Reading and Obtaining Specific Information

Reading for specific information involves understanding the exact type of information you're looking for, locating it in the text, and then reading the relevant part carefully to fully understand it. Sometimes, this task may involve checking whether the information exists in the text in the first place.

1. Identify the Information Needed:

   • Before reading the passage, know what specific information you are looking for (e.g., a definition, cause, or effect).

2. Locate the Information:

   • Use headings to help find relevant sections.
   • Read for gist to get a rough idea of where the information might be located.

3. Scanning:

   • The main technique used for reading specific information is scanning.
   • Scanning involves quickly moving over the text, ignoring unknown vocabulary, and focusing on key words, phrases, and ideas that are important to your search.
   • Once you find the relevant part of the text, read it more carefully to ensure full understanding.

Reading for gist helps you locate general information quickly. It can be useful for:

1. Locating specific words or phrases in a passage.
2. Working out unknown vocabulary by understanding the context.
3. Finding the general location of an idea or concept in the text.