Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd Edition

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G E T T I N G T H E E S S E N T I A L I N F O R M AT I O N
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2 1
On Friday, October 21, at approximately 8:30 
a.m.
, Judith Reynolds, owner of
The Cupcake Factory, arrived at her establishment to find that it had been
robbed and vandalized overnight. The front window of the shop at 128 Broad
Street was broken, and chairs and tables were overturned throughout the café
area. Additionally, the cash register had been pried open and emptied of money.
The thieves attempted to open the safe as well, but were unsuccessful. Ms.
Reynolds used her cell phone to report the crime to the police. She also phoned
the proprietor of Primo Pizza, located at 130 Broad Street, as she noticed that the
door of that restaurant showed signs of forced entry. The police department is
asking anyone with information to call 555-2323.
You’ll notice that the answers to the questions
have all been underlined, because these are the key
words and ideas in this passage. But here are the
answers in a more conventional form.
1.
What happened to The Cupcake Factory? 
It was
robbed and vandalized.
2.
When was the crime discovered? 
At 8:30 
A
.
M
. on
Friday, October 21.
3.
Where did it happen? 
128 Broad Street.
4.
What was stolen? 
Money from the cash register.
5.
Who called the police? 
Judith Reynolds, owner of
The Cupcake Factory.
6.
What other businesses were affected? 
Possibly
Primo Pizza.
Notice that these questions went beyond the basic
who, what, when, and where to include some of the
details, like why the proprietor of the restaurant next
door was called. This is because details in reading com-
prehension, as well as in detective work, can be very
important clues that may help answer the remaining
questions: Who did it, how, and why?
when
who
another
business 
was affected
what happened—
robbery and 
vandalization
unclear if anything was
taken from Primo Pizza
from this report
what a 
mess!
money was
stolen
interesting
detail
where

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