Language Tips

CATalinuhan 2010 –

English

UP Lakan – Academic Committee Prepared by: Roll Jervis T. Manahan General Notes: • Please emphasize to your future “students” that English is a “subjective” subject as compared to the other subjects such as Math and Science, and that no matter how hard we try in reviewing them in the subject, we cannot really predict what will appear on the actual tests. However, we can foresee the types of test that will appear (i.e. Analogy, Find the error, Reading Comprehension). • Also, please stress that their chance of passing will highly depend on their knowledge on basic grammar and stock vocabulary, much of which will not be discussed in this session. • Please orient them that the English language parts of these entrance tests MIGHT include some objective items in literature and other disciplines of learning and not in pure grammar only. So, the employment of common sense and stock knowledge is crucial in passing any language test. • Some entrance tests such as the ACET sometimes include essay writing parts. Beware. • A helpful tip in reading comprehension – Try reading the questions first. The Reading Comprehension part usually use lengthy selections followed by a few questions, so advice them to read the questions first but also focus on details. Time is a great adversary in this part of the test. Part I. Language A. Vocabulary Words (Synonyms and Antonyms) -Note that this part might “exist” in two ways: Case A. Words are used in a sentence (the easier one, requires skills in deciphering context clues) i.e. 1) In school, we’re reminded of the altruistic deeds of Mother Teresa. a) good b) generous c) so on and so forth Case B. Words stand alone (harder one, not in the mock exam) or in phrases i.e. 1) Altruistic a) good b) generous c) so on and so forth rjtmanahan Revised: June 23, 2010

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or 2) Altruistic deeds a) good b) generous c) so on and so forth

Note to the Teacher: 1. Case A has a higher probability to appear in the entrance tests, although there is a possibility for Case B. Either way, advice your students to always use the “elimination method”.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Eliminate the choices that are:  Totally irrelevant in the context.  Choices that have the same meaning are usually unlikely to be the correct answer. o For example, if both words “pretty” and “beautiful” appear as choices, eliminate them right away. Tell your students to always analyze each sentence carefully before answering. Some items might just be trick questions. Usually, in a question of four choices, two are readily “eliminateable”. The test-taker will usually just be torn with two of the choices. Tell them to replace the underlined word with each of the choices. The one that sounds best is usually the most “likely” answer. If, in case, Case B is used and the test-taker has totally not a single idea on the word, last resort is errr... minie-minie mai ni mo! Expose your students to as many words as you can and their probable synonyms/antonyms. This is apart from those in the mock exam. B. Analogy (Single-Word or Double-Word analogy) Both types work in the same way, the test-taker must determine the relation between the given pair of words and apply them to the “next” pair. (i.e. If the first pair are synonyms, then the next pair MUST be synonyms also). This is the basic key in answering analogies. Explain this to your students and give examples apart from those in the mock exam. C. Find the Error This part requires knowledge in grammar rules such as subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and practically all possible theories in the English language. This part also tests the general fluency of the test-taker in English. 

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Some tips for your students: (Examples will be given by the moderator) It is wrong when/if: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

The subject and verb do not agree. There are redundant terms. Wrong/double adjective comparisons. Wrong modifier is used Improper contractions of words. No parallelism in the object (esp. gerund and infinitives) Improper usage of punctuation marks. Tenses of verbs aren’t consistent Words are not used as they should be. Or words are irrelevant to the sentence. 10.There are dangling and squinting modifiers. 11.Inexistent and Wrong Words and phrases (e.g alright, jewelries) *Refer to “The Elements of Style” (Strunk, William and White, E.B.) Part II. Reading Comprehension As previously mentioned, do advice your students to go over the questions first before reading the entire selection. Time is a great challenge in the part of the test-taker. But please tell them to really focus on what they are reading and carefully analyze what is written. This part is relatively easy compared to the language part. One should just manage his time well. Tips: 1. Know the number of selections beforehand and the allotted time for the entire reading comprehension part. This will help you know how much time to allot on each. 2. Read the questions and skim the paragraph, there is no need to fully read and understand it. But do not be careless. A good understanding of the selection will help you answer the succeeding questions. 3. Answer the short selections first before proceeding to the longer ones. 4. Discuss the selections in the mock exam.

Part III. Essay (if there are any) The UPCAT does not include essay parts, at least in the recent years. But some say that ACET does. So better orient them that essay parts might actually appear in entrance tests. Tips: 1. When you see an essay part in the entrance tests, DO NOT PANIC. 2. Simply do what is asked. Write it the best way you can. Follow specific instructions, if there are any. rjtmanahan Revised: June 23, 2010

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3. Exposition is different from narration and is different from description. 4. Write what is relevant, avoid excessive details. Go straight to the point, do not circumnavigate the topic. Entrance exams with essay parts do not require lengthy and creative pieces, so go for brevity. 5. Observe rules in grammar, and in punctuation.

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