A large part of the Linguaskill General Reading test evaluates your ability to discern information accurately, understand implied opinions, and detect unexpressed emotions through written words. Follow this guide to help yourself improve all three test-taking skills.
Linguaskill General Reading questions often require candidates to lift information from given text in a way that is not explicitly stated, i.e. paraphrasing. Let's look at an example.
Read the text below.
Welcome to Brooke's Shoe Store.
All items on sale except those marked in green.
Extra discount on red and blue items.
Members only.
Read the statements. Are they true or false?
The answers to the questions are false, true, false, false, true, false, and true.
Did you answer all the questions correctly? If you didn't, you need to pay more attention to the grammar structure and the sequence of the sentences, as well as reading between the lines:
Similarly, candidates are often asked to read a writer's written opinion and questions will be asked to check the depth of their understanding. Let's look at an example.
Read the first text.
The restaurant presents a carefully designed fusion menu that combines traditional flavours with contemporary techniques. Each dish balances familiar ingredients with unexpected elements, resulting in a harmonious blend rather than a clash. The presentation is precise and consistent, reflecting a clear attention to detail. Service is efficient and unobtrusive, allowing the food itself to remain the focus of the experience. Overall, the dining environment encourages curiosity and leaves guests inclined to explore further offerings.
Read the second text.
The restaurant offers a fusion menu that attempts to combine traditional flavours with modern techniques, but the execution often feels unfocused. Several dishes present unusual pairings that appear experimental rather than harmonious. Presentation, while precise, can come across as overly calculated and lacking warmth. Service remains efficient but somewhat detached, reinforcing the impression of a clinical rather than inviting atmosphere. Overall, the dining experience is unlikely to leave guests with a strong desire to return.
Now, answer these questions.
Reading the two texts, it is quite clear that the first writer has a positive opinion of the restaurant, and the second writer has a negative one. But why is this so? In both texts, the writers did not explicitly tell readers that they "like" or "dislike" the restaurant. The answer lies in the words, grammar, and sentence structure they used. By using these structures, readers can get a sense of their implied opinions. For example:
Finally, candidates will also be tested on their ability to detect unwritten emotions. Let's look at this final example.
Read the first text.
At forty meters down, the bubbles from my regulator sputtered and broke off too quickly, and my hand shot to the gauges in disbelief. The numbers dropped faster than I could process, and I fumbled with the valve, twisting it again and again without effect. My breaths grew sharp and ragged, echoing in my ears as the water around me felt suddenly heavier. I waved frantically at my partner, my signals uneven, my movements jerky. The surface felt impossibly far, and every kick upward seemed swallowed by the vast, unyielding dark.
Read the second text.
At forty meters below the surface, I noticed the steady stream of bubbles from my regulator weaken unexpectedly. I checked my gauges twice, then adjusted the valve, but the numbers continued to fall in a way that demanded focus. The water pressed in on every side, silent except for the rasp of my breath growing uneven. I signalled to my partner with deliberate precision, and we began a slow, measured ascent, every movement calculated. The surface light seemed distant, and each meter upward carried the weight of both time and necessity.
Now, answer these questions.
What emotions did you get from reading the two texts? In the first text, it is clear that the writer felt panicked, scared, and stressed during her ordeal. She did not give an impression of calm and collected in the face of danger, unlike the second writer. Again, choice of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure is used to express these differing emotions:
The three examples above culminate to demonstrate the main way the Linguaskill General Reading test evaluates your reading competency, especially at higher difficulty levels.
While the test does ask you questions that directly evaluate your vocabulary and grammar knowledge, you shouldn't expect too many such questions at higher difficulty levels.
To improve your Reading skills, attempt the Guided Training Materials in the next section. These training materials will help widen and strengthen your ability to understand implied language usage in written English so that you can do your best in your Reading test.
