Which term refers to reading a text quickly to gain a general sense of its meaning?

• A. Skimming
• B. Scanning
• C. Intensive reading
• D. Close reading

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is using a reading approach to grasp the overall sense of a text without getting bogged down in details. Skimming is when you move quickly through the material to catch the general meaning, the main ideas, and the overall purpose. You might glance at the title, headings, the first and last sentences of paragraphs, and any bolded or introductory statements to assemble a broad picture of what the piece is about. This helps you decide quickly whether the text is relevant or worth a deeper read, saving time when you’re surveying a lot of material.

In contrast, scanning is about finding a specific piece of information—numbers, a particular name, a date—without trying to understand the whole text. Intensive reading and close reading are about deep, careful analysis, where you read more slowly, examine details, and consider interpretation and nuance. So for gaining a general sense of meaning in a short amount of time, skimming is the right approach.