Speed Reading Skimming & Scanning Techniques Flashcards

When skimming a newspaper article, which part typically contains the most essential information?

Answer: The first paragraph (lead)

News articles follow the inverted pyramid structure, placing the most important facts in the lead paragraph.

You need to find a specific date in a 20-page report. Which technique is most efficient?

Answer: Scanning for numerals and date formats

Scanning targets a specific piece of information, so letting your eyes hunt for number patterns is fastest.

What is the main difference between skimming and scanning?

Answer: Skimming seeks general ideas; scanning seeks specific facts

Skimming builds an overview of the material while scanning locates a particular detail.

Which visual cue is LEAST helpful when scanning a page for a keyword?

Answer: The author's writing style

Writing style requires comprehension of full sentences, which defeats the purpose of scanning for visual targets.

A student skims a textbook chapter before class. What should they focus on first?

Answer: Headings, subheadings, and summary boxes

Structural elements like headings and summaries reveal the chapter's framework quickly.

Roughly what proportion of a text does an effective skimmer actually read closely?

Answer: A small fraction, such as first and last sentences of paragraphs

Skimming samples strategic points like topic and closing sentences rather than processing all the text.

When scanning a phone directory or index, readers benefit most from the text being organized how?

Answer: Alphabetically

Alphabetical order lets a scanner jump directly to the section containing the target entry.