Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0039 · Lesson No.039 · A1 → A2 Reading
Reading Everyday Stories and Articles | 阅读日常故事与文章
Read the text as a system of ideas, not a line of words waiting to be translated.
把文章看成一套“意思之间的关系”，不要把它只看成一排等待翻译的单词。
A2 reading means following meaning across several sentences. You need to know what the text is about, how each paragraph helps, what pronouns refer to, what changed, what caused what, and which details actually matter.
这一课训练“跨句阅读”。目标是跟住主题、顺序、指代、因果、转折和简单推断。
Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.038 · Longer Everyday Conversations
The reading map | 阅读路线
- preview title and source
- predict topic
- skim for main idea
- scan for detail
- identify paragraph job
- track sequence
- track pronoun reference
- notice cause/contrast/result
- guess vocabulary from context
- separate fact/opinion
- make simple inference
- summarise in one sentence
1. Preview before reading | 先预览
Look at:
- title
- headings
- source
- picture/caption if present
- first sentence
This creates a topic prediction.
2. Predict the topic | 预测主题
Title: A Rainy Journey Home
Possible topic words: train, bus, weather, delay, home.
Prediction prepares your vocabulary without guaranteeing the answer.
3. Skimming | 略读
Skimming means reading quickly for the main idea.
Ask:
- What is this mainly about?
- What happened overall?
- What is the writer trying to explain?
4. Scanning | 扫读
Scanning means looking for a specific detail.
- time
- name
- price
- date
- place
You do not need to read every word equally.
5. Main idea | 主旨
The main idea is the central message, not every detail.
Example:
Text details: train delayed, rain, taxi expensive, bus slow.
Main idea: A difficult journey home.
6. Supporting detail | 支撑细节
Details explain, prove or illustrate the main idea.
7. Paragraph job | 每段做什么
Common paragraph jobs:
- introduce topic
- describe event
- give reason
- give example
- compare
- explain result
- conclude
8. Topic sentence | 主题句
A paragraph often has a sentence that states its main point, though it may not always be first.
9. Sequence words | 顺序词
- first
- then
- next
- after that
- finally
These help you reconstruct event order.
10. Time markers | 时间标记
- that morning
- later
- two hours later
- the next day
- last year
11. Cause | 原因
Look for:
- because
- because of
- since — recognition, context-dependent
Example: She took a taxi because the train was cancelled.
12. Result | 结果
- so
- therefore — recognition
- as a result — recognition
Example: The train was cancelled, so she took a taxi.
13. Contrast | 转折
- but
- however
- although — recognition
Contrast warns you that the direction is changing.
14. Addition | 补充
- and
- also
- in addition — recognition
15. Example signals | 例子信号
- for example
- for instance — recognition
- such as
16. Pronoun reference | 代词指代
Read:
Anna bought a new phone. She needed it for work.
- She = Anna
- it = phone
If you lose reference, the paragraph can become confusing.
17. He / she / they | 人物指代
Ask: Who was mentioned most recently and logically fits?
18. It / this / that | 物和事情指代
The train was cancelled. This caused a long delay.
This refers to the cancellation/event.
19. One / ones | 替代名词
The blue shirt was cheaper than the black one.
one = shirt.
20. Reference chain | 指代链
Anna → she → her → she
Track the chain across several sentences.
21. Vocabulary from context | 用语境猜词
Sentence:
The café was packed, so there were no empty tables.
You may infer packed means very full/crowded from the result.
22. Definition clue | 定义线索
A pedestrian is a person who is walking, especially near roads.
The text defines the word directly.
23. Example clue | 例子线索
Public transport, such as buses and trains, can reduce traffic.
Examples help define the category.
24. Contrast clue | 对比线索
The first room was tiny, but the second was spacious.
Contrast suggests spacious means having more space.
25. Do not guess beyond the evidence | 不要过度猜
If context only tells you “negative feeling”, do not invent an exact dictionary meaning.
26. Skip non-blocking words | 不影响主旨的生词先跳过
If an unknown adjective does not change the task answer, continue.
27. Fact | 事实
A fact in the text is presented as verifiable information.
The shop closes at 8 PM.
28. Opinion | 观点
The shop is the best in town.
This is a judgement unless supported by a defined measure.
29. Opinion signals | 观点信号
- I think
- in my opinion
- better/best
- beautiful
- boring
Some adjectives can be subjective.
30. Simple inference | 简单推断
Text:
David looked at the clock, picked up his bag and ran to the station.
Possible inference: he may be late or in a hurry.
The text does not explicitly say “late”, so label it as an inference.
31. Evidence for inference | 推断要有证据
Inference = text clue + reasonable conclusion.
32. Do not confuse inference with imagination | 推断不是乱猜
You cannot infer David’s job, age or personality from that sentence.
33. Author purpose | 作者目的
Simple purposes:
- inform
- describe
- explain
- tell a story
- give advice
- persuade — recognition
34. Story structure | 故事结构
- setting
- event/problem
- response
- result
35. Everyday article structure | 日常文章结构
- topic
- main point
- examples/details
- ending
36. Instruction text | 说明文
Look for:
- materials/items
- ordered steps
- warnings
- result
37. Review text | 评论/评价文本
Look for:
- what was used/visited
- positive points
- negative points
- overall opinion
38. Travel story | 旅行故事
Track place + time + event + feeling.
39. Problem-solution article | 问题解决文章
Track:
- problem
- cause
- attempt
- solution
- result
40. Paragraph summary | 段落总结
After each paragraph, write 3–7 words.
- “train delayed”
- “takes bus instead”
- “arrives late”
41. One-sentence text summary | 一句话总结全文
Use:
This text is mainly about ______.
42. Five-question reading check | 五问阅读法
- Who/what?
- Where?
- When?
- What happened?
- Why/result?
43. Title after reading | 读完再检查标题
Ask whether the title now makes sense and whether your first prediction was correct.
44. Mandarin transfer: pronouns may be omitted more in Chinese | 中文省略与英语指代
English connected texts often use explicit pronouns. Chinese readers may need to train active pronoun tracking rather than relying only on topic continuity.
45. Mandarin transfer: sentence-by-sentence translation | 逐句翻译问题
Translating every sentence can hide paragraph relationships. Read connectors first.
46. Mandarin transfer: long English noun phrases | 英语长名词短语
Break them from the head noun:
the new train station near the airport
- head noun: station
- which station? new train station
- where? near airport
47. Reading speed: meaning groups | 按意群读
Do not read one word at a time.
After work / Mei went to the station / because she needed to meet her sister.
48. Mark connectors, not every word | 标连接词
Circle mentally:
- because
- but
- so
- then
- however
49. Reading practice A: difficult journey | 阅读 A
On Friday evening, Mei left work later than usual. She planned to take the train home, but when she arrived at the station, the departure board showed a twenty-minute delay. Because heavy rain had slowed several services, the platform was crowded. Mei considered taking a taxi, but the price was high. In the end, she waited for the train. It arrived thirty minutes late, and she reached home just before nine.
- Why did Mei arrive at the station later than usual?
- What was the first problem?
- Why were services slow?
- Why didn’t she take a taxi?
- What did she finally do?
- What is the main idea?
50. Reading practice B: café review | 阅读 B
Green Café opened near my office two months ago. The room is small, but it feels bright because of the large windows. The coffee is more expensive than at the café across the road, although the food is better. I usually go there when I need a quiet place to work. For me, the best thing is the friendly service.
- When did the café open?
- Why does the room feel bright?
- What is more expensive?
- What is better?
- Which sentence is clearly opinion?
51. Reading practice C: learning habit | 阅读 C
David used to study English only on weekends, but he often forgot what he learned. This year, he changed his routine. Now he studies for fifteen minutes every morning and reviews old vocabulary on the train. He has found that shorter, regular practice is easier to continue. He still studies longer on Sunday, but daily practice has become the centre of his routine.
- What was David’s old routine?
- What problem did he have?
- What changed?
- What has he found?
- What is the contrast in the final sentence?
52. Vocabulary practice: infer from context | 语境猜词
From the café text, infer:
- bright
- across the road
- service
Then check a dictionary after making the guess.
53. Pronoun practice | 指代练习
Anna bought a ticket online. She saved it on her phone because she didn’t want to print it.
- She = ?
- it (first) = ?
- her = ?
- it (last) = ?
54. Paragraph-job practice | 段落功能练习
Give the learner three short paragraphs and label:
- problem
- attempt
- result
55. Error clinic | 常见阅读误区
| Problem | Better strategy |
|---|---|
| I translate every word. | Find main idea and connectors first. |
| I stop at unknown vocabulary. | Ask whether it blocks meaning. |
| I lose who “he/she/it” refers to. | Track reference chain. |
| I confuse opinion with fact. | Look for judgement language. |
| I guess too much. | Require textual evidence. |
56. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断
- I understand sentences but not whole paragraph → cohesion/connectors.
- I lose people/objects → pronoun reference.
- I know words but miss main idea → detail overload.
- I cannot guess words → context clue practice.
- I over-infer → evidence control.
- I read slowly word by word → meaning-group reading.
57. Retrieval lab | 提取练习
- 主旨 → ______
- 细节 → ______
- 原因 → ______
- 结果 → ______
- 转折 → ______
- 例如 → ______
- 事实 → ______
- 观点 → ______
- 推断 → ______
- 总结 → ______
Suggested answers: main idea / detail / cause/reason / result / contrast / for example / fact / opinion / inference / summary.
58. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟
| 2 min | preview/skim | 预览略读 |
| 2 min | paragraph job | 段落功能 |
| 2 min | reference/connectors | 指代连接 |
| 2 min | context vocabulary | 语境词汇 |
| 2 min | one-sentence summary | 总结 |
59. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练
| Day 1 | skimming/scanning | 略读扫读 |
| Day 2 | sequence | 顺序 |
| Day 3 | pronoun reference | 指代 |
| Day 4 | cause/contrast/result | 逻辑 |
| Day 5 | context vocabulary | 猜词 |
| Day 6 | fact/opinion/inference | 判断 |
| Day 7 | three-text reading test | 综合阅读 |
60. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测
- Define skimming.
- Define scanning.
- What is a main idea?
- What is a supporting detail?
- Name four paragraph jobs.
- Give five sequence words.
- Give two cause markers.
- Give two result markers.
- Give two contrast markers.
- Explain pronoun reference.
- What can “this” refer to?
- Explain context guessing.
- Give one definition clue.
- Give one example clue.
- Give one contrast clue.
- Define fact.
- Define opinion.
- Define inference.
- Why does inference need evidence?
- Name four author purposes.
- Give a simple story structure.
- Give a problem-solution structure.
- Write one paragraph summary in five words.
- Write one whole-text summary.
- Explain why translation can hide relationships.
- Break one long noun phrase into parts.
- Read one paragraph in meaning groups.
- Identify one opinion sentence.
- Make one supported inference.
- Summarise a short A2 text without translating every sentence.
Answer key | 答案
1 quick reading for main idea; 2 search for specific detail; 3 central message; 4 information supporting main point; 5 introduce/describe/reason/example/compare/result/conclude; 6 first/then/next/after that/finally; 7 because/because of; 8 so/therefore/as a result; 9 but/however/although; 10 pronoun points to earlier noun/person/idea; 11 noun or whole prior event; 12–30 answers vary.
61. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师
Ask comprehension questions before translation questions.
Teach paragraph relationships visually: arrows for cause, boxes for sequence, circles for pronoun links.
For Mandarin speakers, explicitly practise English pronoun chains and connector tracking without implying that Chinese discourse is deficient.
Require evidence for inference. This habit improves both language and critical reading.
62. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务
- Preview a text.
- Predict topic.
- Skim for main idea.
- Scan for five details.
- Label paragraph jobs.
- Track pronouns.
- Identify cause/contrast/result.
- Infer two words from context.
- Separate fact/opinion/inference.
- Summarise a 250-word everyday text in two sentences.
Next: Lesson No.040 | 下一课
Reading shows how ideas connect across a paragraph. The next lesson reverses that process: build your own connected paragraph with one clear topic, ordered support, reference, connectors and a controlled ending.
Lesson No.040 · Writing Connected Paragraphs · 写连贯段落
Reference floor: British Council A2 Pre-intermediate · British Council A2 Reading.
