第二节 快速阅读的方法
在阅读英语材料时或是在考试过程中，有很多人感到自己的阅读速度实在是跟不上需要，有些人就认为是自己的英语基础不行，然后就拼命的背单词。其实如果能够用正确的方法进行快速阅读训练的话，即使在较差的基础上也可以在阅读速度方面取得显著的提高，更何况很多情况下根本就不是英语基础的问题。现在就让我们来看看练习快速阅读的五种方法。
一、快速泛读( fast extensive reading) )
平时要养成快速泛读的习惯。这里讲的泛读是指广泛阅读大量涉及不同领域的书籍，要求读得快，理解和掌握书中的主要内容就可以了。它可以在有限的时间内尽可能广泛地了解信息，有助于开阔视野，是博览群书所常用的重要方法。主要是重点注意文中的一些关键位置:一是篇名，包括文章的题目和书名。题目是文章的眼睛，往往集中概括了全文的主要论点、主要论题或是主要内容等。通过研究题目，可以对文章或书籍有一个总体的认识。二是目录、序言、提要、索引等，这些将会帮助读者对文章或书籍大体框架、基本思路有所了解。三是正文，这一部分浏览的关键主要是开头、结尾以及中间各段落起始的中心句。将这些关键部分浏览完毕后，会对文章或书籍形成总的印象，如果经回忆有不够完整的地方，或有值得深究之处，可再作必要的重点补阅。
二、计时阅读(timed reading)
课余要养成计时阅读的习惯。计时阅读每次进行5～10分钟即可，不宜太长，因为计时快速阅读，精力高度集中，时间一长，容易疲劳，精力分散，反而乏味。阅读时先记下“起读时间” ( starting time) ，阅读完毕，记下“止读时间”( finishing time) ，即可计算出本次阅读速度。随手记下，长期坚持，必定收到明显效果。
三、略读(skimming) )
略读又称跳读( reading and skipping)或浏览( glancing) ，是一种专门的，非常实用的快速阅读技能。所谓略读，是指以尽可能快的速度阅读，如同从飞机上鸟瞰( bird's eye view)地面上的明显标志一样，迅速获取文章大意或中心思想。换句话说，略读是要求读者有选择地进行阅读，可跳过某些细节，以求抓住文章的大概，从而加快阅读速度。据统计，训练有素的略读者( skimmer)的阅读速度可以达到每分钟3000到4000个词。所以，善于运用略读法阅读，不但可以提高阅读速度，而且能够很快抓住关键，把握文章主旨。
阅读时，先把文章粗略地浏览一下，看看文章中是否有自己工作和学习需要的或自己感兴趣的资料和信息，然后确定这篇文章是否值得细读。在查找资料时，如果没有充分时间，而又不需要高度理解时，就可以运用略读技巧。“不需要高度理解”并非指略读时理解水平可以很低，而是说略低于一般阅读速度所取得的理解水平是允许的。
一般阅读的目标是在保持一般阅读速度的条件下，获得尽可能高的理解水平，通常达到70%或80%。略读时，理解水平略低一些是预料之中的事，平均理解率达50%或60%就可以了。例如:
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is a single electric system that both heats and cools． In summer，a heat pump is a conventional air conditioner， which removes heat from a building．In winter the system reverses itself to use the natural heat that is always present in outdoor air． By taking advantage of this free heat，a heat pump is more economical to operate in winter than a system using electric resistance heat． Electric resistance heat uses electricity as a raw material to create heat where no heat has existed be fore． The heat pump，on the other hand，uses electricity to move existing heat from where it already exists naturally ( outdoors) to where it is wanted ( indoors) ．
Heat energy will naturally flow from areas of greater concentration to areas of lesser concentration． That is what happens when hot foods cool． The heat from the food flows into the air in the room until the food stabilizes at room temperature．Blowing air over the hot substance will speed up the process， which is why a winter day will seem colder when there is a strong wind than when the air is still．
A heat pump uses this heat- transfer process to move heat which is always in the air． The outdoor coil is made colder than the outdoor air． A fan blows outdoor air across the coil where heat is absorbed by the refrigerant． The refrigerant is then compressed and moved to the indoor air and the heat is distributed in the building．
During the summer，a heat pump reverses this process． The indoor coil is made cooler than the indoor air，and so room heat flows into the refrigerant which is compressed and moved to the outdoor coil． The outdoor coil，which is hotter than the outdoor air，will lose heat energy．
As the outdoor temperature decreases，there is less heat available in the air，and the heating capacity of the heat pump decreases． Since the heating requirements for a building will increase as the outdoor temperature decreases，there will be a temperature below which the heat pump can no longer satisfy heating requirements． If this temperature falls below the balance point，another heat source must be used．
Heat pumps have been available for many years． Engineers began working on them in the 1930's． The heat pump of today is an exceptionally dependable and efficient system that has been specifically designed to provide economical heating and cooling．
在读这篇文章时，我们会发现，如果只想了解文章大意，大可不必逐词逐句地读。一看原文和标题就知道是泛泛介绍Heat和Pumps，决非专论。读完第一段就对全文大意有所了解。其他各段都是对第一段的发挥，甚至还可以说是对第一段第一句的发挥。文章最后一段是全文的小结。其他各段只读第一句便行了。有时可加读该段末句。
(一)略读有下列四个特点:
1．以极快的速度阅读大量材料，寻找字面上或事实上的主要信息和少量的阐述信息。
2．可以跳过某个部分或某些部分不读。
3．理解水平可以稍低一些，但也不能太低。
4．根据文章的难易程度和达到的目的，不断灵活地调整阅读速度。
(二)略读的具体方法:
1．可以抓住标题、小标题、黑体字等关键处略读，这些往往都是文中主要内容、中心题旨所在;
2．可以根据关键词语的提示阅读，有关键词语的地方大都是同阅读者所关心的内容或问题联系最密切的;
3．可以重点在篇章的开头、结尾，文中段落的首句或尾句略读，这些常常是议论性文体的主要观点或论据要点的所在;
4．可以沿着情节发展线索略读，如在记叙文体中情节之外的纯景物、人物的大段静态描写可直接略过;
5．可以根据语法结构的提示略读，通过结构词语的帮助来把握书中的思路，如“由此看来” 、 “总之”等就可提示读者很快找到关键性的总结句。
(三)略读可以运用下列技巧:
1．要利用印刷细节，如书或文章的标题、副标题、小标题、斜体词、黑体词、脚注、标点符号等，对书和文章进行预测略读( preview skimming) 。预测略读要了解作者的思路、文章方式(模式) ，以便把握大意，有关的细节及其相互关系。
2．以一般阅读速度( 200～250wpm)阅读文章开头的一、二段，力求抓住文章大意、背景情况、作者的文章风格、口吻或语气等。
3．阅读段落的主题句和结论句。抓住主题句就掌握了段落大意，然后略去细节不读，以求得略读速度。
4．注意转折词和序列词。转折词如however，moreover，in addition等;序列词如firstly，secondly等。
5．若无需要，不必阅读细节。
四、寻读(scanning)
寻读又称查读，同略读一样，寻读也是一种快速阅读技巧。寻读法是指为得到急需的有关资料，在众多相关书籍资料中搜寻查找的一种快速阅读方法。熟练的读者善于运用寻读获得具体信息，以提高阅读效率。
寻读是一种从大量的资料中迅速查找某一项具体事实或某一项特定信息，如人物、事件、时间、地点、数字等，而对其它无关部分则略去不读的快速阅读方法。运用这种方法，读者就能在最短的时间内掠过尽可能多的印刷材料，找到所需要的信息。例如，在车站寻找某次列车或汽车的运行时刻，在机场寻找某次班机的飞行时刻，在图书馆查找书刊的目录，在文献中查找某一日期、名字、数字或号码等，都可以运用这种方法。
作为一种快速寻找信息的阅读技巧，寻读既要求速度，又要求寻读的准确性。具体地说，寻读带有明确的目的性，有针对性地选择问题的答案。因此，可以把整段整段的文字直接映入大脑，不必字字句句过目。视线在印刷材料上掠过时，一旦发现有关的内容，就要稍作停留，将它记住或摘下，既保证寻读的速度，又做到准确无误，所以寻读技巧也很有实用价值。寻读与略读不同。略读时，读者事先对材料一无所知，而寻读则是读者对材料有所了解的情况下进行的。例如，寻读电话号码簿，读者知道受话人的姓名，还知道电话号码簿是按姓的字母顺序排列的。这样，在寻找Jackson的电话时，就可以利用书页上方的标识词，再按姓的字母顺序很快翻到以J开头的书页，从而找到Jack son名下的电话页码。
为了有效地进行寻读，读者应运用下列技巧:
1．利用材料的编排形式。资料多半是按字母顺序排列的。如词典、索引、邮政编码簿、电话号码簿以及其它参考资料簿等。当然并非所有资料都是按字母顺序排列的。例如，电视节目是按日期和时间排列的。历史资料是按年代排列的，报纸上的体育版面是按比赛类别(足球、排球、网球)排列等等。不管资料来源怎样，它都是按照某种逻辑方法排列的。例如，要知道某事是何时发生的，要查日期;某事是谁做的，要查人名等。
2．利用章节标题和说明。寻读之后，首先看看文章标题或章节标题，确定文章是否包含自己所需要的材料，或者哪一部分包含哪些材料，这样可以直接翻到那个部分，进行寻找。
3．抓提示词。读者找到包含所需信息的章节，准备寻读。这时，要留心与那个具体信息有关的提示词。例如，在报纸体育运动版上寻找某田径运动员的某项运动成绩，他的国名是提示词。在百科全书上寻找纽约市的人名，翻到New York City那一章后， population，census，inhabitants等词就是提示词。找到提示词，就可以采用一般阅读速度，获得所需要的信息。
五、猜读法
猜读法是指在读书读文章时，以所了解的题目或已看的前文作为前提，对后面的内容预作猜想，然后将其与后文实际内容进行印证比较的一种阅读方法。猜读法使读者角度转换为作者，为作者设身处地地考虑作品内容的安排，这就使阅读活动始终处于高度活跃的积极思维状态，有助于锻炼提高读者的认识判断能力、创造能力。随着猜读准确性的提高，读者在阅读中领会把握作品内容的时间就会大为减少，因而猜读的能力对提高快速阅读能力也会起到重要的促进作用。
猜读法最常见于情节类的作品阅读中，如《老人与海》中在读到桑提亚哥刚遇到鲨鱼之时，读者便可以猜想作者会怎样写他与鲨鱼的较量?最后结局会是如何?其他类型的作品，也可用猜读法阅读。读议论性文体时，可以先由题目设想作者怎样提出论点，采用哪些论据，用什么方法来具体论证。运用猜读法时需要注意，猜读要以原文的某些材料作依据，不能毫无依据地凭空乱想。猜想之后，要在原文的相关处重点阅读，将猜想与原文的内容进行对照，如一致，便说明自己较好地理解了作品，不一致则说明自己的理解或作者对内容的处理有问题。在不断的猜想、比较、总结中，猜读能力会不断提高，思维能力与创造能力也会得到很好的锻炼。
以上就是五种练习快读的方法介绍，其实这些方法我们在平常的生活和学习中都曾用到过，只是我们没有意识到而已，而一旦把它们作为方法单独挑选出来，然后按照其要求坚持练习，就会取得很好的效果。这也说明了在我们身边就有很多途径可以提高阅读速度，关键还要看你怎样去挖掘这些方法了。
练习读速测试
为了便于同学们检查自己的阅读效率是否提高，我们设计了一个测试格式供读者使用。在进行读速测试时，首先要知道全篇词数(符号为W)以及阅读时间(符号为M) 。然后用W/ M这个公式算出阅读速度，即每分钟所读词数(符号为WPM) 。在回答测试中所附的问题之后，根据书后的参考答案，核算出答对问题的百分比。最后计算出阅读效率。阅读速度和答对问题的百分比相乘，可以大致推算出阅读效率。
Passage 1
The Methods of Science
Observation and Experiment
The methods used by working scientists have evolved from a separation of methods used in ordinary life，particularly in the manual trades． First，you have a look at the job and then you try something and see if it will work． In more learned language，we begin with observations and follow with experiments． Now everyone，whether he is a scientist or not，observes; but the important things are what to ob serve and how to observe them． It is in this sense that the scientist differs from the artist． The artist observes in order to transform what he sees through his own experience and feeling into some new and evocative creation． The scientist observes in order to find things and relations that are as far as possible independent of his own sentiments． This does not mean that he should have no conscious aim． Far from it: as the history of science shows，some objective，often a practical one，is almost an essential requirement for the discovery of new things． What it does mean is that in order to achieve its goal in the nonhuman world，deaf to the most emotional appeal，desire must be subordinated to fact and law．
Classification and Measurement
Two techniques have in time grown out of native observation: classification and measurement． Both are，of course，much older than conscious science，but they are now used in quite a special way． Classification has become in itself the first step towards understanding new groups of phenomena． They have to be put in order before anything can be done with them． Measurement is only one further stage of that putting in order． Counting is the ordering of one collection against an other in the last resort against fingers． Measuring is counting the number of a standard collection that balances or lines up with quality that is to be weighed or measured． It is measurement that links science with mathematics on the one hand，and with commercial and mechanical practice on the other． It is by measurement that numbers and forms enter science，and it is also by measurement that it is possible to indicate precisely what has to be done to reproduce given conditions and obtain a desired result．
It is here that the active aspect of science comes into the picture that is characterized by the word“experiment” ． After all，as the word indicates，it is only a trial，and early experiments indeed were full- scale trials． Once measurement was introduced it was possible not only to reproduce trials accurately，but also to take the somewhat daring step of carrying them out on a small scale． It is that small scale or model experiment that is essential feature of modern science． By working on a small scale far more trials can be carried out at the same time and far more cheaply． Moreover，by the use of mathematics，far more valuable results can be obtained from the many small- scale experiments than from one or two elaborate and costly full- scale trials． All experiments boil down to two very simple operations: taking apart and putting together again; or in scientific language， analysis and syn thesis． Unless you can take a thing or process to bits you can do nothing with it but observe it as an undivided whole． Unless you can put the pieces together again and make the whole thing work，there is no way of knowing whether you have introduced something new or left something out in your analysis．
Apparatus
In order to carry out these operations，scientists have，over the course of centuries，evolved a complete set of material tools of their own—the apparatus of science． Now apparatus is not anything mysterious． It is simply the tools of ordinary life turned to very special purposes． The crucible is just a pot， the forceps a pair of tongs． In turn，the apparatus of the scientist often comes back into practical life in the form of useful instruments or implements． It is not very long，for instance，since the modern television set was the cathode- ray tube． A purely scientific apparatus fulfills either of two major functions: as scientific instrument，such as tele scopes or microscopes， it can be used to extend and make more precise our sensory perception of the world; as scientific tools，such as micro manipulators，stills，or incubators，it can be used to extend in a controlled way our motor manipulation of the things around us．
读完全文之后，将所花的阅读时间填入问答题后面的阅读速度计算表中。然后回答下面的问题。
Questions:
Decide whether the following statements are true or false according to the text:
1． Scientific methods were largely based on the observation of manual trades． ( F) ( T)
2． The scientist observes and uses his own sentiments in order to find relation ships． ( F) ( T)
3． Observation has become the first step toward understanding new phenomena． ( F) ( T)
4． Science and mathematics are linked by order，not by measurement． ( F) ( T)
5． Early experiments were done as full- scale trials． ( F) ( T)
6． The small- scale experiment is the essential feature of modern science． ( F) ( T)
7． All experiments boiled down to three simple operations． ( F) ( T)
8． The one basis for all experiments is synthesis． ( F) ( T)
9． Scientific apparatus is derived from and is based upon the needs of science． ( F) ( T)
10． The body of scientific knowledge is the product of operation and observation． ( F) ( T)
答完题后，对照练习后的答案。将答对的百分数填入下表，并按前文提到的方法计算阅读效率。
全文词数: 1140 W
阅读时间:__________M
阅读速度:__________WPM
答对问题:__________%
阅读效率:__________WPM × %
(阅读效率:阅读速度_________WPM × %答对问题_________%)
Passage 2
Social customs and ways of behaving change． Things which were considered an impolite many years ago are now acceptable． Just a few years ago，it was considered an impolite behavior for man to smoke on the street． No man who thought of himself as being a gentleman would make a fool of himself by smoking when a lady was in a room．
Customs also differ from country to country． Does a man walk on the left or the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn't it matter? What about table manners? Should you use both hands when eating? Should you leave one in your lap(膝) ，or on the table?
The American and the British do not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs． For example，in both America and Eng land people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time． Also，most Englishmen will open a door for a woman or offer their seat to a woman，and so will most Americans． Promptness is important both in England and in America．That is，if a dinner invitation is for 7 o'clock，the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay．
The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable—especially if they are your guests． There is an old story about a man who gave a formal dinner party． When the food was served， one of the guests started to eat his peas with a knife． The other guests were amused or shocked，but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way． It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable．
1． According to the passage，which of the following is considered polite behavior?
A) Not opening a door for a woman．
B) Being much earlier for dinner than expected
C) Use both hands while eating
D) Explaining one's lateness for dinner．
2． According to the passage，which of the following is NOT the social custom that
is shared by the Americans and the British?
A) Shaking hands when people meet for the first time．
B) Opening a door for a woman．
C) Walking on the left side of a woman．
D) Offering one's seat to a woman．
3． The word“promptness”( Line 5，Para． 3)means__________．
A) arriving earlier B) telephoning
C) being on time D) apologizing
4． The host picked up his knife and began eating because__________．
A) he wanted to laugh at his guest
B) he wanted to make his guest comfortable
C) he was very hungry
D) he wanted to amuse his guests
5． The best title for the passage would be__________．
A) Social Customs and Behavior
B) American and British Customs
C) How to Make Your Guests Comfortable
D) The History of Social Customs
Passage 3
It's a Small World
“Why?”you ask yourself when reading the article．
In 1972 the sea water of the west coast of South America was warmer than usual． In 1973 food prices in the United States were very much higher than usual．Is there any connection between these two facts? Yes，more than most people would suspect． Here is the explanation that connects these seemingly unrelated facts．
In the southern part of South America the weather is normally quite wet and cold from early May to late September． This kind of weather is caused by an icy current，called the Humboldt Current，which comes to South America's west coast from Antarctic Ocean every year．
Although the Humboldt Current brings weather that human beings consider unpleasant，it is excellent for fishing． The icy Humboldt Current is especially appreciated by a small fish called the anchovy． Anchovies love cold water; there are billions of anchovies off the coast of Peru from May to September，when the Humboldt Current makes the ocean cold．
Sometimes，however，every few yeas，a warm current from the equator ar rives，warming up the ocean and driving the anchovies away from the South American coast．
In a normal year Peru produces great quantities of fish meal，which is produced by grinding anchovies into a substance that can be mixed with other sub stances to feed chickens，cattle and other animals．
Peru is the world's leading producer of fish meal． In 1971 Peru sold more than two million tons of fish meal to countries overseas． In Europe，Latin America，and the United states，farmers and cattle raisers were able to buy a large sup ply of fish meal produced in Peru．
In 1972，however，there was sudden change in the waters of the Peruvian coast． A warm current from the equator warmed up the cold Humboldt Current，and the anchovies swam away to another part of the ocean．
As a result， Peruvian fisherman caught few anchovies， and Peru could not export its usual quantity of fish meal． The food required for feeding chickens and cattle became scarce，and prices everywhere went up．
This situation，like many other examples，shows how conditions in one country can affect the lives of people in distant lands． As we often say ，“It's a small world! ”
Questions:
Decide whether the following statements are true or false:
1． Cold weather caused people to become unpleasant． ( F) ( T)
2． The Humboldt Current caused the water to become cold． ( F) ( T)
3． A current from the equator caused the water to become warm． ( F) ( T)
4． Poor conditions for fishing caused anchovies to become many． ( F) ( T)
5． The high price for fish meal caused food to become cheap． ( F) ( T)
6． Such examples cause economics to become changed． ( F) ( T)
7． Our dependence upon other nations causes the world to become large． ( F) ( T)
8． Humboldt Current is bad for fishing． ( F) ( T)
9． There is a close relation between the weather change and fish decrease． ( F) ( T)
10． From this article sudden weather change is a good thing． ( F) ( T)
Answers:
Passage 1: 1． T2． F3． F4． F5． T6． T7． F8． F9． F10． T
Passage 2: 1． D2． C3． C4． B5． A
Passage 3: 1． T2． T3． T4． F5． F6． T7． F8． F9． T10． F
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