Fundamentals in Reading
1.
The first step in any reading is to “PREDICT” what you are going to read by looking at the
TITLE and SUBHEADING (if any).
Tells about the theme of
TITLE
Tells about the areas
which will be discussed in
the text or its topic
SUBHEADING
the text
Is divided into main and
supporting idea
MAIN BODY
Why PREDICTION is important?
sub
heading
Title
text
type
Text types based on information sequence:

Cause – Effect - Solution

Past – Present - Future

Problem – Cause - Solution

Illness - Cause - Treatment

Classification
Look at the following examples to see how you can understand a text easier by looking at the title and
sub heading.
You will find examples
of this in the text
The topic of the
passage is about this
Text type: classification
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The focus of the text is
on this
The topic of the
passage is about this
Text type: Past _ Present
Exercise 1: look at the following titles and subheadings and predict what the topic and the focus of the
text are.
2.
The second stage in reading comprehension is skimming for general understanding. Keep in
mind that the most important words to skim are first VERBS and NOUNS and then adjectives
and adverbs. Look at the following example.
Living in another country will help you learn a language and learn about the
culture of another land. You will see the world in a new way and learn more about
yourself. Studying abroad is also excellent
training for the working world. Many
companies today want employees who speak a second language or who have
experienced living or working in another country.
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Exercise 2: Now read the following paragraph and decide which words will help you to get a better
understanding of the text.
Getting ready to go
Get your passport or visa early! Before you go, learn as much of the language as
you can, and read about the customs of your host country .Also, talk with people
who have experience studying abroad. Call the school to make sure someone can
meet you when you get there. And make sure to bring some local money and a
credit card
3.
The third step is to scan for main ideas in a text. It is very easy to find main ideas if you
know how to do this.
a) One way to find main ideas quickly is to look for some signal words or linkers which introduce
opposing ideas. (but, however, while, whereas, on the other hand, etc.)
Look at the following example: (the main idea is underlined)
Skiing is big business nowadays. But what can ski resort owners do if the snow doesn’t come?
A problem
In the early to mid-twentieth century with the growing popularity of skiing, ski slopes
became extremely profitable businesses. But ski resort owners were completely dependent
on the weather. If it didn’t snow or didn’t snow enough they had to close everything down.
Fortunately, a device called the snow gun can now provide snow whenever it is needed.
These days such machines are standard equipment in the vast majority of ski resorts
around the world, making it possible for many resorts to stay open four or five months or
more a year.
b) Another strategy for finding main ideas is to look for words which signal, summarize or even
clarify main ideas (that is, actually, in other words, so, therefore, this means, etc.)
Look at the following example:
Brown or white?
Many people think that eggs with brown shells are better for you than those with white
shells. Actually, there is no difference inside the egg, whatever the color. The color of the
egg shells depend on the kind of hen that laid the egg. Rhode Island reds, for instance, lay
brown-shelled eggs but Leghorns lay white-shelled eggs.
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c) Another technique used for finding main ideas easier is by reading the first or the last line of
a paragraph (but not always)
Look at the following paragraph:
Snow formation in nature
Snow formed by natural weather system comes from water vapor in the atmosphere.
The water vapor condenses into droplets, forming clouds. If the temperature is sufficiently
low, the water droplets freeze into tiny ice crystals. More water particles then condense
onto the crystal and join with it to form a snowflake. As the snowflake grows heavier, it falls
toward the earth.
d) Another useful way to understand main ideas is by looking for key words (the words that have
similar meaning in the text or are repeated several times)
Look at the following example:
You will find that teaching styles in the US are very different from those in other countries.
Teaching in the US is interactive and less dependent on rote learning. Professors prefer
discussion and debate to passive silence and classes are often organized in groups. Students
regularly visit lecturers to ask questions about their courses and how they are doing. Your
faculty will also have open office hours for students to come by and ask questions.
SQR3: a technique for reading
SQR3 stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review

Survey: A quick understanding of the text before reading it completely is necessary. For
survey you need to read the title, subheading, paragraph headings, etc. (the steps above)


Question: Think about some questions that may happen later.
Read: Read paragraph by paragraph for understanding main ideas (like above) and be
careful not to click on each and every new or difficult word. Underline key words or main
ideas.

Recite: If you understand a paragraph it means that you are able to say the most important
parts aloud or silently from the memory.

Review: After you finish reading, review the notes and main ideas.
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Exercise 3: try to read the following text based on the skills you learned today.
Lighthouses
Lighthouses occupy a special place in the history. For millions of people, lighthouses were the first
sign of civilization after a long sea voyage to a new home. For others, they are grim reminders of the
sea dangers. Modern technology has made many lighthouses redundant, but the buildings still evoke
a special passion. They remind us of a time when ships ruled the world.
Lights for navigation have existed for more than 3000 years. Their purpose has been to show ships
where they are and to guide them into safe harbors or to warn them of rocks and reefs that could
destroy them. Although preventing loss of life has always been a consideration .it is the preservation
of ships and cargoes that has been the real driving force behind lighthouse construction.
Lighthouses evolved from a fire on a hilltop to towers engineered to withstand any force the sea
could deliver, with beams of light that could be seen for 50km.they reached their zenith during the
first half of the twentieth century but by the end of the same century their future had become
uncertain. Today satellite navigation technology is taking the place of the lighthouse as the safe,
economic and reliable way to navigate the oceans of the world.
The first primitive lights were fires in bronze baskets and were uses along the Nile delta as early as
1000 BC. The oldest surviving lighthouse is the Tower of Hercules that stands on a hill on the North
West coast of Spain. Built around 29 BC by the Romans, it served as a lighthouse until the fifth
century AD when it was abandoned as the Romans left the area. It was relit by the Spanish in 1682
and has been in service ever since.
Accurate marine charts are now available for literally the whole of the earth’s watery surface. These
charts have also been computerizes and in conjunction with GPS can display the exact position of a
ship on the screen. When connected to the controls of the ship it even allows the ship to be sailed on
automatic pilot over any predetermined course in any kind of weather. The future is here.
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