Reading is a good habit, but the problem is that there's too much to read, and too little time to read every word of it. So ①we need to find good ways to read faster. There are hundreds of skills (技巧) to help you read more in less time. Here are two skills that I think are especially good.

Preview (预看) —if it's long and hard. This skill is especially useful for ideas of heavy reading like long magazine articles (文章) and business reports (报告).

    Here's how the preview goes.

●Read the first two paragraphs (段落) and the last two paragraphs carefully.

●Then read only the first sentence of the other paragraphs.

    This skill doesn't give you all the details (细节, 详情). It stops you spending time on things you don't really want or need to read.

    Skim (略读)—if it's short and simple (简单的). Skimming is a good way to get ideas of light reading like popular magazines or sports and entertainment (娱乐) papers.

    Here's how to skim.

    ●Get your eyes to move fast. Sweep across each line.

    ●Pick up only a few ②key words in each line.

    Everybody skims differently. You and I may not pick up the same words when we skim the same piece, but we'll get a similar (相似的) idea of what it's mainly about.

    I'm Sally . I was a shy girl . Bu this term , I decided to do a brave（勇敢）thing . In this term , we had a new subject to learn –physics . When our teacher asked someone to be the physics monitor（物理课代表）, I put up my hand and got the role . But it was not as easy as I thought .

    At the beginning , I found that many students did not hand in（上交）their homework , so I was a little worried . I shouted at the students . It made the students angry . One girl asked : “ Why are you shouting at me ? You're making it seem like it is all my mistake（错误）. ” Then I found that , it was my mistake in fact . I should talk to my classmates in a kind way and not get so angry .

    After this , I changed（改变）how I spoke . “ Excuse me . Could you please finish your homework ? ” I said . Later , I was surprised that many students understood me a lot better and finished their homework quickly.

    I found the best way to do this job is to talk with my classmates in a friendly way . Now , I am getting better and better with my classmates . This job makes me feel like I am growing up like a little tree day by day .

    Once upon a time, a cat and a mouse were good friends. They lived a happy life in the same house. One day they went to the market and bought a big piece of cheese. They put it under a tree for winter.

    A few days later, the mouse wanted to eat the cheese. He told the cat that he had to join a baby's birthday party and then left. The mouse ate half of the cheese and returned home. When the cat asked him what the baby's name was, the mouse said" Half­gone".

    After a few days, the mouse wanted to eat some cheese again. He told the cat he had to join another baby's birthday party. He finished the other half and told the cat the baby was called "All­gone".

    When winter came, the cat went to the tree to get the cheese. But he found nothing. From then on, mice and cats were not friends any more.

Dear Mom and Dad,

    How are you? I hope everything is okay. I'm doing well.

    Here at Valley College, I'm very busy with my English classes at the ESL Center. My teacher says, "It's important to practice English outside the classroom." That's why I'm writing this e-mail in English!

    Sometimes I'm a little afraid to use my English, but people are usually nice. I speak English with others here in the dorm(宿舍) and the dining room.

    I feel very comfortable here. This college has everything! It's like a small city. The student store is next to my dorm. There's a beautiful garden across from the student store. The health center is on the corner, across from my dorm. The sports center is on the corner of College Avenue and Garden Street, There are three coffee shops on College Avenue!

    There is one thing the college doesn't have, Mom: your cooking!

Love,

Sunny

    A few days ago, I ran into a stranger as he passed by. I said sorry to him and he said, "Excuse me, too, I wasn't even watching for you." We were very polite this stranger and I. Then we went on our way after saying goodbye.

    Later in the kitchen at home, as I cooked our meal, my daughter Betty walked up to me, very quietly. When I turned around. I nearly knocked her down. "Get out of the way!" I shouted angrily. She ran away, crying.

    That night, when I lay in bed, my husband said to me, "You were so rude to Betty. Go and look around on the kitchen floor, and you'll find some flowers there. Betty brought those for you. She picked them herself - pink, yellow, and your favourite blue."

    When I heard this, I thought deeply: While meeting with a stranger, I was calm and polite; but with my daughter, I was not patient. I felt sad and tears began to fall.

    I quietly went to Betty's bed, "Wake up, my dear," I said, "Are these the flowers you picked for me?" She smiled, "I found them by the tree. I knew you'd like them, especially the blue." I said, "I am so sorry that I treated（对待）you that way today." And she whispered（悄声说）, "Mommy, that's okay - I still love you anyway." I kissed her and said, "I love you too and I do love the flowers."

    That day Betty gave me a lesson on how to get along with each other in the family. I spent much time on work before and didn't realize how important family life was. I decided to change myself in the future.