The author discusses naturally occurring Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria in the first paragraph primarily in order t...
HananFrancisJuly 9, 2019
Reading Comprehending
I am having a hard time trying to properly summarise each paragraph because I am not comprehending what I am reading. I will reread the section and end up getting 4 out of the 5 questions incorrect.
Do y'all have any tips on how to comprehend while reading? I know it must seem like a strange question, but I am missing multiple questions because of it.
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I also have the same problem as the person above. Are there any suggestions on what to do if we reach the end of a paragraph but are unable to summarize it within 3-5 words?
IrinaJuly 26, 2019
@HananFrancis & Julie,
It is not necessary to attempt to summarize every paragraph with only 3-5 words, especially if it is information dense. For a complex technical passage like this one, one approach would be to read the question first and focus specifically on what it is asking.
Let's say the first question is asking what is the purpose of discussing Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria in the first paragraph. As you go through the passage, it might be helpful to identify major themes for each of the paragraphs and summarize them in the form of an argument as you would do for a logical reasoning question.
For example:
Paragraph (1): Evidence suggests that treating crops with Pf bacteria combats harmful phytopathogens and increases yield
Notice that there is a lot of additional information in the first paragraph but as it turns out it does not advance the rest of the argument.
Paragraph (2): Use of genetically modified bacteria could benefit crop yields (lines 26-29)
This sentence stands out at the main argument of the passage, and together with the discussion in paragraph (1), it supports answer choice (D).
Paragraph (3): Genetic alteration techniques could result in desirable crop properties not found in nature further supporting further scientific research despite certain risks.
This brief summary of each of the paragraph allows us to see that the author is a strong advocate for scientific research into genetically modified bacteria and structures his argument by providing motivation for this research (paragraph 1), followed by a brief discussion of cons and pros and specific applications (paragraph 2), and concluding that research could substantially improve agriculture despite certain concerns (paragraph 3).
