Module 2. Reading. Tips & Practice

Here is a strategic breakdown of how to approach each task in your mock exam.

🧠 Task 1: Multiple Choice Cloze

• Look Beyond the Gap: The correct answer is often determined by the preposition that follows the gap. For example, in your exam, you "relinquish" a habit, but you "abstain from" a habit.

• Semantic Precision: At this level, all four options might have a similar meaning. You must choose the one that fits the academic register. We "acquire" a neural pathway (biological process), but we "obtain" a permit (legal process).

• Collocation Awareness: Read the entire sentence first. Certain verbs and nouns are "married" in English. "Synaptic pruning" or "Deep-seated pathways" are fixed academic collocations you should memorize.

  
  

📖 Task 2: Reading Analysis

• The "Metaphor" Trap: C2 texts use figurative language like "glowing rectangles" or "toothpicks in a hurricane." Don't look for these words in the answers; look for their abstract meaning (e.g., technology, inadequate solutions).

• Identify the Writer’s Stance: Questions often ask about the "implication" of a description. When the text mentions Silas's father's "bewilderment," it implies a generational gap in understanding science, not just that he was confused.

• Avoid Literal Matching: If an answer choice uses the exact same words as the text, it is likely a distractor. The correct answer usually paraphrases the concept using higher-level synonyms.

  
  

✍️ Task 3: Open Cloze

• Think "Grammar," not "Vocabulary": Most gaps in this task are functional words: prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, or auxiliary verbs.

• Fixed Phrases are Key: You must recognize "halves" of phrases. If you see "odds with," the missing word is almost certainly "at." If you see "the verge of," the missing word is "on."

• Read for Concession: Look for words like "No matter how" or "Incredible as it may seem." These structures set up a contrast that is essential for the sentence's logic.

  
  

📑 Task 4: Structural Synthesis (Headings)

• Ignore the First Sentence: Often, the first sentence of a paragraph is a transition. The "meat" of the argument usually appears in the middle.

• Identify Lexical Chains: Look for groups of related words. If you see retina, pineal gland, melatonin, and sunset, the paragraph is about Circadian Rhythms, even if that word isn't in the text.

• The "Distractor" Heading: There will always be a heading that looks correct because it shares a single word with a paragraph. For example, a heading might say "Wellness retreats," but if the paragraph only mentions them to dismiss them as "futile," the real heading might be "The superficiality of short-term fixes."

  
  

⚡ Final Pro-Tip: The "Logic" Check

After filling in any gap or choosing a heading, read the entire paragraph again with your answer included. If the logical flow feels "bumpy" or the tone shifts suddenly, you have likely fallen for a distractor.