| Preparing for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) | | | | exist. The qualifying phrase is "known for certain". |
| Reading Comprehension test is a tough | | | | To start building your skills, you need to develop |
| assignment, but one that any committed CHP | | | | the following process: |
| candidate can take control of with some | | | | 1. Obtain the basic facts in the passage being read |
| well-directed effort. | | | | by asking pertinent, information-gathering |
| Comprehensive reading is much like active | | | | questions: What happened? When did it happen? |
| listening. It is a skill that can be learned and | | | | Where did it happen? Who did it happen to or |
| enhanced through continual self-training. To be the | | | | who saw it? How did it happen? Why did it |
| most effective law enforcement officer, one of | | | | happen? |
| the important skills you need is to gather and | | | | 2. Determine the main message of the passage |
| accurately comprehend facts. Whether you are | | | | being read. |
| reading a written passage or 'reading' a crime | | | | 3. Using passage context, determine unfamiliar |
| scene, you must be able to ask important | | | | word meanings. |
| questions and develop answers based on facts. | | | | 4. Separate fact from opinion. |
| Jethro Leroy Gibbs, the lead character of the TV | | | | When gathering facts, you want to also make |
| series NCIS, is notorious for admonishing his team | | | | note of clarifying details - this means that the |
| to question everything, accept no coincidences, | | | | descriptive words that accompany fact words or |
| and apply only common sense to gathered facts. | | | | phrases are important qualifiers and quantifiers of |
| Fictional or not, this advice applies to reading | | | | that fact. Present and past tense, singular and |
| comprehension as well. | | | | plural word forms also clarify facts. Using these |
| The critical reader looks for clues in everything | | | | combined identifiers allows you to prioritize |
| they read - clues that help them understand the | | | | information and determine related facts. |
| author's message correctly and learn from the | | | | For reading comprehension practice, pick an article |
| information given. This process of uncovering | | | | in a magazine or newspaper and jot down the |
| clues is the beginning of a strong foundation for | | | | facts as you find them. Answer your |
| your reading comprehension skills. | | | | fact-gathering questions and then develop a |
| The answers you need for the CHP Reading | | | | summary conclusion about the information |
| Comprehension test are not hidden or secret, | | | | presented in the article. Could you tell someone |
| they do not require codes or specialized | | | | else what the article consisted of, based on your |
| knowledge either, all the facts you need are right | | | | fact-gathering? Would it be an accurate |
| in front of you. You simply need to read with | | | | representation of the material? Would your facts |
| attentiveness and care. | | | | allow someone else to comprehend the |
| Before leaping into becoming a reading detective, | | | | information? |
| you need to have some proven steps and know | | | | Gathering facts and clarifying details is an |
| what you are looking for: facts. | | | | important skill to develop, not only for use in |
| What exactly is a fact? A straightforward | | | | obtaining a successful score on your CHP Reading |
| definition would be: a fact is something known for | | | | Comprehension test, but for your target |
| certain to have happened, to be true, and to | | | | profession: law enforcement. |