Many comprehension passages let a writer start with one feeling and finish with another. Tracking a viewpoint means noting each attitude and where it changes, so your answer matches the question. It appears whenever a question asks “how did the writer feel” or “how did the view change”.
This is the first lesson in Second-language comprehension, and the next one, identifying support for a main idea, builds on it.
How does a viewpoint move through a passage?
A short passage usually has a start, a turning point and an end. The attitude at the start is not always the attitude at the end.
Signal words mark the turn. Time words show before and after: 以前 (yǐqián, before), 后来 (hòulái, later), 现在 (xiànzài, now). Contrast words show a reversal: 但是 (dànshì, but), 可是 (kěshì, however), 其实 (qíshí, in fact).
A step-by-step method
- Read the whole passage once for the general message.
- Circle the signal words for time and contrast.
- Label each stage with one feeling: afraid, interested, doubtful, proud.
- Check the ending, because it usually holds the final view.
- Answer in the shape of the question. If it asks how a view changed, give the old view, then the new one.
Worked example
This passage is invented.
我以前很怕上台说话。第一次演讲时，我的手一直在发抖。但是，老师鼓励我多练习。现在我觉得上台其实很有意思，还希望有更多机会。
Question: 作者对上台说话的看法有什么变化？(How did the writer’s view of speaking on stage change?)
Step 1, signals. 以前 marks the old view. 但是 marks the turn. 现在 marks the new view.
Step 2, label the stages. Before: afraid, shown by 很怕 and 手一直在发抖 (hands kept shaking). After: interested and keen, shown by 很有意思 and 希望有更多机会.
Step 3, write the answer. 作者以前很怕上台说话，现在觉得很有意思，还希望有更多机会。
The answer gives both views and uses the passage’s own evidence.
A mistake that looks reasonable
A common slip is answering from the first stage only.
Wrong: 作者很怕上台说话。
This is true of the first half, so it feels safe. But the question asks how the view changed, and 但是 and 现在 show that the writer no longer feels afraid. The correction is to name both stages: 以前很怕，现在觉得有意思。
Self-check
These passages are invented.
1. 弟弟起初觉得学华文很无聊，可是看了几部华语电影后，他开始想听懂每一句话。How did his view change?
Show answer
起初他觉得学华文很无聊，后来想听懂每一句话，说明他对华文产生了兴趣。The contrast word is 可是.
2. 妈妈本来反对养狗，但是看到小狗后就同意了。What is her final attitude?
Show answer
她最后同意养狗。本来 (originally) shows the old view and 但是 marks the turn, so the ending decides the answer.
3. Which words in question 1 mark the old and the new view?
Show answer
起初 (at first) marks the old view. 后 in 看了几部华语电影后 and 开始 mark the new one.
Where to go next
Practise by circling signal words in any short Chinese text you read this week. Then move to identifying support for a main idea and test yourself in the mixed practice set. The summary selection and paraphrase studio and writing revision compare view can help you check and revise your own answers.
If you can spot the signal words but your written answer still gives only one stage of the view, a teacher in online one-to-one Chinese tuition can check your answers with you.