So much to do, so little time. So much information, so little time to read it. In this age there is more
information than ever before. There is not enough time to read everything we want to read. However,
you can consume more information in shorter time through speed-reading. This article will not make you
read 3 000 words per minute, but it will show you how to increase your speed significantly. You will also
learn the basic techniques of speed-reading, along with the do's and don'ts of speed-reading.
When you first learned to read, you would say the word out aloud and sound it out. Then you might
whisper the word because people can become annoyed when you read aloud. The stage you are now at
is saying the word in your head. Most people tend to read this way. Saying the word in your head will
cut your reading speed tremendously(极大地) .
How do you calculate your reading speed? The speed is measured by how many words per minute
you can read. Get some reading material, preferably a book. Find out how many words are on the page.
Time yourself for one minute. Start your timer and start reading. When the timer beeps, stop. If you
counted 500 words on the page and you read half of the page, and then you are
probably reading at 250 words per minute.
The first thing about speed-reading is looking at the word and recognizing it. Don't say the word in
your mind, just look at it and recognize its importance. Later you will recognize clumps of four words or
more to increase your speed. This is the first and most important step in speed reading.
The next step is technique. As with any other skill, speed-reading requires technique. You should first
be sitting up straight with your book flat on a horizontal(水平的) surface, such as a table desk. Next,
you should be able to see the entire page. This is necessary if you want to recognize clumps of words.
Lastly, you should be focused. It's hard to read with a lot of noise. Find a quiet place to read. This will
help your understanding of the text. You need something to guide your eyes while reading. That's right,
you should use your hand. Remember when you were little, you would read using your finger. That is a
great technique, only now you're using your hand to underline each line, move your finger smoothly
across the page. No need to go rush, start out slow. Keep your eyes focused on the words as you
recognize them while using your hand as a guide. This will increase your speed.
The third step is practice. Practice makes perfect. Set time intervals(间歇). Read using different
techniques, but make sure you understand what you're reading.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A. Now there is limited information than ever before.
B. Now conditions ask people to use less time to know more information.
C. Now people can read what they like.
D. Now the less you read, the more time you will spend.
2. What is the subject discussed in the text?
A. What speed-reading is.
B. Why we need speed-reading.
C. Now it is much information time.
D. People should practice speed-reading in different kinds of ways.
3. The underlined sentence "you should be focused" in the fifth paragraph means that .
A. a person should devote his attention to it while reading
B. your feelings will be hurt while reading
C. a person should smooth away difficulties while he reads
D. you should pay attention to your faults while you are reading