SKIMMING

SKIMMING

We often have to read & comprehend large amount of material. Ability to read faster is an important skill, which will make our reading easier, & we will be able to read more in lesser time.

Skim reading is an important tool to improve our reading speed. It is also an important skill for IELTS Reading module.

Skim Reading:

In skim reading, we just scan though the texts letting our eyes just catch the key words. This gives us the crux of the written material. Then, we read the material second time more carefully, but still at high speed.

Skim Several Times:

When reading complex & extensive material, we can first skim over the chapter, section & titles to get an idea about the material. Than scan the material second time, & maybe even third time. Finally, read the material rapidly.

Read First Sentence:

Often, the first sentence of each paragraph states the main idea of that paragraph. Other sentences simply elaborate on that idea. We can skim read by just reading the first sentence of each paragraph. This will give us enough idea about the matter of the paragraph. But, we must be careful to use this method because at times, many authors give many ideas in one paragraph by making it very long.

Grouping Words:

Most of us read one word at a time, often saying the word to ourselves. This is extremely slow method of reading, especially when our mind is capable of processing information at a much faster pace. Hence, instead of looking at a single word, look at group of words & phrases. Instead of reading word-by-word, we must read in chunks. In addition, we do not have to say the words to understand their meaning.

Practice with Newspaper:

We must try to read several words, a phrase, or even a sentence at a time. A good way to do this is to read newspaper articles by scanning down the column, digesting all the words across, instead of reading one word at a time. A newspaper column usually has 4-5 words per line, & we should be able to carry out this process easily.

In Conclusion:

We must make effort to pick the pace of reading & concentrate on it until it becomes a habit. Ability to read fast is a very useful skill for anyone to cultivate.

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Common Mistakes in use of English

Common Mistakes in use of English

I don't mind

Incorrect: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'I don't mind.'

Correct: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'Thank you' OR 'No, thank you.'

ü Say ‘Thanks’ or ‘Thank you’ while accepting an offer.   

ü Say ‘No, thanks’ or ‘No, thank you’ while declining an offer.

'I don't mind' is rude. It shows indifference: that the person does not care whether he drinks coffee or not. 'I don't mind' should be used only when it is permissible to indicate no strong preference.

If clauses

Incorrect: If it rains we would cancel the match.

Correct: If it rains we will cancel the match.

Incorrect: If you hit the dog, it would bite you.

Correct: If you hit the dog, it will bite you.

When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple present tense, we use will/shall/can/may + infinitive in the main clause.

 Incorrect: If you studied hard, you will get a first class.

Correct: If you studied hard, you would get a first class

When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple past tense, we use would/should/could/might + infinitive in the main clause.                              

 Sentences of these types are used to talk about purely imaginary situations.

Incorrect: If you had studied hard, you would get a first class.

Correct: If you had studied hard, you would have got a first class.

When the verb in the main clause is in the past perfect tense, we use would/should/could/might + have + past participle in the main clause.

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Use of Present Simple Tense

This is one of the most widely used tenses in English and is often misused. It is important to know correct usage of this tense. Please read on to know correct use of this tense.

subject + verb/verb + (e)s                     (Positive Sentence)

He plays tennis. She studies English.

subject + do/does not + verb                  (Negative Sentence)

He doesn't play tennis. She doesn't study English.

(wh word) + do/does + subject + verb?        (Interrogative  Sentence)

( Why) Do you study English?

The principal uses of the present simple are listed below.

To refer to habitual or repeated actions:
I read the Gita just about every day.
She never goes to the cinema.
He doesn't come here very often.
Do you smoke?
With the present simple, frequency adverbs are often used (e.g. usually, always, frequently, generally, sometimes, rarely, often, never, normally, every day).

To refer to permanent states:
She holds a university degree in economics.
Note: use the present perfect, not the present simple when describing how long or since when something has continued:
She has taught economics since 1991. (not She has teaches economics since 1991)

To talk about factual information, such as generally accepted truths or scientific facts:

§  Parents are generally blind to their children's faults.

§    Water boils at 100°C.
The following frequency adverbs are often used: generally, normally, usually

To give instructions (e.g. cooking) or directions:
First, you add the sugar to the butter; then, you add two eggs.
You go up the stairs and turn right.

To talk about what happens in books, plays and films:
In the film, a young woman travels to the countryside and soon falls in love.

To use with state verbs when the meaning is not temporary. These verbs often describe a state rather than an action and therefore do not normally have continuous tenses.

Verbs that describe senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, look, sound
The coffee tastes really bitter.
Note: when something is happening now, we use can:
I can’t see anything. It’s too dark.

Verbs of possession: have, belong, possess, own
This camera belongs to my wife.

Verbs of perception: know, believe, understand, forget, think, remember
I think she's too young to get married.

Verbs of emotion: care, like, dislike, love, hate, mind, prefer, enjoy, adore
Do you mind if I open the window?
I adore my brother.

Verbs of description: seem, mean, look like, contain, sound, resemble, weigh
             You resemble my father.

Grammar Tip

Continuous verbs are usually active verbs (verbs such as to learn), that refer to an action. Stative verbs (such as to like), refer to a state, and are usually used in simple tenses, e.g. I like this song. Who sings it? NOT I’m liking this song as to like is a state, not an action.

Some verbs such as to feel have both an active and a stative meaning.

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