Reading Skills Assessed
The Reading Correspondence section evaluates several skills related to reading and comprehension, including:
Understanding Main Ideas: You will be assessed on your ability to identify the main ideas and key points in the correspondence.
Interpreting Details: This part tests your comprehension of specific details, such as dates, times, locations, prices, or other factual information mentioned in the correspondence.
Inference and Deduction: You must make reasonable inferences and deductions based on the information provided in the correspondence.
Vocabulary and Contextual Understanding: Your understanding of vocabulary in context will be assessed. It would be best to grasp the meaning of words or phrases based on the surrounding text.
😎Here are 10 tips and examples to help you succeed in the CELPIP Part 1: Reading Correspondence😎
1. Read the Instructions Carefully
Pay close attention to the instructions for each question. Understand what is being asked before attempting to answer.
Example: "Choose the option that best completes the sentence" or "Select the title that best describes the passage."
2. Skim the Correspondence
Quickly scan through the correspondence to understand the content and identify any headings, subheadings, or essential keywords.
Example: Skim through an email to identify phrases like "meeting details" or "important announcement."
3. Highlight Keywords
Once you have skimmed the correspondence, go back and highlight or underline keywords relevant to the question. This will help you focus on key information while answering.
Example: Highlight words like "date," "time," or "location" when searching for specific details.
4. Identify the Purpose and Tone
Pay attention to the purpose and tone of the correspondence, as this can help you determine the appropriate answer. You will also need to make reasonable inferences and deductions based on the information provided in the correspondence.
Example: Identify whether an email is formal or informal or whether a notice is meant to inform or persuade.
5. Understand the Context
Consider the context in which the correspondence is written. This will help you make accurate inferences and deductions.
Example: If an email discusses a project deadline, consider the workplace setting and the implications of meeting the deadline.
6. Eliminate Incorrect Options
If you are unsure about an answer, try eliminating any incorrect options. This increases your chances of selecting the correct answer.
Example: If the correspondence concerns a social event, eliminate options related to a work meeting.
7. Pay Attention to Quantitative Information and details
Be mindful of numerical or quantitative information mentioned in the correspondence, such as
dates, times, locations, prices, quantities or other factual information mentioned in the correspondence dates. These details are often essential to answer the questions accurately.
Example: If the question asks for the date of an event, pay attention to any specific date mentioned in the correspondence.
8. Practice Time Management
Since the CELPIP test is time-limited, manage your time effectively. Allocate a specific amount of time for each question, and move on if you're struggling with a particular item.
Example: Set a time limit of 1 minute and 30 seconds per question to ensure you have enough time to answer all the items.
9. Review Your Answers
If time permits, review your answers before submitting the test. Double-check for any errors or potential improvements.
Example: Review your options for each question to ensure they are the best choices based on the information provided.
10. Practice with Sample Tests
Practice with sample tests to familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions. This will help you become comfortable with the test structure and improve your performance.
Example: Use practice materials provided by CELPIP or seek additional resources that offer sample Reading Correspondence sections.
Implementing these tips and practicing regularly can improve your performance in the CELPIP Reading Part 1: Reading Correspondence section.
🤓Practice Task - Reading Part 1 - Reading Correspondence 🤓
Read the following message-
Dear Joan,
I enjoyed receiving your postcards with the glowing descriptions of your recent trip to Europe. Of course, when I told Benny about your trip, he wanted to revisit Paris immediately, especially after an unusual dining experience we had here last week. Being the food critic for the *Winnipeg Daily News* for ten years now, Benny thought that he’d seen and tasted everything. Well, that was until last Friday night.
We went to a new restaurant called Le French, on the corner of Davis Street and Park Avenue. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that this restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine. When Benny asked the waiter why the owners decided to name an Italian restaurant Le French, he simply said, “Don’t ask me!” Then a little while later, this same waiter knocked over Benny’s wine glass, spilling red wine onto Benny’s pants. The waiter merely said, “Oops, sorry!” and left us to fend for ourselves. After finding some extra napkins and cleaning up the wine, Benny fleetingly thought of leaving, but, being a consummate professional reviewer and hoping that the food might surpass the service, we stayed. Was that ever a mistake!
I ordered spaghetti with tomato sauce—that’s about as simple a meal as you can get—and Benny decided to try the restaurant's specialty, lasagna. Well, my spaghetti was not fully cooked, and the tomato sauce tasted like the canned sauces you would find on a supermarket shelf. Benny’s lasagna was inedible—full of dry cheese and very little sauce. Fortunately, the fresh bread eased our hunger somewhat, although the butter was cold and much too hard to spread, which didn’t improve our mood.
As we were about to leave, the restaurant owner apologized for ruining Benny’s pants and said that Benny didn’t have to pay for his meal. However, he did not offer to compensate Benny for his ruined trousers. Benny wants to give Le French a special award for the worst culinary experience he’s ever had, but I’m trying to calm him down a bit before he writes a highly critical review.
Give us a call before you come to town next month and we’ll arrange to go somewhere special to celebrate your birthday—but rest assured that it won’t be Le French.
Cheers,
Tracy
---
Choose the most suitable option according to the information given in the message.
1. Benny ▾
A. writes reports on restaurants.
B. is a professional chef.
C. was in Paris last week.
D. dislikes Italian food.
2. Benny went with Tracy to a local restaurant which ▾
A. they had seen advertised in the newspaper.
B. had been recommended by a friend.
C. they both soon regretted visiting.
D. was well established in the neighbourhood.
3. Having spilled wine on Benny’s pants,▾
A. the waiter didn’t apologize.
B. the owner offered to pay for the cleaning costs.
C. the waiter brought Benny an extra napkin.
D. the waiter didn’t help to clean up.
4. Tracy’s spaghetti ▾
A. was much better than Benny’s lasagna.
B. was much worse than Benny’s lasagna.
C. was no better than Benny’s lasagna.
D. was almost as good as Benny’s lasagna.
5. Benny would like to▾
A. write a negative review of Le French.
B. write to the owner asking for compensation.
C. write to the owner and suggest an award.
D. write to Joan about visiting Paris for her birthday.
6. Tracy and Benny would like to▾
A. celebrate Joan’s birthday at Le French.
B. see Joan when she gets back from France.
C. take Joan to a French restaurant.
D. visit Joan before she comes home.
---
Here is a response to the message. Complete the response by filling in the blanks. According to the information given in the message, choose the most suitable option.
Hi Tracy,
It sounds like you had a really 7.__________ experience at Le French. I understand why Benny would love to visit France again; both the French and Italian food here 8. __________ Le French and probably anything you would find in Winnipeg. Even so, remember that Le French is a new restaurant, so maybe you should go there one more time before Benny 9. ___________. I know that the 10. __________ was bad, but it may be that this was not the regular waiter. Having said that, I think we should 11. ____________, when we meet next month.
Take care,
Joan
7.
A. disappointing
B. awesome
C. delightful
D. terrifying
8.
A. fall short of
B. are better than
C. are comparable to
D. dare far more expensive than
9.
A. takes me there for my birthday
B. calls the owner about his pants
C. writes a really bad review
D. visits Paris
10.
A. owner
B. spaghetti
C. wine
D. service
11.
A. go to a different restaurant
B. eat in my Paris apartment
C. avoid drinking the wine
D. try Le French again
---
Answers
1. writes reports on restaurants.
2. they both soon regretted visiting.
3. the waiter didn’t help to clean up.
4. was no better than Benny’s lasagna.
5. write a negative review of Le French.
6. see Joan when she gets back from France.
7. disappointing
8. are better than
9. writes a really bad review
10. service
11. go to a different restaurant
Personalised Live Lesson
Comments