Skill-related Reading
Reading Skill（Ⅶ）：Understanding Text Structures
Texts can be grouped into categories based on their structures and purposes．Each text structure communicates ideas in a different way．Two kinds of texts are usually encountered by readers—narrative and expository．Narrative structure is basically a framework for telling a story，and the narrative text typically follows a single general structural pattern often called“story grammar”．The specific elements included in this framework can vary，though in most cases，narrative texts commonly have a five-part structure：
The introduction，in which characters and settings are introduced．
The rising action，in which problems start to develop and the characters must face the adversity．
The climax，in which characters confront the adversity and either overcome it or become defeated by it．
The falling action，in which plot details are explained and characters undergo changes as a result of the climax．The resolution or denouement，in which plot elements are wrapped up and the story ends．Not all stories follow this narrative structure，but it is perhaps the most commonly used one．
Expository texts or informational texts are fact-based and educational，which convey and communicate factual information and provide the readers with concrete，well-founded information to make decisions or conduct assessments．This type of text generally contains more unfamiliar vocabulary and concepts．It doesn’t involve the imagination and has fewer ideas related to personal experience．There are several patterns of expository texts：
1．Description＆List
In a paragraph with the structure of description＆list，the author offers a main idea statement that is followed by several supporting details．This structure resembles an outline．Each section opens with its main idea and develops with elaborations．Authors will signal description＆list structure with clue words like one reason，another reason，for example，for instance，specifically，in particular，in addition，etc．
2．Cause＆Effect
If an author wants to explain how one event leads to another，he or she needs to adopt a text structure called cause＆effect structure．A cause is what makes something happen，while an effect is what happens as a result of a cause．Texts that follow this structure tell the reader the result of an event and the reasons why it happens．Words that are used by the authors to show causes and effects include therefore，thereby，lead to，because，effect，as a result，consequently，etc．
3．Comparison＆Contrast
When an author intends to show how two things are similar and different，he or she needs to adopt comparison＆contrast structure．Texts that follow this structure explain differences and similarities among two or more objects，places，events，or ideas by grouping their traits for comparison．In the structure of comparison＆contrast，some special clue words are often used，such as however，unlike，like，in contrast，yet，in comparison，while，whereas，similar to，different from，on the other hand，etc．
4．Order＆Sequence
Texts that follow this structure show the order in which steps in a process or series of events occur．Chronological order is used to explain the development of a process or an event．You will know that you are reading a text in chronological order when you see the signal words like next，first，last，second，another，then，later，additionally，finally，etc．(https://www.daowen.com)
5．Problem＆Solution
When an author intends to explain a problem，he or she will present a problem，followed by one or more solutions．This kind of text structure is called problem＆solution．Clue words in these texts may include：problem is，dilemma is，difficulty，solution，question，answer，possibility，so that，etc．
＼Reading Practice＼
Ⅰ．Directions：Read the following paragraphs and then decide on the text structure for each one．
A．Description＆List B．Problem＆Solution C．Order＆Sequence
D．Comparison＆Contrast E．Cause＆Effect
（ ）1．I have been doing regular exercise since my doctor told me to do so a few years ago．As a result，my physical health has improved much．I was overweight and had high blood pressure．But after exercising every day for half a year，I have lost 15 pounds and my blood pressure remains stable now．
（ ）2．College graduates find it increasingly difficult to get a rewarding job．What should be done to solve the problem？To begin with，colleges should get their students out of the ivory tower and have their courses meet the needs of the industry and business．Second，colleges should provide the college graduates with more opportunities to develop new skills．
（ ）3．The pond was a beautiful place to visit．The falling leaves，all different colors，decorated the surface of the water．At the edges of the pond，small wildflowers grew．The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance．
（ ）4．There are many differences between middle schools and colleges．First，in the middle school，we have to listen to what the teacher says in class to understand the content of the text，while in college，we must do preview by ourselves before class，otherwise we can’t follow the teacher．Second，there are lots of rules in the middle school．However，we have more freedom in college．
（ ）5．Have you ever made macaroni and cheese？It’s simple！First，boil some water and make some macaroni．Then，make your cheese sauce．After the cheese sauce is ready，mix it with the macaroni．Bake the entire thing in the oven．Finally，it’s time to eat！
Ⅱ．Directions：Complete the following passage by choosing the proper signal words given in the box．Capitalize the initial letter if necessary．
first，or，second，when，however，therefore，consequently，because，then，although
One can write short，one-act plays or long plays with two or more acts．Each act may have more than one scene，especially if there needs to be a change of costumes，props，or sets．（1）________writing a play，use many of the ideas already mentioned—plot，character，and dialogue．（2）________there are two main differences between a play and a story．（3）________，in a play one depends completely on dialogue to convey the plot and the characters．（4）________，（5）________a play is meant to be acted out on a stage，one has to write stage directions：what the characters should do while they are onstage，as well as what they should say．