Skimming

0 Skimming is a reading technique that can help you

to read more quickly, and then decide if the text is
interesting and whether you should read it in more
detail.
0 You use it to obtain the gist of a piece of text (i.e. to
quickly identify the main ideas in the text).
0 Do not read the whole text word-for-word.
0 Use as many clues as possible to give you some
background information (there might be pictures or
images related to the topic).
0 Let your eyes skim over the surface of the text and, while
thinking about any clues you have found about the
subject, look out for key words.
0 Read the title, subtitles and subheading to find out
what the text is about.
0 Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph.
0 Continue to think about the meaning of the text.
 Scanning
0 Scanning is a fast reading technique. It is a way of
reading to look for specific information in a text.
0 Scanning is also useful when studying or looking to
find specific information from a book or article
quickly as there is not always time to read every
word.
0 Do not try to read every word. Move quickly across the
page until you find what you are looking for.
0 Use clues on the page, such as headings and titles.
0 In a dictionary use the 'header' words to help you scan.
You can find these in bold type at the top of each page.
0 For study, start by writing down some questions that you
want to answer. It can help you find the facts or
information you need more easily.
0 Many ways to practice scanning skills: scan web pages
on the Internet to find specific information.
 Skimming vs. scanning
0 Skimming is used to obtain the gist (the overall
sense) of a piece of text, e.g. to decide whether it is
useful and should be read more slowly and in more
detail.
0 Scanning is used to obtain specific information
from a piece of text.
0 You can use both reading methods. After you have
skimmed a piece of text, you may wish to use scanning
techniques to locate specific information.
 Text 1:

0 Water resources and the way they are managed are central to improving
livelihoods and to sustainable development. The challenge of meeting
greater human needs for water from finite freshwater is a growing concern,
along with threats from climate change, such as uncertain rainfall and water
availability, affecting rainfed and irrigated agriculture. The implications for
food security and nutrition are severe, through the impact on food systems,
from agricultural production – including rainfed and irrigated crop
production, livestock, inland fisheries and aquaculture – through food
processing to households and consumers. This report addresses two main
water challenges affecting agriculture and food production: scarcity and
shortages. Water scarcity refers to a physical lack of freshwater, which can
seriously affect production and productivity in irrigated agriculture. Water
scarcity is not just about inadequate freshwater but also inadequate
infrastructure and institutional capacity to ensure equitable access to water
services, such as drinking water and irrigation. Shortages through
inadequate rainfall – in volume and timing – limit crop production in rainfed
agriculture and livestock production on pastureland. Other water risks
include natural hazards, such as flooding, where the problem is excess water.
(Source: FAO, 2020)
 Reading test
0 Some questions about main idea questions:
1. What is the main idea/topic/purpose of the passage?
2. What is the subject of the passage?
3. What is the author mainly concerned?
4. What is the best title for the passage?

0 Some questions about Vocabulary questions:

1. The word “livestock" in line 8 is closest in meaning
to..?
 Reading Tasks
0 Read the passage and answers the questions by
applying skimming and scanning techniques
0 Try to make questions based on the reading passage
 Text 2
0 The concept of food systems can be useful for understanding the
relationship between food security and nutrition, food
production and consumption, and water. A food system
encompasses the entire range of actors in the production,
aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption and disposal
of food products that originate from agriculture, forestry and
fisheries, and parts of the broader economic, societal and natural
environments in which these activities are embedded. A
sustainable system delivers food security and nutrition for all,
without compromising the economic, social and environmental
bases that generate food security and nutrition. Sustainable and
equitable water management is essential to food systems, to
achieving food and nutrition security, and to ending hunger.
0 (Source: FAO, 2020)
 Text 3
0 Global attention has focused primarily on water
quantity, but water quality is also important from a
food-security perspective. Pollution affects the
availability of freshwater for economic activities,60
including food production. Polluted water affects
health and well-being through food safety and health
risks. It also undermines the sustainability of
fisheries, land and ecosystems, including the ability to
provide food security and nutrition
0 (Source: FAO, 2020)