C2 Proficiency Exam Guide: Reading Comprehension Multiple Choice
Reading & Use of English Paper
Contents
Overview
Context: Part 5 of the Reading & Use of English paper includes one extended text followed by six multiple-choice questions. These questions test a detailed understanding of the text, including the writer's opinions and attitudes.
Task: Candidates need to closely read the text to grasp precisely what the writer is conveying, discern between similar viewpoints or reasons in the options, and understand text organization features like exemplification and comparison.
Objective: To evaluate candidates' ability to deduce meaning from context, interpret text for inference and style, and understand the writer's purpose, attitude, or opinion.
Scoring & Marks: The six questions are worth twelve points, so two points for each. There are 72 points available for the whole Reading & Use of English paper.
How to Approach
- Preparation: Practise reading texts quickly for an overall impression, followed by close reading to avoid misunderstandings that may lead to incorrect answers.
- Answering Strategy: Some students find it useful to first consider an answer by only looking at the question stem and not the options, then underlining the part of the text that gives the answer and comparing this with the options.
- Reading Practice: Read texts where opinions, attitudes, and feelings are expressed, like interviews, short stories, and magazine articles with a strong authorial voice.
- Discussion and Analysis: Talk to other students and discuss complex ideas in texts and their relation to students' own experiences and world knowledge.
Example Question
"That's what they say," Kieran replied. He put his chilled hands in his pocket. "You know, I find it odd that you miss Earth so much. You weren't programmed to miss things, that I know of."
"They didn't program me not to either."
6. What does Kieran find remarkable about Aspen?
That his eyesight is so powerful.
That he displays emotions that were not supposed to be part of his makeup.
That he liked spending so much time in the cold and dark outside the house.
That he never could appreciate winter as he didn't feel the cold.
Assessment Focus
This part tests candidates' detailed understanding of a long text, including its purpose, organisation, and the opinions and attitudes expressed within it.
Tips
- Develop skills in quickly identifying key information and understanding complex ideas within texts.
- Practise interpreting and evaluating attitudes and opinions expressed in texts.
- Regularly read diverse materials to familiarise yourself with different writing styles and viewpoints.
- Analyse texts critically to identify the main ideas, examples, and the author's perspective.
How It Looks
Student Suggestion
"Engaging with a variety of texts and discussing their deeper meanings greatly enhanced my comprehension skills for this part of the exam." - Sophia Müller
Practice Exercises
We have a page on the site to practise: C2 Proficiency: Reading Comprehension Multiple Choice Exercises
