Complex sentence parsing — strip relative clauses để hiểu nhanh

Vấn đề với long sentences

IELTS C-level passage: "The study, which was conducted over a three-year period by researchers at the University of Oxford, who specialized in cognitive psychology and had previously published similar work, concluded that participants showed measurable improvement."

44 words. Reading from start to end → mất 15+ giây. Trong test, không có thời gian.

Strip technique

Step 1: Identify main subject + verb

Main clause structure: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT.

Ở example trên:

• Subject: "The study"
• Verb: "concluded"
• Object: "that participants showed measurable improvement"

Main meaning: The study concluded participants improved.

Step 2: Identify modifiers (subordinate clauses)

Which parts are modifiers (extra info)?

• "which was conducted over a three-year period" — modifier of "study"
• "by researchers at Oxford" — modifier (who did study)
• "who specialized in cognitive psychology and had previously published similar work" — modifier of "researchers"

These add detail but don't change main meaning.

Step 3: Quick-read = strip modifiers

On first read, mentally strip everything between commas (relative clauses):

"The study [...] concluded that participants showed measurable improvement."