Increasing Your Reading Rate

　　Do you know that a fast reader can get the ideas better than a slow reader can? Of course, you save time by reading fast, but this is not the main reason for fast reading. The main reason is that you understand better what you are reading when you read fast.

　　As your eyes move along the line of print, they make fixations (注视) or pauses (停顿) . It is important that you see several words at a fixation. It is also important that your eyes leave a group of words quickly and move on to another group. The number of letters or words that you see at a fixation are called your eye span (视幅、视跨). Pay more attention to improving your rate of reading. With practice you can learn to read faster than you usually read.

　　The way in which you read always depends on what you are reading and for what purpose (目的) . You should know the different ways of reading so that you can apply whatever method that is necessary. Here are four ways of reading, but not all, they may increase your reading rate.

　　1．Skimming is an important kind of reading. This method can be used when you wish to review something that you have forgotten. You may skim to find a lost place of a statement that you have read and cannot recall. You may skim to get an idea of a story.

　　2．Rapid first reading and then rereading certain parts carefully is important. You may use this type of reading to study a science lesson or a history lesson.

　　3．You need to do careful reading and rereading sometimes. This type of reading is necessary for making an intensive study of the main subject of your school curriculum (课程), solving arithmetic problems, studying rules for playing a game, or reading directions .

　　4．Rapid reading is used when reading stories for enjoyment. You may also do rapid reading when reviewing material that you already know well.

1．A fast reader can get the ideas ________ a slow reader can.

[　　]

2．In this passage, “eye span” means ________.

[　　]

A．eyesight

B．a group of words

C．the number of letters or words you see at a fixation

D．your reading speed

3．The way of reading always depends on ________.

[　　]

4．The word “Skimming” means ________.

[　　]

5．Careful reading is an important kinds of reading ________.

[　　]

A．when you read a story for enjoyment

B．when you review a lesson that you already know well

C．when you read the directions before using a camera which is expensive

D．when yon wish to find a lost place that you have read

Many cultures have different ideas about why people catch colds. For example in the United States, some people think that you can catch a cold if your feet get cold. So, mothers tell small children to wear warm boots in the winter. In other places, including parts of the Middle East, some people believe that strong winds cause colds. So, on trains and buses, people usually don’t like to sit next to open windows. In parts of Europe, some people think that wearing wet clothes will give you a cold. They say that after you go swimming, you should quickly put on dry clothes. Today, scientists know that colds are caused by a virus（病毒）. But the old ideas are still very strong, and many people still follow them to avoid（避免）getting ill.

1.What is the main idea of this reading?

A．People still believe old ideas about why they catch colds.

B．Colds are the biggest health problem in the world.

C．Some people think that strong winds cause colds.

D．You should take good care of your health in winter.

2.Which is NOT a cause（成因）of colds in the reading?

A．bad food    B．wet clothes        C．a virus        D．strong winds

3.In "people still follow them to avoid getting ill", what does "them" mean?

A．scientists   B．old ideas    C．colds  D．dry clothes

4.According to the reading, which of the following is NOT true?

A．There are many different ideas about how people catch colds.

B．Scientists don’t know how people catch colds.

C．Some people think that wearing wet clothes gives you a cold.

D．In the U.S., many small children wear boots in winter.

5.Many people in different countries have ________ ideas about why people catch colds.

A．no       B．one    C．the same   D．different

 

Many cultures have different ideas about why people catch colds. For example in the United States, some people think that you can catch a cold if your feet get cold. So, mothers tell small children to wear warm boots in the winter. In other places, including parts of the Middle East, some people believe that strong winds cause colds. So, on trains and buses, people usually don’t like to sit next to open windows. In parts of Europe, some people think that wearing wet clothes will give you a cold. They say that after you go swimming, you should quickly put on dry clothes. Today, scientists know that colds are caused by a virus（病毒）. But the old ideas are still very strong, and many people still follow them to avoid（避免）getting ill.
【小题1】What is the main idea of this reading?

A．People still believe old ideas about why they catch colds.

B．Colds are the biggest health problem in the world.

C．Some people think that strong winds cause colds.

D．You should take good care of your health in winter.

【小题2】Which is NOT a cause（成因）of colds in the reading?

A．bad food

B．wet clothes

C．a virus

D．strong winds

【小题3】In "people still follow them to avoid getting ill", what does "them" mean?

A．scientists

B．old ideas

C．colds

D．dry clothes

【小题4】According to the reading, which of the following is NOT true?

A．There are many different ideas about how people catch colds.

B．Scientists don’t know how people catch colds.

C．Some people think that wearing wet clothes gives you a cold.

D．In the U.S., many small children wear boots in winter.

【小题5】Many people in different countries have ________ ideas about why people catch colds.

A．no

B．one

C．the same

D．different

Many cultures have different ideas about why people catch colds. For example in the United States, some people think that you can catch a cold if your feet get cold. So, mothers tell small children to wear warm boots in the winter. In other places, including parts of the Middle East, some people believe that strong winds cause colds. So, on trains and buses, people usually don’t like to sit next to open windows. In parts of Europe, some people think that wearing wet clothes will give you a cold. They say that after you go swimming, you should quickly put on dry clothes. Today, scientists know that colds are caused by a virus（病毒）. But the old ideas are still very strong, and many people still follow them to avoid（避免）getting ill.
【小题1】What is the main idea of this reading?

A．People still believe old ideas about why they catch colds.

B．Colds are the biggest health problem in the world.

C．Some people think that strong winds cause colds.

D．You should take good care of your health in winter.

【小题2】Which is NOT a cause（成因）of colds in the reading?

A．bad food

B．wet clothes

C．a virus

D．strong winds

【小题3】In "people still follow them to avoid getting ill", what does "them" mean?

A．scientists

B．old ideas

C．colds

D．dry clothes

【小题4】According to the reading, which of the following is NOT true?

A．There are many different ideas about how people catch colds.

B．Scientists don’t know how people catch colds.

C．Some people think that wearing wet clothes gives you a cold.

D．In the U.S., many small children wear boots in winter.

【小题5】Many people in different countries have ________ ideas about why people catch colds.

A．no

B．one

C．the same

D．different