READING COMPREHENSION

MUET
Prepared by Cikgu Jessie Uring
Uchat/SMK Kidurong, Bintulu Sarawak
CEFR LEVELS For Reading (to help us understand levels of reading comprehension ability)
 MUET Reading Passages -A CEFR-Based Analysis of March 2017
MUET Reading Comprehension Test

t Theme Vocabulary Questions

1 Youth Travel B1 B1-C1 B1-C1

2 Electronic Cigarette B1-B2 B1-C1 B1-C1

3 Body Symmetry B2-C1 B2-C1 B2-C1

4 Teenage Music and Depression B2-B2 B2-C1 B2-C1

5 The Ainu’s of Japan B1-C1 B2-C1 B2-C1

6 The Importance of Preparing B2-C2 B2-C2 B2-C2

Students with Digital Skills
 TYPES OF QUESTIONS
Type 1 : True, False and Not Stated Questions
Examples:
Interpreting information stated in the text.
1. The UNWTO report highlights that the number of youth travellers exceeds that of
adult travellers.
A True B False C Not stated

Interpreting information stated in the text.

2. Young travellers prefer to travel on low-cost carriers.
A True B False C Not stated

Choosing an accurate summary/paraphrase of the main idea of the text.

3. The study is on the sustainability of the Malaysian tourism industry.
A True B False C Not stated

Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information.

4. Many youth travellers stay with friends and relatives because it is convenient.
A True B False C Not stated
Choosing the most accurate summary of the main ideas presented through
non-linear texts.

5. Tables 1 and 2 reveal the travel behaviour patterns among youth travellers.
A True B False C Not stated

Identifying specific details. Appraising information.

6 The survey provides information about the peak and low seasons of youth
travel.
A True B False C Not stated
Analysing Information
7. Most Malaysian youth travellers spend between RM101 and RM400.
A True B False C Not stated
 Types of Questions
Appraising Information/Reading for specific
details/Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
information.
8. The practice of sending greeting cards for all occasions
began in the UK.
A True B False C Not Stated

9. The origin of sending greetings as a message is

associated with superstition.
A True B False C Not stated

10. Sir Henry Cole made his fortune from selling printed
greeting cards.
A True B False C Not stated
Types of Questions
Identifying or comprehending the literal and lateral
main idea
11. Paragraph 4 is mainly about
A the advancement in print technologies in the
production of printed cards.
B the role of the postal service in promoting the
printed card business
C the rapid growth of the printed card business
12. Suit all tastes and pockets (line 31) means
A benefitting every printed card user
B appropriate for every occasion
C catering to every need
 Types of Questions
Identifying the topic sentences/the main idea of a
paragraph
13. Which of the following is true of paragraph 6?
A E-cards are gaining popularity.
B E- cards were invented in Australia
C E-cards have replaced printed cards
Following the development of a passage.
Interpreting the language function used in different parts
of the passage (last paragraph)
14. The passage ends with
A a warning
B a prediction
C a recommendation
 Types of Questions

Following the development of a passage/Understanding the

writer’s technique of writing
15 The writer begins the passage with
A a surprising fact (GS)
B a statistical evidence (Data)
C a shocking discovery (EOD/EOS)
Comprehending the gist of information from a paragraph/
Understanding the main idea
16 Paragraph 2 is mainly about
A theories that explain handedness
B reasons why humans are the only species with
handedness
C the link between the higher testosterone level and
left-handedness.
Vocabulary (synonym in context)
17. The word sets (line 9) can be replaced
A distinguishes
B determines
C monitors
Reading for supporting details
18. Left-handed people tend to…
A cope with stress better
B be good at languages
C be more emotional
Following the development of an idea and identifying the connection
between ideas and sentences.
19. …otherwise no left-handers would ever jump out of a plane or brave
New York city streets as a taxi driver (lines 18 and 19). This comment
supports the idea that.
A lefties can overcome their fear
B not all lefties are prone to fear
C lefties are as fearless as righties
Comprehending meaning of words using contextual clues
20. Flipped (line 27) means
A mixed
B reversed
C changed
Comprehending the main idea of selected paragraph
21. The main idea of paragraph 6 is
A the advantages of left-handedness
B the benefits and risks of being a left-hander
C the link between stroke, speaking ability and handedness
 Types of Questions
Vocabulary in context
22. The word hallmark (line 1) means
A a common habit
B an unusual behaviour
C the most typical feature
Reading for the supporting points and details.
23. The findings regarding reading will be useful in
A stopping the decline in reading
B preventing depression among teenager
C discouraging teenagers from listening to music
Appraising information/Interpreting idea.
24. Primark’s comment This is worth emphasizing (line 19) suggests
that
A teenagers should read more
B depression among teenagers will increase
C teenagers should not be exposed to many forms of media
 Types of Questions
Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information.
25. Which of the following is true of paragraph 5?
A People who listen to popular music are usually happy.
B When people are depressed, they listen to music.
C Music may or may not cause depression
Drawing conclusion from ideas and information in the text.
26. What can be concluded from the 2009 and the current study?
A The findings are contradictory.
B The findings discourage listening to music.
C The findings identify watching television as a cause of depression.
Understanding meaning of words using contextual clues
27. Preclude time spent reading (line 41) means the depressed
A find reading difficult
B are discouraged from reading
C claim that reading worsens their conditions
Following the development of the passage/ Interpreting the
writer’s language usage and writing technique.
28. The passage ends with…
A an advice for parents of teenagers
B a caution on the use of the findings
C a possible application of the findings

Drawing a plausible conclusion from the

passage/Understanding the gist/the overall ideas
29. From the passage, we can conclude that
A reading is the recommended activity for depressed
teenagers
B it is true that different media will affect teenagers differently
C further research on the link between depression and various
media forms is needed
 Types of Texts
Drawing conclusion/making inferences about the writer’s main point.
30.In paragraph 1, the writer is making the point that
A Japan is not really homogenous
B the Ainu look different than the Japanese
C the Japanese language and culture are unique
D the ethnographers are wrong in their perception about the Japanese
Relationship between ideas in/between sentences
31. This sentence Or were. (line 5) means
A the Ainu were hunter gatherers
B the Ainu’s territory had been taken over
C Ainu women no longer tattooed their lips
D the Ainu nowadays do not look that different from the Japanese.
Distinguishing True and Relevant Statements from False and Irrelevant Statements
32. What is true about the Ainu?
A They were persecuted by the Japanese
B They reared animals and planted crops for food.
C They were forced to intermarry with the Japanese
D They moved from Sakhalin and Kurile to Hokkaido.
Comprehending the main idea from a paragraph.
33. Paragraph 3 is mainly about
A why the Ainu were most researched
B the origin of the Ainu, an indigenous group in Japan.
C the racial differences between the Ainu and the
Japanese
D the assimilation of the Ainu into the Japanese culture
Following the development of a story/description and
understanding the cause and effect relationship
between events.
34. Why are Japan’s racial chauvinist (line 23) infuriated?
A They are not direct Japanese descendants.
B They do not want to be identified as Koreans.
C They were not given as much attention as the Ainu.
D They were not associated with the invention of the
world’s earliest pottery.
Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information/Following the development of an
ideas and then understanding the main idea and the supporting details.
35. Until lately, many Ainu do not admit that they are Ainu for the following reasons except
A they are of mixed blood
B they have no legal protection from the government
C they want to avoid being discriminated against at work
D they do not want to spoil their chances of finding a spouse
Understanding the meaning of words used through relating it to the contextual clues in
the passage.
36. The writer uses the phrase let alone (line 35) for
A demonstration
B comparison
C illustration
D emphasis

37. The writer ends the passage by describing iyomante (line 41) to make the point that
A the Ainu are highly superstitious
B the Japanese will reject the Ainu culture
C the traditional Ainu ritual should be preserved
D there is a doubt about the full revival of Ainu culture
 Types of Question
Reading for the stated main ideas or interpreting the implied
main ideas.
38. In paragraph 1, the writer indicates that
A he had to abandon his passion for teaching
B his mother was wise enough to advise
C the economic conditions at that time changed his career decision
D he couldn’t follow his first choice since there was insufficient
information

Interpreting analogy/metaphorical references

39. The phrase that was the time when Apple was just a fruit (lines
9 and 10) means
A before the arrival of digital era
B computers were not very common
C digital skills were not part of the school curriculum
D people were not interested in learning about computers
Interpreting the writer’s choice of words/expressions and making
sense of the purpose of such expressions from the context of the
passage.
41. The future will not be not be about people competing with
machines, it will be about people using machines (lines 26 to 28)
implies that in future
A employees will become more efficient
B machines will work together with humans
C machines will replace the usual jobs done by humans
D employees will need technological skills to operate the machines
Following the development of a paragraph and identifying the
writing technique used by the writer.
42 Paragraph 4 is developed mainly through
A listing (list)
B comparison (C&C)
C cause and effect (C&E)
D definition and elaboration (DDE)
Reading to grasp the main idea from a paragraph/Interpreting the main
message from a paragraph.
43. What is the main idea of paragraph 5?
A Development of communication skills will require digital creative tools.
B Keeping up with strategies demanded by the industry is crucial.
C Not all jobs require technology skills.
D Social interaction skills are necessary
44. What is the writer’s advice in paragraph 6?
A Know what you are good at.
B Keep your options open.
C Invest in education
D Follow your heart
Understanding the embedded message/subtle idea
45. The last paragraph implies that
A passion is not easy to be followed.
B it is better to be realistic when choosing a career path
C nurturing interest can be challenging and requires time
D higher education is incapable of preparing the future generation