Reading is a good habit, but the problem is, there's too much to read these days, and too little time to read every word of it. There are hundreds of skills to help you read more in less time. Here are two skills that I think are especially good.
Preview - if it's long and hard. Previewing is especially useful for getting a general idea of heavy reading like long magazine articles and business reports.
Here's how to preview.
◆ Read the first two paragraphs and the last two paragraphs carefully.
◆ Then read only the first sentence of the other paragraphs.
Previewing doesn't give you all the details. It keeps you from spending time on things you don't really want- or need- to read.
Skim- if it's short and simple. Skimming is a good way to get a general idea of light reading like popular magazines or the sports and entertainment of your daily paper.
Here's how to skim.
◆ Get your eyes to move fast. Sweep them across each line.
◆ Pick up only a few key words in each line.
Everybody skims differently. You and I may not pick up the same words when we skim the same piece, but we'll get a similar idea of what it's all about.
1.What does the underlined word "preview" mean in English?
A.Read carefully and thoroughly B.Read silently
C.Read aloud D.Read fast and skim for the general idea
2.What should we NOT do when we read sports news in a daily paper according to the passage?
A.Read the last two paragraphs carefully
B.Get our eyes to move fast.
C.Sweep our eyes across each line.
D.Pick up only a few key words in each line.
3.Which of the following is WRONG?
A.Skim means reading quickly. It's a good way to read.
B.There are ways for you to read more in less time.
C.By previewing you can get all the details of the passage.
D.People can spend less time doing more reading.
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A.How to Read Faster. B.What to Read.
C.When to Read. D.Why We Should Read.
On the first day of college, our teacher asked us to get to know someone who we didn't know.
I stood up to look around when a hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find an old lady. She smiled at me and said, "Hello, my name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old." I was surprised and asked, "Why are you in college?"
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked together and shared what we had. We became good friends.
Rose became a campus icon. In our school, almost everyone loved her and studied from her. She easily made friends wherever she went. At the end of the term, we invited Rose to make a speech. I'll never forget what she taught us. She said, "There are some secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a great difference between growing older and growing up. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.”
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral. They came to honor the wonderful woman who taught that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
1.Rose became a campus icon, because ________.
A.she was the oldest student in the college
B.she was friendly and hard-working
C.she was good at her lessons
D.she got along well with her classmates
2.________ wasn't mentioned in Roses speech.
A.Keeping young B.Achieving success
C.Staying away from sadness D.Giving up dream
3.Rose thinks growing up means _________.
A.getting good education and a good job
B.everyone never worries about her/ his age
C.using talent and ability to change oneself
D.anybody can grow older and older
4.The underlined word "funeral" means ________ in English.
A.show B.burial C.contest D.dream
Song Qian, 14 I can partly decide how to use my gift money. I got 3,600 yuan this year. I would like to use this money to buy some books and school supplies (用品). The money will also be useful for after-class activities and study projects. |
Zhang Ping, 13 During Spring Festival, I got over 2,000 yuan in gift money. I can decide how to use the money. I chose to put all of it in the bank. I hope to use it if I have a chance to study abroad the future. I know that studying abroad is expensive. |
Li Ai, 12 The gift money I got this year was over 1,000 yuan. I gave most of it to my parents. They will use the money to pay for some of my school fees (费用). Of course, I still have some left for myself. I am planning to buy gifts for my parents on their birthday. |
Li Lei, 14 I can use part of my gift money. I saved 4,800 yuan in the bank this year and left 700 yuan for myself. I will use the money to buy books, snacks and go to see movies. The first book I will buy is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I am a big fan of science fiction (科幻小说). |
1.________ received the most gift money according to the form above.
A.Song Qian B.Li Ai C.Zhang Ping D.Li Lei
2.Song Qian planned to use her gift money to ________.
①buy books, snacks and go to see movies
②buy books and school supplies
③buy some birthday gifts for parents
④pay for after-class activities and study projects
A.②④ B.②③ C.①② D.①③
3.Which of the following is TRUE from this passage?
A.All of the kids got the same amount of gift money.
B.One of the kids hopes to study abroad in the future.
C.All of the kids gave the gift money to their parents.
D.None of the kids really likes reading science fiction.
A young boy was walking with his father along a country road. When they came _______ a large tree branch (树枝) on the ground in front of them, the boy asked his father, "Do you think I could _______ it?"
His father replied, "If you use all your strength, I am sure you can."
The boy tried his best to lift, pull and push the branch, but it wouldn't move. _______ , he said, "Dad, you were wrong. I can't do it".
"Try again," his father said.
Again, the boy tried hard to push the branch.
He did his best but it stood _______ . "Dad, I can't do it." said the boy.
"Try again. You can't _______ you use all your strength." his father said.
This time, as the boy struggled, his father _______ him. Together they pushed the branch a side.
"Son, I advised you to use all your _______ . You didn't- ask for my help."
This is a valuable _______ . There are many things we can't do alone, but that doesn't mean we can't get _______ : done. We are not alone. ________ us there are family and friends.
We haven't used all our strength ________ we've realized the strength and support from the outside. Our real strength includes inner resources such as faith, courage and even love. It also ________ outer resources such as support, help and encouragement. Just as we should be willing to help ________ , we should be willing to ask others for help.
To ask for support what we need is not a sign of ________ , it is a sign of wisdom. When we ask for help and we are ________ , it just means we have to ask another time, another way, another person.
1.A.across B.through C.down D.along
2.A.carry B.lift C.move D.throw
3.A.Excited B.Surprised C.Expected D.Disappointed
4.A.still B.straight C.alone D.close
5.A.if B.although C.unless D.because
6.A.taught B.encouraged C.praised D.joined
7.A.time B.weight C.energy D.strength
8.A.story B.love C.lesson D.experience
9.A.it B.them C.us D.ourselves
10.A.Among B.Between C.Around D.Against
11.A.as B.until C.till D.since
12.A.controls B.includes C.counts D.decides
13.A.others B.other C.another D.ones
14.A.weakness B.success C.strength D.knowledge
15.A.stopped B.refused C.helped D.understood
— Goodbye, everyone. _________.
—Bye, Mary! Don't forget to e-mail.
A.Just wait and see B.Sounds great
C.Come this way D.Keep in touch
—Betty has worked hard at her subjects _________ she failed in the final exam.
—That's true. We should learn from Betty.
A.until B.though C.unless D.if
