Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies (Strategic Reading): B2 Lesson 3: Actively Questioning the Text and Engaging with the Material

Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies

B2 Lesson 3: Actively Questioning the Text

Listen to the reading passage audio here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use the "Before, During, and After" (BDA) questioning framework to improve your comprehension, critical thinking, and engagement with B2-level texts.

Before You Read 🧠

Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)

Let's learn these important words for today's lesson.

To Scrutinize

| ត្រួតពិនិត្យ

To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.

Bias

| ភាពលំអៀង

A strong, one-sided opinion that can be unfair.

Autonomy

| ស្វ័យភាព

The freedom to make your own decisions; independence.

Implication

| ការបញ្ជាក់โดยนัย

A meaning that is suggested rather than said directly.

Passive vs. Active Reading

At a B2 level, reading is not just about understanding words. It's about having a "dialogue" with the author. This is the difference between passive and active reading.

PASSIVE READING 😴

"I read the words. I hope I remember them for the test. I believe everything the author writes."

ACTIVE READING 🧐

"I am in a conversation with the author. Why did they say that? What's their evidence? Do I agree with their conclusion?"

The "Before, During, After" Framework

To become an active reader, ask yourself questions at three key stages. This is a form of metacognition (thinking about your own thinking).

1. Before You Read

Activate your brain and make predictions.

• "What does the title suggest this will be about?"
• "What do I already know about this topic?"
• "What is the author's purpose? (To inform? To persuade?)"

2. During Reading

Check your understanding and challenge the text.

• "What is the main idea of this paragraph?"
• "What is the evidence for this claim?"
• "Do I agree or disagree with this point?"
• "What does this word (...) mean in this context?"

3. After Reading

Summarize, evaluate, and synthesize.

• "What was the author's main takeaway or thesis?"
• "What was the author's bias?"
• "What questions do I still have?"
• "What did the author not say?"

Reading Passage: The "Office Culture" Debate

Practice your BDA questions on this text. Click 🔊 to hear it read.

The Myth of "Office Culture"

In the new post-pandemic economy, a fierce debate rages on: remote work versus the traditional office. Many large corporations are now demanding that employees return to their desks, citing the need to protect and rebuild company "culture." They argue that innovation and collaboration only happen in person, during spontaneous hallway conversations.

However, this argument often ignores a more critical factor: employee autonomy. Data consistently suggests that when employees are given the freedom to manage their own time and environment, their productivity and loyalty increase. Forcing a return to the office simply to fill expensive buildings seems to misunderstand the nature of modern work.

Perhaps the real issue isn't about location, but about trust. The "office-first" model often feels less like an attempt to boost collaboration and more like a desire to maintain control and surveillance. If a company's "culture" can be destroyed simply because employees are not in the same room, one must question if that culture was ever truly strong.

Practice What You Learned 🎯

Quiz: Ask the Right Questions

Based on the text above, choose the *best* active question for each stage. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. (BEFORE Reading) Based only on the title, "The Myth of 'Office Culture'," what is the author likely to argue?

• A) That office culture is the most important part of a company.
• B) That "office culture" is not as important or real as some companies claim it is.
• C) That offices are good places for culture.

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2. (DURING Reading) The author states: "Data consistently suggests that... productivity and loyalty increase." What is the best *challenging* question to ask here?

• A) "What data? Where is this evidence from?"
• B) "What does 'productivity' mean?"
• C) "Do all employees feel more loyal?"

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3. (AFTER Reading) The final paragraph says the 'office-first' model is about "control and surveillance." What is a good *evaluative* question to ask?

• A) "What is the definition of surveillance?"
• B) "How does this connect to my own job?"
• C) "What is the author's bias? Are they ignoring any positive reasons for being in the office?"

Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)

• To Scrutinize (Verb) | ត្រួតពិនិត្យ
  To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly.
• Bias (Noun) | ភាពលំអៀង
  A strong, one-sided opinion that can be unfair.
• Autonomy (Noun) | ស្វ័យភាព
  The freedom to make your own decisions; independence.
• Implication (Noun) | ការបញ្ជាក់โดยนัย
  A meaning that is suggested rather than said directly.
• Metacognition (Noun) | អភិបញ្ញាណ
  "Thinking about thinking"; awareness of one's own thought processes.
• Surveillance (Noun) | ការ giám sát
  Close observation, especially of a suspected person or group.

Your Reading Mission ⭐

Become an Active Reader

This week, find one English opinion article (from the BBC, The Guardian, a blog, etc.).

1. Before you read, write down 2 "Before" questions.
2. While you read, write down 3 "During" questions (e.g., challenge one of the author's claims).
3. After you finish, write down 2 "After" questions (e.g., identify the author's bias).

This process will force you to read actively and will double your comprehension.