CLB Reading Comprehension & Interpretation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At CLB 5, what type of reading text should a learner comprehend?
- Complex academic papers
- Short formatted texts like flyers, simple news articles, and routine communications (Correct answer)
- Legal contracts with multiple clauses
- Shakespeare in original English
Correct answer: Short formatted texts like flyers, simple news articles, and routine communications
CLB 5 covers short, formatted texts such as flyers, simple news articles, and routine workplace communications.
CLB 5 reading covers texts that are short to moderate, clearly organized, on familiar topics: event flyers, simple news articles, product descriptions, workplace notices, and appointment confirmations.
Question 2: What does 'scanning' refer to as a CLB reading strategy?
- Reading every word carefully
- Quickly looking through text to locate specific information like dates or numbers (Correct answer)
- Reading only the first paragraph
- Memorizing the text
Correct answer: Quickly looking through text to locate specific information like dates or numbers
Scanning involves quickly moving through text to locate specific information without reading every word.
Scanning is used for finding prices in flyers, specific dates in schedules, names in directories, and keywords in long documents. CLB teaches scanning as an efficiency skill for practical daily life.
Question 3: How does CLB define 'inference' in reading comprehension?
- Copying text word for word
- Drawing conclusions from information not explicitly stated in the text (Correct answer)
- Reading aloud
- Translating text
Correct answer: Drawing conclusions from information not explicitly stated in the text
Inference means understanding implied information based on clues, context, and reader's knowledge.
Inference develops progressively: CLB 5-6 basic inferences ('fast-paced environment' implies heavy workload), CLB 7-8 writer's purpose and attitude, CLB 9+ subtle implications and rhetorical evaluation.
Question 4: A CLB 7 learner reads a Canadian news article about housing prices. What comprehension should they demonstrate?
- Only understanding the headline
- Understanding the main argument, supporting evidence, key details, and writer's perspective (Correct answer)
- Memorizing every statistic
- Only understanding photos
Correct answer: Understanding the main argument, supporting evidence, key details, and writer's perspective
CLB 7 readers understand the main argument, identify supporting evidence and details, and begin recognizing the writer's perspective.
CLB 7 reading involves multiple layers: identifying the main point, understanding supporting details, recognizing organization, identifying writer perspective, and making connections — going beyond surface-level understanding.
Question 5: What is the difference between 'skimming' and 'close reading' in CLB instruction?
- No difference
- Skimming captures the overall idea quickly while close reading examines details and deeper meanings (Correct answer)
- Close reading is faster
- Skimming is only for advanced levels
Correct answer: Skimming captures the overall idea quickly while close reading examines details and deeper meanings
Skimming reads quickly for the general idea; close reading carefully examines details, language, and deeper meanings.
Effective readers use both: skimming headings, first sentences, and bold text to understand structure, then close reading the most relevant sections. CLB programs explicitly teach when to use each strategy.
Question 6: At CLB 8, how should a learner interpret graphs and charts integrated into a text?
- Ignore visual elements
- Interpret data trends, compare figures, and connect visual information to the text's arguments (Correct answer)
- Only look at colours
- Visual elements aren't part of reading
Correct answer: Interpret data trends, compare figures, and connect visual information to the text's arguments
CLB 8 readers interpret data from graphs, identify trends, and connect visual information to written arguments.
CLB 8 reading includes reading bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, and tables; understanding axes, legends, and scales; identifying trends; making comparisons; and connecting visual data to text arguments.
CLB Reading Comprehension & Interpretation 2
At CLB 5, what type of reading text should a learner comprehend?