North Carolina Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What are students doing when they are instructed to skim documents for keywords?

1. Taking detailed notes

2. Summarizing the entire document

3. Reading quickly to gather the basic premise

4. Focusing on main ideas only

The correct answer is: Reading quickly to gather the basic premise

When students are instructed to skim documents for keywords, they are engaging in a reading strategy that allows them to quickly gather the basic premise of the text. This approach emphasizes speed and efficiency, as students look for significant words and phrases that can guide their understanding of the overall content and main ideas without reading every single detail. This method is particularly useful for identifying topics and themes, setting the stage for deeper reading if needed. In the context of skimming, focusing solely on main ideas (as suggested by one of the incorrect answers) can imply a more thorough reading than what skimming typically involves. While key ideas are part of what students may note in skimming, they are generally looking for specific terms or concepts rather than comprehensive understanding of fully articulated ideas. Taking detailed notes and summarizing the entire document also indicate a much deeper engagement than what skimming represents, which is primarily about rapid scanning for important components of the text.