video
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- 1
One line per paragraph
When to use it: A paragraph-matching question: you must match several options to the paragraphs of the text.
- After each paragraph, write one line: what is it doing?
- Use your own words, not words copied from the text.
- 2
Match the job, not the words
When to use it: An option uses a word from a paragraph and you are tempted to match it straight to that paragraph.
- Match your own one-line summary to the options.
- An option using a word from a paragraph does not mean it is about that paragraph.
- If two paragraphs mention the same thing, compare what each one is doing.
- 3
Check the extra option last
When to use it: There are more options than paragraphs and one is left over after matching.
- Cross off each option you have matched.
- Check the one left: does any paragraph actually do what it says?
- The option that only shares words is often the trap.
Practise exam-style questions with these methods
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