Reading Comprehension

Overview

Reading Comprehension is a core component of the English section in HTET across all three levels (PRT, TGT, and PGT). It tests your ability to understand, interpret, and analyse unseen passages of prose and poetry without prior preparation. This section typically carries 8–12 marks and directly assesses language proficiency skills that teachers must possess and eventually develop in their students.

Success in this section requires more than just reading speed—it demands the ability to grasp main ideas, infer meaning from context, identify the author's tone and purpose, and answer vocabulary-based questions drawn from the passage. Since passages are unseen, you cannot memorise content; instead, you must build transferable reading strategies. For poetry passages, additional skills like understanding figures of speech, rhyme schemes, and poetic devices become relevant.

Key Concepts

• **Skimming vs Scanning**: Skimming means reading quickly to grasp the overall theme; scanning means searching for specific details like names, dates, or numbers. Use both strategically.