La Estructura de Lectura: Ponerlo Todo en Práctica - Aprenda Rápido Lectura en Inglés

Pasaje de Práctica 1

Comience con el siguiente pasaje. Léalo con cuidado y márquelo. Contesta las preguntas que siguen.

There are several reasons why Brad's family is in financial trouble these days. The problems started with, and probably all stem from, his dad's loss of his job in February. That instantly hit home, and the whole family had to start being very parsimonious, saving every penny they could. Things got worse, though, when his sister Helen got pneumonia. The medical bills added up, since she was in the hospital for a full month. Halfway through, she got fired from her part-time job at the restaurant, so what little cash she had been contributing to the family suddenly vanished without a trace. Now, Brad's mother has been working more hours, but that has caused problems of its own: She's constantly tired, irritable, and sometimes sick. Things are hard at Brad's house right now, but with spring on the way, they remain hopeful.

1. Which two organizational strategies does the author use?
   1. chronological order
   2. order of importance
   3. compare and contrast
   4. cause and effect
2. Parsimonious means
   1. sad; depressed
   2. nervous; unsure
   3. careful about spending; thrifty
   4. difficult; not easy
3. What started the financial trouble for Brad's family?
4. What happened as a result of the initial cause?
   1.  
   2.  
   3.  
   4.  
   5.  
   6.  

Respuestas

1. a, d. Los sucesos se narran en el orden en que tomaron lugar, y se hace claro cada conexión entre ellos.
2. c. En este contexto, parsimonious tiene que ver con la práctica de no malgastar dinero.
3. Todos los problemas surgen del momento en que el padre de Brad perdió su trabajo.
4. After Brad's father lost his job, events took place in this order:
   1. The family had to start saving money.
   2. His sister Helen got pneumonia.
   3. The family missed the money she would have contributed.
   4. Helen lost her part-time job.
   5. Brad's mother started working longer.
   6. Brad's mother began to be tired, irritable, and sick.

¿Cómo fue? ¿Pudo notar cada una de las causas que conducen a un efecto, y como causó que pasara algo más (otro efecto)?

Pasaje de Práctica 2

Trate el pasaje siguiente. De nuevo, léalo cuidadosamente, marcándo lo a medida que lea, y luego conteste las preguntas que siguen.

There are several changes in the procedure for employees who wish to apply for vacant positions within the company. These changes make it much easier for in-house employees to fill vacancies that occur within the company.

First, the most important difference is that employees will now be notified of all available positions before the positions are advertised for the general public. Accordingly, all in-house candidates will be interviewed before we see any outside candidates, and we will offer the job to outside candidates only if no current employees are able to fill the position.

Second, under the new procedure inhouse employees can be hired even if they don't meet all job requirements. Under our old policy, in-house employees had to meet all job qualifications in order to obtain the vacant position. Now, however, employees who have proven themselves dedicated to the coompany will be hired for a vacant position even if they are lacking some minor qualifications; training will be provided.

A third change involves recommendations. From now on, employees do not need to be recommended for an in-house position before they apply. Instead, employees may apply as soon as they are aware of the vacancy. The remaining procedures and policies (those regarding increase in pay, interview procedure, and hiring approval) remain the same.

5. Which two organizational strategies does this writer use?
   1. chronological order
   2. order of importance
   3. compare and contrast
   4. cause and effect
6. The author organizes the ideas in order of
   1. decreasing importance (most important to least important).
   2. increasing importance (least important to most important).
7. Underline the sentence in this passage that expresses the main idea.
8. The sentence you underlined is
   1. fact.
   2. opinion.

Respuestas

5. b, c. El autor usa el orden de importancia para comparar el antiguo con el nuevo procedimiento.
6. a. El autor organiza sus ideas en orden de mayor a menor importancia. Comienza con el cambio más importante ("First, the most important difference is …") y continúa con el segundo y el tercero.
7. The sentence that expresses the main idea of all four paragraphs is the second sentence in the first paragraph: "These changes make it much easier for in-house employees to fill vacancies." Although the first sentence tells us what all the paragraphs will be about (the changes in the procedure), it is the second sentence that expresses an opinion—how the author feels about this subject—and therefore it is the main idea.
8. b. This sentence expresses an opinion, not a fact. There have indeed been changes—that is a fact—but whether those changes make things easier for most employees is debatable. There may be some things about the old procedure that we don't know. Perhaps, for example, they opened the job to both in-house employees and the general public at the same time, but they interviewed all in-house employees first anyway. Because of our limited information about the old procedure, we cannot accept the idea that the change is better as fact.

Pasaje de Práctica 3

Ahora es su turno. En este ejercicio, comience con un párrafo organizado de una manera—de acuerdo a cause y efecto—y añada otra estructura: orden de importancia.

Esto es lo que tiene que hacer: Vuelva a leer los dos pasajes sobre el efecto de una regulación en contra del fumar. Decida con qué autor está más de acuerdo, y después observe los efectos que el autor predice. ¿Qué efecto cree usted el más importante? ¿Cúal es el menos importante? Organice estos efectos en orden de importancia y luego decida si quiere comenzar con la idea más imporante y terminar con la menos importante o viceversa. Finalmente, póngalo todo por escrito en un párrafo en el espacio provisto.

Párrafo A

A no-smoking policy would be disastrous. Over one-third of our employees smoke an average of three-quarters of a pack per day. If they will no longer be allowed to smoke in the office, they will need to take longer breaks (because they must now leave the building in order to smoke). As a result, they will be less productive. In addition, because their breaks must be longer, they must take fewer breaks and only at certain times in the day when they are able to get away for longer periods of time. Consequently, there will be long stretches of time between cigarettes for them, so many of these employees will be extremely irritable. This irritability will inevitably affect their coworkers. Furthermore, many long-term smokers will simply quit their jobs rather than put up with this irritability. They will simply find another company that will let them smoke at work.

Parráfo B

A no-smoking policy would be a tremendous benefit to all of our employees. If smoking is eliminated in the office, all employees will be able to breathe air free from any second-hand smoke while at work. Futhermore, our clean air won't drive out any potential clients or employees who are irritated by smoke. In addition, those who do smoke may find it easier to quit or at least reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke during the day because cigarette breaks will not be as accessible. Also, employees will be more productive, because they won't be able to take such frequent cigarette breaks. Finally, we will be able to reduce the cost of our healthcare benefits once our office officially becomes a no-smoking environment. This will save every employee money.

9. Rank the ideas of the paragraph you have chosen in order of their importance to you.
10. Now write a paragraph, choosing whether to put the ideas in the order of increasing importance or decreasing importance.