Reading: Sample analysis — Skimming & Scanning

1. Mục tiêu buổi học

• Scan theo hình dạng từ: nhận diện số, tên riêng, từ in nghiêng trong câu hỏi rồi tìm đúng dạng đó trong passage.
• Phân biệt khi nào dùng skim (tìm ý chính), khi nào dùng scan (tìm thông tin cụ thể).
• Đọc một passage mẫu, đi từng bước tìm câu chứa đáp án và đối chiếu với câu hỏi.
• Nhận ra các trap thường gặp: từ giống nhưng nghĩa khác, thông tin xuất hiện nhưng không trả lời đúng câu hỏi.

2. Passage mẫu

A Bilingual dictionaries have been essential tools for language learners for centuries. A typical bilingual dictionary contains words in two languages: the learner's native language and the target language they are studying. When you look up a word, you find its definition in the other language, along with useful information such as phonemic symbols, part of speech, and example sentences. For instance, if you search for the English word 'emphasise' in a Vietnamese-English dictionary, you will see the Vietnamese meaning 'nhấn mạnh', the pronunciation in phonemic symbols, and the label showing it is a verb.

B Modern dictionaries use various symbols and formatting to help users understand entries quickly. Words printed in bold are headwords – the main entries you are looking up. Information about grammar appears in abbreviations: n. for noun, v. for verb, adj. for adjective, and adv. for adverb. Some dictionaries also use special labels to show whether a noun is countable or uncountable. The comma separates different meanings of the same word, while the full stop marks the end of each complete entry.

C Understanding part of speech is crucial when choosing the correct word form. Many English words can function as different parts of speech depending on their position in a sentence. Take the word 'pause', for example. As a noun, it means a short stop or break: 'There was a brief pause in the conversation.' As a verb, it means to stop temporarily: 'She paused before answering the question.' Dictionaries always indicate the part of speech to help you use words correctly in your writing and speaking.

D In 2019, the education department conducted a survey involving 850 students from regular-sized secondary schools across the country. The survey aimed to examine dictionary usage among teenagers. Results showed that 73% of students preferred digital dictionaries on their phones, while only 18% still used traditional paper dictionaries. Interestingly, students who used paper dictionaries scored an average of 12 marks higher in vocabulary tests than those who relied solely on phone apps. The remaining 9% reported not using any dictionary at all.

E Grammar patterns are another important feature found in good dictionaries. When you look up a phrasal verb such as 'look up', the dictionary shows you the particles that follow it and provides context. It might explain that 'look up' is used when you search for information in a reference source: 'I need to look up this word in the dictionary.' Some advanced dictionaries also include information about prepositions commonly used with certain words, and whether a verb is regular or irregular in its past tense forms.

F The layout of dictionary entries follows international standards to ensure consistency. Every entry begins with the headword in bold, followed by phonemic symbols in square brackets showing pronunciation. Next comes the part of speech label, then the definition. If a word has multiple meanings, these are numbered. Example sentences or phrases appear in italics to show the word in context. This official format helps learners navigate entries efficiently, regardless of which dictionary they are using.

3. Questions

Questions 1–4
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

1. A bilingual dictionary helps you find a word's meaning in another language along with its __________ and examples.
2. In dictionary entries, the main word you search for is printed in __________.
3. Dictionaries show whether a verb is regular or __________ when forming past tense.
4. According to the survey, students using paper dictionaries scored __________ marks higher on vocabulary tests.

Questions 5–7
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

1. How many students participated in the 2019 education survey?
2. What percentage of students in the survey did not use any dictionary?
3. What type of schools did the survey students come from?

4. Answer key

5. Phân tích từng câu