III. Sharpening Reading Skills

Analyzing Paragraphs Recognizing how the main idea of a paragraph is developed is a useful reading skill. Some paragraphs give reasons; some explain results; some list examples; some tell about one incident; some describe; some compare and contrast.

Reread each paragraph listed below. Then underline the sentence that best describes the paragraph.

1. paragraph 9: a. Tells what children do in nursery schools.

b. Gives reasons why parents send children to nursery schools.

2. paragraph 18: a. Describes a typical day in the life of a high school student.

b. Argues that high school students are too busy.

3. paragraph 19: a. Tells what's wrong with bad schools in the U.S.

b. Contrasts American schools in poor communities and in wealthier ones.

4. paragraph 20: a. Explains why there is a teacher shortage.

b. Talks about harmful effects of the teacher shortage.

IV. Understanding Idioms and Expressions

Match each expression in column 1 with the phrase in column 2 that means the same thing by writing the correct numbers on the lines. The numbers in parentheses give the paragraphs in which the expressions are used.

1. cover (13)

2. get along with (8)

3. get used to (8)

4. ties between (4)

5. take on (8)

______connections to

______become accustomed to; become familiar with

______be able to pay for

______not argue with; have a good relationship with

______agree to do; accept responsibility for

V. Taking Words Apart

Study the meanings of these word parts. Now use them to complete the words defined below

со- = together, with

dis-, un- = not

extra- = outside, beyond

-ful = full of, with

hetero- = different

ill- = badly

-less = without

pre- = before

1. ________likе (not similar to; not alike; different from)

2. point________(no good reason to do it)

3. ________curricular (activities in addition to academic work)

4. ________geneous (not all the same)

5. ________-prepared (not well-prepared)

6. ________school (before kindergarten)

7. un________operative (doesn't work well with others)

8. use________(having no use)

9. ________educational (boys and girls in school together)

10. ________like (hate or not like)

11. ________prepared (not prepared at all)

12. harm________(it can hurt someone)

VI. Practicing Sentence Patterns

The Infinitive of Purpose The reading contains these two infinitives of purpose. Paragraph 1 states: "To educate this huge number of students, more than 3 million teachers are employed." Paragraph 5 states: "To attend a private school, a student must apply and be accepted." The infinitive phrase in each sentence states a goal, and the main clause states a way of achieving that goal. Here's another example:

To earn extra money, I plan to get a part-time job.

(my goal) (the way I plan to achieve my goal)

Now complete these sentences that begin with infinitives of purpose.

1. To improve my English, I_________________________________

2. To get better grades, students____________________________

3. To encourage more people to become teachers, school districts should_______________________