CAT 2025 Lesson : Reading Comprehension I - Focussed read

2. Focussed Read

In order to do well in the Verbal Ability section, we need to ensure that our accuracy is high, despite the constraint of time. Most entrance exams have more questions than we can comfortably solve in the given time. In order to maximise our marks, we should focus on RCs, so that we can solve a few questions with a single passage, thereby getting more marks than standalone questions (Summary, Para-jumbles or Grammar-based questions). A focussed read is essential, but we need to ensure that we are focussing on the key points while avoiding unimportant parts. This means that our full focus has to be on the passage.

Sometimes, people skim through passages, or read only parts of them. We do not recommend this at all. There are parts that we need not focus deeply on, or that we can skim through, but we should make it a point to read through the entire passage. There are key parts and key words that we need to focus more on. At the same time, we need to be guided by the questions. All of this requires a high degree of focus while reading the passage.

Let us look at the key parts of the passage, that we must focus on.

2.1 Key Focus Areas

Some parts of the passage are more important than others, and we need to read these with more focus.

2.1.1 First paragraph

The first paragraph will usually tell us the context of the passage (what the passage is all about). We will also understand the tone of the author. Therefore, this is the most important part of the passage.

Sometimes, the first paragraph might be anecdotal (narrating an example, a short incident or first-person account). In this case, we should look to the second paragraph for the context.

2.1.2 Last paragraph

The last paragraph will typically be a concluding paragraph. The conclusion will not have new information, but reiterate the author's point-of-view. In smaller passages, we might not have an entire passage as a conclusion, but will often have 2-3 sentences in the end, which conclude the passage. The paragraph or sentences will help us verify our understanding of the author's viewpoint. This is especially important in analytical passages, where we might have multiple viewpoints (e.g., author's viewpoint as well as views of people and experts); arguments for and against; or a comparison of two or more items or concepts. The last few sentences will make the author's viewpoint quite clear.

2.1.3 First sentence of each paragraph

The first sentence in each paragraph usually provides a short context or summary of that paragraph. Many times, authors will write the key point in the first sentence, and then develop it in the rest of the paragraph, with explanations, facts and examples, reasoning, etc. Therefore, the first sentence in each paragraph helps us understand what is coming up. It is also beneficial if we need to refer back to the passage – we can look at the first sentences and quickly identify if the information we are seeking is present in that paragraph or not.

2.1.4 Key facts derived from questions

While reading an RC passage, our primary objective is to solve the questions correctly and quickly. Therefore, we should also focus on those parts which are relevant for the questions. Focussing on the first (or second) and last paragraph is important for all question types. At the same time, we will automatically focus more on parts which are referred to in questions. We would be aware of this as we have already read the questions before reading the passage.

2.2 Less Important Facts

The parts enumerated above are the parts that we should read with more focus. At the same time, there are certain parts or facts that we need not focus on. We do not mean that you should not read these parts at all. This just means that you need not focus as much on such parts, and you definitely need not take notes of these parts.

Some things which we need not memorise or note down are:

1) Any names (except those who are very important to the passage or are mentioned in a question)
2) Names of countries, regions, creatures, etc.
3) Date or time
4) Exact numbers or statistics (just get a sense of the amount)
5) Anecdotes or incidents in the first paragraph

It is important to highlight these, as we naturally tend to focus on these, since school times. However, as we need not memorise facts for MBA entrance exams, we need to consciously reduce the focus on such facts. This will ensure that we retain more important points, and also save us time (by not focussing on these facts, by avoiding unknown or foreign names).

2.3 Key words

Some words and phrases are important. These words will help us understand the author's view and understand key facts. We can also use some of these words to infer the meaning of complex sentences, or understand what the author is trying to say, even if we do not know the meaning of some words. Therefore, we should look out for some words, and use them to understand the passage better.

Some of these words and their importance is as follows:

Word/phrase	Implication
But, However, Nevertheless, In contrast, Instead	The sentence or part of the sentence following these terms will be contradicting what came up before these terms. Many times, the author's opinion is in line with the sentence which follows these words.
Indeed	Emphasising what the author has mentioned before this word. Sometimes, the author's point can be followed up with data/examples to support the viewpoint by using this word.
In fact, Of course	These can go both ways – what follows can be similar to or countering what came before these words. Read such parts of the passage carefully.
In my view, I feel	The author's opinion will follow such words. Therefore, it's really important to focus on the sentence(s) after these words.
Why? Why so? Because, Thus, Therefore	An explanation would follow such words.
Besides, Also Firstly, Secondly,...	A second (less important) fact or reason would follow these words. These are important so that we can note down the key points/reasons and use them to identify the author's viewpoint
Namely, for instance, for example,	Examples which prove the author's viewpoint would follow these words. The part of the passage before these words should be read with focus, as it will usually encapsulate the author's viewpoint. The examples or data following these words can be used to verify our understanding of the author's view.

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