How do CAT Winners Improve their Reading skills?

Cat Winners generally have very good Reading Skills. These skills are invaluable
not only
for the Reading Comprehension section of the CAT, but also other sections like R
easoning
and even maths.
They use certain reading techniques that greatly increase their comprehension an
d reduce
the time required to learn new subjects.
You must remember that quick tips like skimming the passage etc will simply not
work
unless you are an effective reader.
These quick tips have to be used in conjunction with an effective way of reading
.
One of the most effective way of reading is the SQ3R method:
Scan.
Question.
Read.
Review.
Recite.
Scanning provides a rapid overview. Many well written books follow logical outli
nes that can
orient the reader to the subject matter.
The outline might follow this pattern:
Title.
Table of Contents.
Main Introduction and conclusion.
Chapter 1.
Introduction.
Conclusion.
Chapter 2.
Chapter 3.
Conclusion.
Definitions.
Questioning is a natural, instinctive, second step that most winners follow. In
the scanning
process, certain questions naturally arise.
These should be noted in a short list of questions to be answered through readin
g. The
questioning procedure helps the reader stay focused.
Reading occurs very rapidly if a systematic plan is followed:
First, determine the main idea from the title, the first paragraph, and the last
paragraph.
Second, determine if a large subject is divided into smaller subjects with some
outlining
scheme.
Next, follow the title, introduction, body, conclusion rule to find the main ide
a of each smaller
section. Each smaller section can then be scanned for keywords. Keyword recognit
ion
signals the reader to pay closer attention for critical definitions and ideas th
at follow.
Finally, review as often as necessary to keep focused. Outlining and
note taking often help.
Once you start to become an effective reader, you will find that you are also be
coming a
faster reader.
Together with the SQ3R method, if you use the tactical reading tips below, you w
ill find
yourself on the way to becoming Critical Reading Winner!

Winning Tips to increase your reading speed

As we read, our eyes move along the line in a series of jerky movements, stoppin
g at each
word. Fast readers usually taken in 3-4 words in each movement that their eye ma
kes.
The more words you can take in with each movement of the eye, teh faster your re
ading will
be.
- Try to avoid focusing on every word, but rather look at groups of 2 to 3 words
.
e.g. the above sentence could be read as:
Try to avoid / focusing on every work/but / rather look at / groups of 2 to 3 wo
rds.
- If you find yourself moving your lips when reading, force yourself to read fa
ster by following
the first point above so that you can no longer move your lips.
- Read more! 15 minutes a day of reading an average size novel equals 18 books
a year
at an average reading speed!
- Determine your purpose before reading. If you only need main ideas, then all
ow yourself
to skim the material. Don't feel you must read very word.
- Spend a few minutes a day reading at a faster than comfortable rate (about 2
to 3 times
faster than your normal speed). Use your hand or an index card to guide your eye
s down
the page. Then time yourself reading a few pages at your normal speed. You'll fi
nd that
often your normal reading speed will increase after your skimming practice.
- If you have poor concentration when reading, practice reading for only 5 - 1
0 minutes at a
time and gradually increase this time.
- There are several books on increasing reading speed available in most bookst
ores. If
you are serious about increasing your rate you may want to work systematically t
hrough one
of these books.
You can also look at the Ultimate Guide to cracking the CAT for more quick tips
to
improving your Reading Comprehension.

To give you some quick practice on your newly learned reading skills, try the pa
ssage
below. This is a typical long reading comprehension passage that you might find
in the
actual CAT.

Read this passage and answer the questions that follow.

CAT Winners are able to read the passage and answer the questions in roughly 10
minutes, and get 5 out of 6 question correct.

There are two theories that have often been used to explain ancient and modern t
ragedy. Neither
quite explains the complexity of the tragic process or the tragic hero, but each
explains important
elements of tragedy, and, because their conclusions are contradictory, they repr
esent extreme
views.
and of the limitation of human effort. But this theory of tragedy is an oversimp
lification, primarily
because it confuses the tragic condition with the tragic process: the theory doe
s not acknowledge
that fate, in a tragedy, normally becomes external to the hero only after the tr
agic process has as a
heroism that creates the splendor and exhilaration that is unique to tragedy. Th
e tragic hero quality
of an honest person, but the external antagonist of the criminal. Secondarily, t
his theory of tragedy
does not distinguish tragedy from irony. Irony does not need an exceptional cent
ral figure: the
original destiny never quite fades out of the tragedy.
as a rule, the more ignoble the hero the sharper the irony, when irony alone is
the objective. It is
heroism that creates the splendor and exhilaration that is unique to tragedy. Th
e tragic hero
normally has an extraordinary, often a nearly divine, destiny almost within gras
p, and the glory of
the original destiny never quite fades out of the tragedy.
The second theory of tragedy states that the act that sets the tragic process in
motion must be
primarily a violation of normal law, whether human or divine; in short, that the
tragic hero must have
a flaw that has an essential connection with sin. Again it is true that the grea
t majority of tragic
heroes do possess hubris, or a proud and passionate mind that seems to make the
hero s downfall
morally explicable. But such hubris is only the precipitating agent of catastrop
he, just as in comedy
the cause )f the happy ending is usually some act of humility often performed by
a noble character
who is meanly disguised.
This theory of tragedy as morally explicable runs into the question of whether a
n innocent sufferer
in a tragedy, such as Iphigenia, or Socrates in Plato Apology, is a tragic figur
e. They are, of course,
even though it is not very easy to find crucial moral flaws in them. Cordelia sh
ows sincerity and high
spirit in refusing to flatter her faber, and Cordelia is 30 hanged. Tragedy, in
short, is ambiguous
and cannot be reduced to the opposition between human effort. and external fate,
just as it cannot
be reduced to the opposition between good and evil.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is. to
A) compare and criticize two theories of tragedy.
B) develop a new theory of tragedy.
C) summarize the thematic content of tragedy.
D) reject one theory of tragedy and offer another theory in its place.
E) distinguish between tragedy and iron
2. The author states that the theories discussed in the passage represent
extreme views
because their conclusions are
(A) unpopular (B) complex (C) paradoxical
(D) contradictory. (E) imaginative
3. Which of the following comparisons of the tragic with the ironic hero
is best supported by
information contained in the passage?
A) A tragic hero s fate is an external condition, but an ironic hero s fate i
s an internal one.
B) A tragic hero must be controlled by fate, but an ironic hero cannot be
.
C) A tragic hero s moral flaw surprises the, audience, but an ironic hero s s
in does not.
D) A tragic hero and an ironic hero cannot both be virtuous figures in th
e same tragedy.
E) A tragic hero is usually extraordinary, but an ironic hero may be cowa
rdly or even villainous.
4. The author contrasts an honest person and a criminal primarily in orde
r to
A) prove that fate cannot be external to the tragic hero.
B) establish a criterion that allows a distinction to be made between iro
ny and tragedy.
C) develop the distinction between the tragic condition and the tragic pr
ocess.
D) introduce the concept of sin as the cause of tragic action.
E) argue that the theme of omnipotent external fate is shared by comedy a
nd tragedy.
5. According to the. author, Cordellia is an example of a figure who
A) transcended both the laws of fate and the laws of society.
B) sinned, but whose sin did not set the tragic process in motion.
C) disobeyed a moral law, but was not punished for doing so.
D) submitted willingly to fate, even though her submission caused her dea
th.
E) did not set the tragic process in motion, but is still a tragic figure
.
6. In the author s opinion, an act of humility in comedy is most analogous
to
A) a catastrophe in tragedy.
B) an ironic action in tragedy.
C) a tragic hero s pride and passion
D) a tragic hero s aversion to sin.
E) a tragic hero s pursuit of an unusual destiny.

Answers
1. The passage juxtaposes two contradictory theories of tragedy. See the
first sentence of
para 1. Hence, (A).
2. No tenable middle ground can be sought when two disparate theories are
juxtaposed. Refer
para 1. Hence, (D).
3. See the last 3 sentences of paragraph 2. It clearly states that irony do
es not need an
exceptional character. It is heroism that qualifies tragedy. Hence, (E).
4. The argument laid forth in sentences 2 - 8.of paragraph 2, is supporte
d by this illustration.
Hence, (C).
5. Cordulia is presented as an innocent victim of fate. Hence, (E).
6. Refer to paragraph 3. The author states the proud and passionate mind
of a gragic hero as
hubris. He further states that the hubris in a comedy is usually some act of humi
lity . Hence, (C).