Skimming
5. Skimming is the skill of reading quickly to get a general idea of a passage. Skimming involves looking for information and clues that give you an idea of a passage's topic, main idea, and overall organization.
When you take the TOEFL, begin each new passage by skimming it. Read only the key sentencesto get the main idea. Read the first and the last sentence of each paragraph. Skim the rest of the passage for key words. You do not have to read every word--at least not at first.
On the computer test, you must skim the passage before the computer will present the first question.
Skim for key words. Read the following paragraphs quickly. Underline key words and phrases that are clues to the meaning of each paragraph.
a. Noxious weeds are agressive, non-native plants that invade an area, displace native plants, and cause long-lasting problems. Noxious weeds increase fire hazards, replace valuable wildlife food, poison livestock, and reduce the quality of recreational experiences. Many are toxic to humans as well as animals. They reduce plant diversity and threaten the health of the forest and the community.
b. There are three categories of insurance: life, health, and property--liability. Each protects its policyholder against possible financial loss. Life insurance pays the customer's family a certain sum upon the holder's death. Health insurance protects its policyholders against large medical expenses. By paying premiums to an insurance company, the policyholder can ensure payment of medical bills. Property--liability insurance, sometimes called casualty insurance, covers accidents such as auto crashes, fire, and theft.
With your classmates and teacher, discuss the key words you identified. Use them to answer these questios:
What does each paragraph mainly discuss?
What is the main idea of each paragraph?