Contents:
- Skimming.
- Previewing.
- Predicting.

I. Skimming:

The first time you try it, ask someone to help you. You may fall if no one holds you up. It is a good idea to start on the sidewalk. The street may be dangerous. After you start, do not stop. Try to go faster. That will help you to stay up. Remember, even little children can do this. And once you learn how, you will never forget!

1. What is skimming?
Trying to understand the main ideas of a text by looking very quickly some parts of it.
- Previewing.
- Predicting.

II. Previewing:

1. What is previewing?
Look quickly at some parts of the reading passage to see what it is generally about.
What do we look at?
- Title.
- Picture (s).
- First few sentences in first paragraph.
- First line of other paragraphs.
- Last sentence of last pharagraph.
- Names, dates, numbers.
a. Titles + pictures:
The worst day of my life

A busy student
Tomiko is happy to be a student in New York. She is studying English at Columbia University. She plans to finish her English course in June. Then she will on her master's degree at New York University.

Tomiko likes the many beautiful buildings in New York. ...............................................................................
She also likes the people in New York. ...............................................................................
Best of all, Tomiko loves the theaters in New York........................................................................
Tomiko is far from her home in Japan, but she is not sad. ..........................She is very busy and happy in New York.

Language Learning is the US
Most people in the US speak only one language: English. They do not learn to speak a second language. High schools teach languages. But very few students learn to speak well. Why don't Americans speaks other languages?

First, most Americans never travel to other countries. The US is a very large country. Americans can travel a long distance and not leave the US. They do not need to learning a second language.

Second, one of the countries next to the US is Canada. Most people in Canada speak English. Some Americans live near Canada. They travel there often. But they do not have to learn a new language.

Third, many people in other parts of the world speak English. If Americans travel to other countries, they can speak English there, too.

Some Americans think that it is a mistake to speak only English. They believe it is very important to learn a second language. Maybe someday other Americans will agree. Then more people will speak a second language in the US.

2. Using pictures & titles to predict:
Women in science

How Americans Shop for Clothes

When your Child Goes to the Denist

The Violin in the Symphony Orchestra
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Modern Dentists: How They Can Help You
1. Dentists hurt your teeth.
2. Dentists have many new machines.
3. Some dentists play the radio for their patients.
4. Some dentists will pull out all your teeth.
5. A nurse cleans your teeth at the dentist's office.
6. The dentists's office is very comfortable.
7. Dentists want everyone to have healthy teeth.

III. Predicting:
July and Alan moved to a new apartment near the University.
A. Now they need a car to drive to class.
B. Now they can walk to class every day.
C. Now they will not be near the university library.