Reading

Detail, not just gist

Whilst reading for gist is quick and useful, studying for detail is essential when one word can completely change the interpretation of the message or direction of a project.

Detail comes from understanding how words connect, identifying which meaning is appropriate and then connecting everything together.

How Picasso exhibition at Hong Kong’s M+ brings Spanish artist into 21st century

More than 60 works from Picasso museum in Paris will be shown together with 130 by artists of Asian origin

Source

Article

Article date

Reference

R008B

[2-12] = [page number - line number]

15 March 2025

Line number

  • Cai Guo-qiang’s painting is alongside, or next to, Picasso’s cubist study.

  • The article says it is the first time in ten years that 60 pieces are being shown in Hong Kong.

  • ‘In the making’ means it took three years to organise the exhibition.

  • ‘Blow up’ means explode.

  • As a riddle is a ‘question or statement intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning’, the best fit is ‘puzzle.

  • As the Communists despise anything which hinted of ‘bourgeois’, ‘lamentably’ would fit the context.

    • ‘sadly’ would imply a sarcastic tone while

    • ‘unfortunately’ would just reflect bad fortunate, rather than bad fortunate, deplorable and regrettable.

Task

  1. Read the article.

  2. Note new words and expressions, unfamiliar structures, and writing style.

  3. Answer questions before expanding to show answers.

Guidelines:

  • NOTE new words which you may have never seen [wholesome | upright | squeaky clean] or words having a different meaning to its primary one [‘clean’ to mean ‘(of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh’].

  • NOTE phrases which can form part of the writing or be distinctive from the text [hot on the heels | before one’s eyes | there’s no smoke without a fire].

  • NOTE phrasal verbs, how they are used and in which context.

  • NOTE the writer’s style: word choice, simple or complex, short or long sentences, descriptive, persuasive, narrative or argumentative.

  • NOTE punctuation and why and where the writer uses it.