略讀在托福中是非常基本但重要的能力，這是因為托福考試涵蓋各種科普領域，背景學科的概論，考的並不是逐字逐句了解每句關代或者形容詞子句的意思，而是希望在有限時間內測試同學是否能夠抓出整篇意旨。此閱讀技能需要時間理解、練習才能內化，然而，只要加以練習， 略讀必定能幫助你在閱讀時更有效率。
什麼是略讀呢？實際上，就是快速抓到每個句子的劇情。
閱讀的首要任務即是「化繁為簡」。在練習閱讀時，我們應該先讀「句子的主要結構」，力求了解句子的意思，判斷「句中哪裏有新資訊」。初遇一篇文章，應先思考：「句子主角是誰？主詞是「人、事還是物」？ （主詞即為「從事該事件的對象」），同時往下閱讀，找尋針對該「主語」有何「敘述」，亦即，此主角「到底發生什麼事」？
以上即為閱讀的基本：在閱讀文章時，我們在抓「劇情」、「認識作者對該事物的態度」及「化繁為簡將段落變成簡單的畫面感」。
略讀句子的步驟：
1. 將句子主語（即主角）找到。
思考能對應主語的「動詞」，往下尋找動詞，再兜起來，往下閱讀，看句子中是否還有其他補充的次要資訊。因此，讀句子時，應先讀「結構」、再讀「主要資訊的主詞動詞」，最後才是補讀「補充資訊」。
2. 往下抓新資訊。
舉以下句子為例：
The development of the modern presidency in the United States began with Andrew Jackson who swept to power in 1829 at the head of the Democratic Party and served until 1837.
在閱讀此句時，我會先抓句子結構，一邊抓句子結構一邊找尋句子中主要的「新資訊」，意即「該句子中主要子句的主詞、動詞」。
抓句子結構：The development of (something) began with….(something happening)
句子次要結構：The development of …began with (someone who swept into power in (this time) and served until (that time).
抓句子主要內容：The development of presidency in the U.S. began with Jackson.
抓句子次要內容：Jackson swept to power in 1829 and served until 1837.
剩餘資訊不重要。
簡化畫面後，我的腦海會自動過濾資訊為：
The development of (something [=US presidency] ) began with (this person in power) (at this time).
反覆練習skim 後，抓句子主要資訊的能力會愈練愈快，也由於每個句子都已化繁為簡，閱讀者將更能消化句子內容，進而思考文句關聯。
以下，我為各位簡化了一小段文章。若能用略讀方法讀過文章，便會發現在過濾資訊資後，段落的旨意將更加明確。
原文： During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to form the Whig party. Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought about by the market, banks, and commerce.
拆句加簡化：
1. During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to form the Whig party.
略讀後–> During Jackson’s term, his opponents formed the W.
2. Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought about by the market, banks, and commerce.
略讀後–> W and D had different opinions toward (changes) of market and commerce.
原文：The Democrats tended to view society as a continuing conflict between “the people”—farmers, planters, and workers— and a set of greedy aristocrats. This “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s virtue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth.
拆句加簡化：
1. The Democrats tended to view society as a continuing conflict between “the people” ”—farmers, planters, and workers—and a set of greedy aristocrats.
略讀後–> The Ds see society as a conflict between poor people and greedy people.
2. This “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s virtue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth.
略讀後–> This (power) of rich bankers controlled the system for their own profit, Ds said.
此句精簡後，可理解作者的態度為 => (So, the Ds believe rich people are selfish.)
Ds say: “This power of bankers” sapped the nation’s virtue by doing something.
Doing what? -> Bankers encourage desire for sudden wealth. So, by doing this, they will sap the nation’s virtue.
（這時，我心裡就會思考：能否猜出sap的意思?)
sap: to drain, to deprive, to proceed by digging a sap, to gradually diminish the supply
原文：
The Democrats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian republic. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, changing society; the complex dealing; the dominance of urban centers; and the loss of independence that came with it.
拆句加簡化：
1. The Democrats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian republic.
略讀後–> The Ds wanted the rewards of market without losing a simple republic.
2. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, changing society; the complex dealing; the dominance of urban centers; and the loss of independence that came with it.
略讀後–> They want the wealth of market but they do not want changing society and loss of independence.
最後，讓我們再比較一次原文及略讀簡化後的差異：
原文：
During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to form the Whig party. Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought about by the market, banks, and commerce.The Democrats tended to view society as a continuing conflict between “the people”—farmers, planters, and workers—and a set of greedy aristocrats. This “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s virtue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth.The Democrats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian republic. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, changing society; the complex dealing; the dominance of urban centers; and the loss of independence that came with it.
略讀後–>
During Jackson’s term, his opponents form the W. party. W and D held different attitude towards changes by market. The D. view society as conflict between people and greedy ones. Bankers controlled the system for own profits, D says, and drain the nation by encouraging desires. The Ds wanted the rewards of market without losing a simple republic. They want the wealth of market but they do not want a changing society and loss of independence.
觀察略讀前及略讀後的版本，大家應不難發現，略讀可幫助你將所有閱讀的篇章簡化，而簡化後的畫面，往往更能顯示段落的主核心和作者態度。理解了這個方法後，趕快來找文章試試吧！
祝大家在準備托福的過程中，不只是應付閱讀題型，更是享受閱讀的過程！
