1 Why and how you read

Figure 1 Reading fast and slow

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A man is sitting in a living room with his feet up, reading a newspaper. His teenage son, looking harassed, is racing through the room towards the front door, holding a book called ‘Italian Basics – Exam Edition’. On the wall is a calendar with today ringed (‘Italian’).

Figure 1 Reading fast and slow

How you get information from written material depends on what you are doing. If you are reading at work, for example, you will probably be pushed for time. Essays in education have to be written to a deadline and there will usually be a limited amount of time to do the background reading. Newspapers and novels, however, can be read at your own speed.