作为toefl 考试的第一个难关---Reading, 一直是中国考生”听说读写”里最擅长，同时又是最容易失分的。所以这篇里边主要介绍下在做Reading题目的两个首要techniques, 也就是scanning and skimming.
作为First step的Scanning主要是根据key words定位到文章中某一句或某一个词。而另外一个尤其重要的second step: skimming则需要可以跳着读。最直接的一个要求就是要找到连接词conj. words. 1st, Reading里最高频的And but以及这两词语的同义词; 2nd, because，so that表示原因结果的词语; 3rd, 做timing的词语,ago, 1989, then, etc; Last but not least, 像你现在读的这句话里边用到的 1st, 2nd, last 这些让你整个人看文章舒服很多的词汇。这样做的目的就是化繁为简，把一段1000字左右的话simplify为仅10个字不到的框架，了解到段落的main idea和大致结构，更重要的是可以把scanning出的key words 所在的意思和question里边要找的essential information意思和作用分析出来。Let’s take this paragraph as an example:
The majorityof three-dimensional representations, whether standing, seated, or kneeling,exhibit what is called frontality: they face straight ahead, neither twistingnor turning. When such statues are viewed in isolation, out of their originalcontext and without knowledge of their function, it is easy to criticize themfor their rigid attitudes that remained unchanged for three thousand years.Frontality is, however, directly related to the functions of Egyptian statuaryand the contexts in which the statues were set up. Statues were created not fortheir decorative effect but to play a primary role in the cults of the gods,the king, and the dead. They were designed to be put in places where thesebeings could manifest themselves in order to be the recipients of ritualactions. Thus it made sense to show the statue looking ahead at what washappening in front of it, so that the living performer of the ritual couldinteract with the divine or deceased recipient. Very often such statues wereenclosed in rectangular shrines or wall niches whose only opening was at thefront, making it natural for the statue to display frontality. Other statueswere designed to be placed within an architectural setting, for instance, infront of the monumental entrance gateways to temples known as pylons, or inpillared courts, where they would be placed against or between pillars: theirfrontality worked perfectly within the architectural context.
我猜很多人应该没耐心把这么长一段从头到尾看一遍吧，就算是现在spare times，let alone考试的时候时间那么紧张，更会觉得puzzled andconfused. So let’s make life easier. 看下下边highlight的部分：
The majority of three-dimensional representations, whetherstanding, seated, or kneeling, exhibit what is called frontality: they facestraight ahead, neither twisting nor turning. When such statues areviewed in isolation, out of their original context and without knowledge oftheir function, it is easy to criticize them for their rigid attitudes thatremained unchanged for three thousand years. Frontality is,however,directly related to the functions of Egyptian statuary and the contexts inwhich the statues were set up. Statues were created not for their decorativeeffect but to play a primary role in the cults of the gods, the king,and the dead. They were designed to be put in places where these beings couldmanifest themselves in order to be the recipients of ritualactions. Thus it made sense to show the statue looking ahead at whatwas happening in front of it, so that the living performer of theritual could interact with the divine or deceased recipient. Very often suchstatues were enclosed in rectangular shrines or wall niches whose only openingwas at the front, making it natural for the statue to displayfrontality. Other statues were designed to be placed within anarchitectural setting, for instance, in front of the monumental entrancegateways to temples known as pylons, or in pillared courts, where they would beplaced against or between pillars: their frontality worked perfectly within thearchitectural context.
What about now?从这几个词语应该是可以快速整理出这一段的几处转折的地方，讲了哪几个方面，以及哪个部分author写的比较多点吧。接着就可以对照options，选出那个给你加分的正确选项。
另外给两类同学大概做个Plan list: 一般有3个月时间备考的孩纸们大概有这么三个stages：Stage 1 tpo你自己挑个的吉祥数字 比如tpo 6 8,whatever you like, 基本一周一篇的节奏，找到每篇里的这个conj. Words; Stage2 TPO 18 19 20 21 这几篇是难度较大的篇幅, 和题目对照着开始着手做题; Stage 3 TPO 33 34 这几篇开始限时训练。对于备考1个月的孩纸: 直接从TPO 18 19 30 21这几个重点篇章开始，最后一段时间就是TPO 30及以后的限时训练。
All in all, 记住常见的几个套路词：but 转折词; cause 原因词; for instance 例子词; long long ago 时间词, etc. 眼熟这些词，把一段文章从头到尾skimming出这些词，同时也就是1-2min内把paragraph的主干理出来了。按时完成task，养成习惯，you’re not afraid then, besides, 做题速度也会蹭蹭的提高,而且准确率也刷刷的变高。