Why Are Skimming and Scanning Important Skills?

‘Skimming’ and ‘scanning’ are reading

techniques that use rapid eye movement
and keywords to allow people to move
quickly through text for slightly different
purposes.
What Is Skimming?
• Skimming is the action of reading
text quickly in order to get a
general overview of the text.

• Skimming should be used as a

preview before you read.

• It can also be used in reviewing

after you read, determining the
main idea from a long section you
don’t wish to read, or when trying
to find source material for a
research paper.

• Skimming saves you time!

 How to Skim a Text

1. Read the title. 5. Read headings and

subheadings.
2. Read the introduction.
6. Read the
3. Read the first line of conclusion or
each paragraph. summary.

4. Look for important 7. Do not read every

information such as word.
names, dates and
unusual words.
Skimming Activity 1:

CAR-FREE ZONES

Many people have cars in the city. But pollution is a problem

because of the traffic. Nowadays some downtown areas around the
world don’t have cars. These car-free zones are areas for people,
bicycles, and public transportation only.
London
Eight million people live in the center of London and another two
million people go to work there every day. The downtown area is
very noisy with hundreds of cars, buses, and taxis, but there are What is the main
also a lot of beautiful parks with free music concerts. At lunchtime idea of this text?
and after work, many people go there for a break.
Tokyo
Parts of Tokyo are always crowded with hundreds of people—but
no cars! These modern car-free zones are very popular and people
like shopping there.
Bogotá
In the past, Bogotá was polluted because there were lots of cars
and traffic. Now the downtown area is a car-free zone and the air
is clean! Many people don’t have a car and half a million people
take the bus to work.
Melbourne
In many cities, people don’t like to shop downtown. But in
Melbourne, Bourke Street is popular because there are lots of great
stores and no cars. It’s expensive, but lots of people eat lunch in the
small cafés.
What Is Scanning?

• Scanning is reading a text quickly

in order to find a specific word or
fact.
• You can use scanning to answer
questions or for research and
study.
• It is similar to skimming, but
when you are scanning you are
trying to locate a particular word
or fact.
• Remember, when scanning a text
for keywords or particular facts,
the questions tell you what to look
out for!
 How to Scan a Text

1. Keep the word or piece 4. Skip over text that

of information you are does not contain
looking for in mind the information
during your search. you are looking for.

2. Let your eyes run 5. Once you have

quickly over the text.
3. Use your finger to run
along the lines of text to
keep your place.
scanned from top
to bottom, scan
from the bottom to
the top to look for
information you
may have missed.
Scanning Activity 1:

CAR-FREE ZONES

Many people have cars in the city. But pollution is a problem because of
the traffic. Nowadays some downtown areas around the world don’t
have cars. These car-free zones are areas for people, bicycles, and public
transportation only.
London
Eight million people live in the center of London and another two million
people go to work there every day. The downtown area is very noisy
with hundreds of cars, buses, and taxis, but there are also a lot of
beautiful parks with free music concerts. At lunchtime and after work,
many people go there for a break.
Tokyo
Parts of Tokyo are always crowded with hundreds of people—but no
cars! These modern car-free zones are very popular and people like
shopping there.
Bogotá
In the past, Bogotá was polluted because there were lots of cars and
traffic. Now the downtown area is a car-free zone and the air is clean!
Many people don’t have a car and half a million people take the bus to
work.
Melbourne
In many cities, people don’t like to shop downtown. But in Melbourne,
Bourke Street is popular because there are lots of great stores and no
cars. It’s expensive, but lots of people eat lunch in the small cafés.
Scanning Activity 1:

1. How many people live in

downtown London?
2. What is beautiful in
downtown London?
3. What are popular in
Tokyo?
4. How many people take
the bus to work in
Bogotá?
5. Why is Bourke Street
popular?
Scanning Activity 1:

1. How many people live in

downtown London?
2. What is beautiful in
downtown London?
3. What are popular in
Tokyo?
4. How many people take
the bus to work in
Bogotá?
5. Why is Bourke Street
popular?
There are six words hidden in
every scene. Find and write
down the six words!
 learners

tablets

chair

ruler
pencil

teacher
 learners

tablets

chair

ruler
pencil

teacher