PRACTICE YOUR ENGLISH

Scanning is another speed-reading skill. However, scanning is reading quickly to find short answers to specific questions. Scanning is useful for finding facts, rather than ideas. It is an easier skill to master than skimming. Names, numbers, dates, and other such facts "stand out" in a reading and are usually easy to find. First, however, you must know what to look for. You always look for key terms in the question being asked, but you must also look for synonyms and related terms. Then your eyes search the text quickly for the terms.

Example

Question: When was MSF founded?

Key terms: founded, MSF, and dates (to answer "when")

Synonyms and Related Terms: formed, began, started

To quickly find the answer to the question, scan the reading for the key words. The synonim "formed" or another word used instead of founded.