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

Now boys and girls，let’s begin our class．As I know, you are interested in some strange math problems．So today I’m going to tell you one of the strangest ways to multiply numbers of two or more figures．Maybe you don’t know the word “multiply”．The word “multiply” mean s“乘．．．，乘法的乘”in Chinese．For example，8 multiplied by 2 is l6．It means “8乘以2是16” in Chinese．Do you understand now? Of course．there are many ways to multiply numbers．But here is one of the strangest．

Imagine you wish to multiply 23 by 17．In Chinese，it means 23乘以17．Half of 23 is 11．5．Write only 11 under 23 as you see in the paper．Half of 11 is 5．5．Write only 5 under 11．Now think it over, what number will you write under 5? Yes, you are right, just 2．Now please write the number under 5．Continue until you have 1．

Now write numbers under 17．But this time you must multiply each number by two to write the number under it．For example, you should write 34 under 17．As a rule, what number will you write under 34? Yes, you are right, 68．Now please write the number under 34．Continue until you have a number on the same line as 1．Now draw a line through any row that has an even number on the left．Yes, even number means 偶数 in Chinese．In our example there is only one even number．Right? Now please draw a line through the line that has au even number on the left．Now add the rest of the numbers in the right hand row．Believe it or not, you will get the right answer．What is it? OK．Please write the number, I mean the right answer in the right place．

Now class, I'll give you several minutes to discuss how it works．

1．What is the speaker most probably doing now?

A．Giving a lesson．                        B．Holding a meeting．

C．Having a party．                         D．Playing a game．

2．What number does the speaker tell you to write under 5?

A．2．                B．5．5．            C．11．              D．10．

3．What is the last number you should write?

A．68．            B．272．             C．391．             D．255．

4．Which subject is the speaker teaching?

A．Chinese．          B．Chemistry．        C．Math．            D．Science．

5．What does the speaker tell you to do at the end of the talk?

A．To have a rest．                         B．To do homework．

C．To have a discussion．                    D．To play a game．

It was the last day of the final examination in a college. On the steps of building, a group of engineering students were waiting for the last exam. On their faces was confidence. 

They knew the exam would be easy. The professor (a teacher at a college) had said they could bring any books or notes during the test.

Right after they came into the classroom. The professor handed out the papers. There were only five questions on it.

Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was nervous expression. The professor watched the worried faces before him, and then asked, “How many of you have completed all five questions?” No hand was raised. “How many of you have answered four?” Still no hands. “Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly in their seats. “One, then? Certainly somebody has finished one.” But the class kept silent. The professor said, “That is exactly what I expected. I just want to make you know clearly that even though you have completed four years of engineering. There are still many things about the subject you don't know. These questions you could not answer are common in everyday practice.” Then, smiling, he added, “You will all pass this course, your education has just begun.”

The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

1. Why did the students think the exam was easy at first?

   A. Because it was their last exam in the college.

   B. Because they knew there were only five questions.                

   C. Because they thought they were clever and talented.

D. Because they were allowed to bring any books and notes during the text.      

2. What does the underlined word “obscured” mean in the last paragraph?

   A. 模糊                     B. 回忆             C. 提醒                    D. 改变

3. What could the students learn from the last exam?  
   A. He laughs best who laughs last.              B. A good beginning is half done.   

C. One is never too old to learn.                     D. The early bird catches the worm.  

4. What’s the best title for the article?

   A. Some Confident Students.                 B. An Engineering Exam.

   C. An Interesting Professor.                              D. An Unforgettable Lesson.