English – Reading Strategies-2023

Reading Strategies

A. Previewing and Predicting

Previewing and Predicting are two essential skills for a good reader. Pre means before. View
means to look at. Before you read something, it's important to look it over, or preview it. When
you gather information about a book by examining the title and the cover, you are previewing.
The purpose of previewing is to help you to predict or make some “educated guesses” on what
the book is about.

Previewing and Predicting help you to get more ideas on what you read so that you can begin
processing the information far more quickly. You will also able to follow the writer’s idea better.

Three Important Things 1) You identify the topic.

in 2) You think about what you already know about the topic.
Previewing and Predicting 3) You ask yourself questions about the topic.

Exercise 1
Look at the title of the paragraph below. (Don't read the paragraph.) Based on the title only,
what do you think the paragraph is about?

E-Books
The book of the future will be made with radio paper and electronic ink. Radio
paper has a coating of millions of tiny capsules. Inside each capsule, there is
a dark liquid and hundreds of white balls. An electrical charge can make the
white balls move to the top of the capsule. This makes the "ink" Iook white.
An electrical charge can also make the white balls move to the bottom of the
capsule. This makes the "ink" Iook black. When the capsules are charged in
a pattern, they form letters on the page.

Key words are words that appear several times in a paragraph. In the paragraph above, the
key words are underlined. Based on the key words only, what do you think the paragraph is
about?

a. the history of radio paper and electronic ink

b. how radio paper and electronic ink work
c. how to use an e-book

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English – Reading Strategies-2023

B. Scanning

What is Scanning?

Scanning is very high-speed reading. Scanning is a technique you often use when looking up
a word in the telephone book or dictionary. In most cases; you know what you are looking for,
so you are concentrating on finding a particular answer.

Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific words or
phrases. Scanning is also used when you first find a resource to determine whether it will
answer your questions.

• Have a question in mind

• Do not read every word, only read the words that answer your
question
How • Look for the author’s use of organizers such as numbers, letters,
to steps or the words: first, second, or next
scan • Look for words that are boldfaced, italics, or in a different font size,
style or color
• Sometimes the author will put key idea in the margin.

Exercise 2
Look at the list of art exhibits below. Will you be able to see the exhibition of
Leonardo da Vinci’s drawing in March?

Picasso Leonardo da Vinci: The Anatomy of Man

through January 10 through February 21

The Grand Tour: European and Master European Paintings from the
American Views of Italy National Gallery of Ireland: Mantegna to
through January 17 Goya
January 12 – March 28

Joel Sternfeld: Photographs of the Building a Collection: The Department

Roman Campagagna of Contemporary Art, Part I
through January 17 January 28 – July 3

*Late 20th Century Prints * Photography: Close-Up/ Still Life

through January 31 February 10 – May 23

On Kawara: Data Paintings in 89 Cities

through February 7
* Closed Thursday and Friday evenings

Did you read the whole list of exhibitions to find out? No! You knew what to look for. You
scanned the list to find the information that you needed.

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C. Skimming

What is Skimming?

Skimming is high speed reading that can save you lots of time. You skim to get the general
sense of a passage or a book.

How do you skim?

You should read only the words that will help you get the sense of the text. Read the first
sentences or paragraph quite carefully. The beginning often contains general information
about the rest of the text. If the text is long, you might also read the second paragraph.
Sometimes the first paragraph is only an introduction, and the second paragraph contains the
main idea. You should usually read the last paragraph more carefully.

Exercise 3:
Read the following text quickly and answer the questions.
1. What kind of apples are the very first to ripen?
2. How much time does it take to pick apples?
3. What else can you do at an orchard besides pick apples?
4. Do you need to bring bags for the apples?
5. What should you do with the apples when you get home?

Picking Apples-A New England Tradition By Gennadi Preston

Throughout New England, people know that fall has arrived when the Mcintosh apples begin to turn
red in the orchards in early September. After the "mac" come the Cortlands, the Empires, the
McCoons and, finally, the Red and Golden Delicious. Al through September and October, the aroma
of ripe apples fills the air on sunny days--an invitation to come picking.

A day of apple picking is, in fact, a popular way to spend a fall day in New England. From Connecticut
to Maine, it is generally possible to find an orchard within an hour's drive and the trip is well worth
the time. Not only will it provide you with plenty of the freshest apples to be found, but it also will
give you a chance to take in some sunshine and autumn scenery and get some exercise. And the
picking is usually best done by adults. Children should not climb up into trees and risk hurting
themselves and damaging the trees- younger members of the family can have fun just romping
around the orchard.

The picking may not take long -two hours at most- but many of the orchard owners now offer other
kinds of entertainment. At some orchards, you can go for pony rides or ride on a hay-filled wagon.
You may be able to watch a horse-show or visit the cows or sheep in the pasture. Or you may decide
to take a hike and have a picnic along a country lane. Some or- chards have set up refreshment
stands in their barns where you can taste local products, such as apple cider and homemade baked
goods.

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A few hints:

I. Call before you go. Check the local news- paper for the names and locations of orchards which
offer pick-your-own apples. Then phone to find out their hours since they may vary from one
orchard to another. You should also ask about the rules regarding bags and containers. Most
orchards provide bags, but a few do not, and some will allow only certain types of containers.

2. Check in when you arrive. Before you start picking, you should check with the orchard owner
about which varieties are ripe in that period. and which parts of the orchard are open for picking.
Respect the owner's privacy and do not go where you are not allowed!

3. Pick carefully. When you pick the apples, treat them gently. Some orchard owners advise pickers
to treat the apples a s though they were eggs. If they bruise, they will spoil more quickly. The
technique for picking is simple: hold the apple firmly but not too tightly and twist it off the branch,
taking care to leave the stem attached, since removal of the stem will also cause rot.

4. Don't waste apples. Be careful to pick only the apples you need. You may be tempted to pick too
many of the delicious looking fruit, and then find that the apples go bad before you can eat them.
Since the apple season lasts for almost two months, you can always return for another load of
apples later.

5. Keep what you pick! Once you take an apple off the tree, you must keep it. It's not fair to the
orchard owner to leave apples on the ground where they will quickly spoil.

6. Store your apples properly. Put your apples in the refrigerator as soon as you get home. Studies by
the Vermont Department of Agriculture have shown that apples last seven times longer when kept
under refrigeration. If you do pick too many apples to eat in a week or two, you could try freezing
them to use later in pies and cakes. Simply peel, core and slice them, and then put them in airtight
plastic bags. They may be kept in the freezer for up to a year.

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