Study · Academic reading skillsLesson 01
Skimming and Scanning
Level B1–B2
Skimming and Scanning
Learning goals
- In this lesson, you will learn two reading strategies: skimming to understand the general message and scanning to find particular information. You will practise choosing the right strategy, using headings and keywords, and checking that an answer matches the text.
Step 1 — Read and discover
Read the passage once quickly. Focus on the title, the first sentence of each paragraph, repeated ideas and the conclusion. Do not stop to look up every unfamiliar word.
Why Some Cities Are Planting More Trees
Cities are increasingly planting trees as part of their plans to make urban life healthier and more comfortable. Trees provide shade, improve the appearance of streets and can make public spaces more pleasant to use. However, successful urban planting requires more than simply putting young trees into the ground.
The choice of location is important. Trees planted beside busy roads may help provide shade, but some locations have too little soil or too much pollution for certain species to grow well. City planners therefore need to consider local conditions before choosing which trees to plant.
Water is another practical concern. Young trees need regular watering while their roots become established. In areas that experience long dry periods, local authorities may collect rainwater or use systems that deliver water slowly. These methods can reduce waste, although they require planning and maintenance.
Community involvement can also affect the success of a project. Residents may help care for trees, report damage and explain which streets need more shade. When people are consulted early, projects may be more likely to reflect local needs.
Urban tree planting is not a complete solution to problems such as heat and air pollution. Nevertheless, when trees are selected carefully and maintained over time, they can make an important contribution to more liveable cities.
1. What is the passage mainly about?Try again
1. What is the passage mainly about?
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2. Which paragraph focuses mainly on watering trees?Try again
2. Which paragraph focuses mainly on watering trees?
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3. What does the writer suggest about urban tree planting?Try again
3. What does the writer suggest about urban tree planting?
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Step 2 — Learn the two strategies
Skimming means reading quickly to understand the general topic, main idea or overall organisation. Look at the title, headings, opening sentences, repeated words and conclusion. You do not need to understand every detail.
Scanning means moving your eyes quickly through a text to find a particular detail, such as a date, number, name, place or stated reason. Know what you are looking for before you scan.
A useful rule: first decide what the question asks. If it asks what the whole text is about, skim. If it asks for a specific fact, scan. You may need to read the relevant sentence carefully after you find it.
Strategy guide
Skimming
Understand the general topic, main idea, or organisation of a text.
- Read the title and headings.
- Notice opening sentences and repeated ideas.
- Read the conclusion for the overall message.
- Do not stop at every unfamiliar word.
Example: Choose the best title for a passage.
Common mistake: Reading every sentence slowly instead of looking for the overall message.
Scanning
Locate a specific piece of information quickly.
- Identify exactly what information the question asks for.
- Choose likely keywords such as a name, date, number, or place.
- Move your eyes quickly through the text to find the keyword or a paraphrase.
- Read the surrounding sentence to confirm the answer.
Example: Find the year when a project began.
Common mistake: Selecting a keyword match without checking whether the sentence answers the question.
Choosing a strategy
Match the reading strategy to the task.
- Use skimming for main ideas, titles, and overall organisation.
- Use scanning for dates, names, figures, and specific stated details.
- Read the relevant section carefully after locating it.
Example: Main purpose = skim; exact percentage = scan.
Common mistake: Using only one strategy for every question.
Keywords and paraphrases
Find information even when the question uses different wording from the passage.
- Underline the key idea in the question.
- Think of synonyms and related expressions.
- Check the meaning in context rather than matching words alone.
Example: Question: cost; text: price or fee.
Common mistake: Assuming the answer must contain the exact words used in the question.
Confirming an answer
Make sure a possible match answers the question accurately.
- Read the sentence around the match.
- Check numbers, dates, units, and limiting words.
- Compare the meaning with the question and all answer options.
Example: A report was published in 2023, but the scheme began in 2019.
Common mistake: Choosing the first number or name you see.
Step 3 — Choose the right strategy
Choose the best answer, then check your choices.
1. Find the year when a study was published.Try again
1. Find the year when a study was published.
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2. Identify the main purpose of the whole passage.Try again
2. Identify the main purpose of the whole passage.
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3. Find the name of the university mentioned in paragraph four.Try again
3. Find the name of the university mentioned in paragraph four.
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4. Get a quick idea of how the passage is organised.Try again
4. Get a quick idea of how the passage is organised.
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5. Locate the percentage given in a report.Try again
5. Locate the percentage given in a report.
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6. Decide which title best represents the passage.Try again
6. Decide which title best represents the passage.
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Step 4 — Practise scanning for details
Read the short text below. First identify the keywords in each question. Then scan the text to find the relevant information. Read the sentence around the keyword before choosing an answer.
A Community Bicycle Scheme
The town of Fairhaven introduced its public bicycle scheme in 2019. At first, it offered 80 bicycles at 12 stations near the town centre and the railway station. The scheme was designed to make short journeys easier and reduce traffic near crowded streets.
Membership costs £25 per year for regular users, while visitors can buy a day pass for £4. A local transport report published in 2023 found that the bicycles were used most often on weekdays between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. The report also noted that the busiest station was beside the central railway station.
1. In which year did the scheme begin?Try again
1. In which year did the scheme begin?
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2. How many bicycles were available at first?Try again
2. How many bicycles were available at first?
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3. How much does a day pass cost?Try again
3. How much does a day pass cost?
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4. When were the bicycles used most often?Try again
4. When were the bicycles used most often?
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5. Where was the busiest station?Try again
5. Where was the busiest station?
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Step 5 — Practise skimming for the main idea
Read each paragraph quickly, then choose the best summary.
1. Many universities now provide recorded lectures. Students can review difficult explanations, pause videos to take notes and watch material again before an exam. However, recordings are most useful when students also attend classes or complete the activities connected to them.Try again
1. Many universities now provide recorded lectures. Students can review difficult explanations, pause videos to take notes and watch material again before an exam. However, recordings are most useful when students also attend classes or complete the activities connected to them.
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2. Some cities have introduced charges for vehicles entering busy central areas. Supporters argue that the policy can reduce traffic and improve air quality. Critics point out that public transport must be reliable and affordable if people are expected to leave their cars at home.Try again
2. Some cities have introduced charges for vehicles entering busy central areas. Supporters argue that the policy can reduce traffic and improve air quality. Critics point out that public transport must be reliable and affordable if people are expected to leave their cars at home.
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3. Researchers studying sleep often ask participants to keep a diary of their habits. Diaries can reveal patterns that people might otherwise forget. However, self-reported information may not always be accurate, so researchers sometimes combine diaries with other measurements.Try again
3. Researchers studying sleep often ask participants to keep a diary of their habits. Diaries can reveal patterns that people might otherwise forget. However, self-reported information may not always be accurate, so researchers sometimes combine diaries with other measurements.
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Step 6 — Quick review
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. You need to find a date in a long passage. What should you do first?Try again
1. You need to find a date in a long passage. What should you do first?
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2. Which is the best way to identify the main idea?Try again
2. Which is the best way to identify the main idea?
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3. After scanning and finding a possible answer, you should:Try again
3. After scanning and finding a possible answer, you should:
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4. Which question is best answered by skimming?Try again
4. Which question is best answered by skimming?
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5. What should you do if a keyword does not appear in the text?Try again
5. What should you do if a keyword does not appear in the text?
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