Scanning
Advanced尋讀 = 找特定資訊。
- Scanning means hunting for specific answers, not reading for general understanding.
- Circle the key words first — names, dates and numbers — then sweep your eyes vertically.
- Slow down only when you reach the target sentence and confirm it answers the question.
文體小知識：Find specific info.
§Text Passage
1School Calendar 2026-27: Important Dates for Students. Term 1 begins on 1 September. The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday falls on 25 to 27 September, and National Day is celebrated on 1 October. Sports Day will be held on 27 November, and Term 1 ends on 19 December. The school photo day will be held on 8 October.
2The winter break runs from 20 December to 2 January. Term 2 starts on 5 January, and the Lunar New Year holiday lasts from 8 to 12 February. English Week activities will take place from 9 to 13 March, ending with the inter-class drama final. Ching Ming Festival falls on 5 April, and the Easter holiday runs from 26 to 29 March.
3Term 3 opens on 20 April. The S4 final examinations will be held from 1 to 12 June, so revision should begin in May. The last day of school is 18 June. The summer holiday begins on 19 June and lasts until 31 August. The new school year will start on 1 September 2027.
4To scan this calendar, do not read it line by line. Decide what you need — a specific date, name or number — and then run your eyes quickly over the page until you locate it. Key words such as 'exam' or 'holiday' help you ignore everything else. If you remember only one thing, remember this: permission slips for Sports Day must be returned by 20 November.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
School Calendar 2026-27: Important Dates for Students.
2026-27 學年校曆：學生重要日期。
Term 1 begins on 1 September.
第一學期在 9 月 1 日開始。
The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday falls on 25 to 27 September, and National Day is celebrated on 1 October.
中秋節假期是 9 月 25 至 27 日，而國慶日就在 10 月 1 日慶祝。
Sports Day will be held on 27 November, and Term 1 ends on 19 December.
運動會將會在 11 月 27 日舉行，第一學期就在 12 月 19 日結束。
The school photo day will be held on 8 October.
全校拍照日將會在 10 月 8 日舉行。
The winter break runs from 20 December to 2 January.
寒假由 12 月 20 日至 1 月 2 日。
Term 2 starts on 5 January, and the Lunar New Year holiday lasts from 8 to 12 February.
第二學期 1 月 5 日開始，農曆新年假期由 2 月 8 日至 12 日。
English Week activities will take place from 9 to 13 March, ending with the inter-class drama final.
英文週活動會在 3 月 9 至 13 日舉行，壓軸是班際話劇決賽。
Ching Ming Festival falls on 5 April, and the Easter holiday runs from 26 to 29 March.
清明節在 4 月 5 日，復活節假期由 3 月 26 日至 29 日。
Term 3 opens on 20 April.
第三學期在 4 月 20 日開始。
The S4 final examinations will be held from 1 to 12 June, so revision should begin in May.
中四期終考試會在 6 月 1 至 12 日舉行，所以五月就要開始溫習。
The last day of school is 18 June.
最後上課日是 6 月 18 日。
The summer holiday begins on 19 June and lasts until 31 August.
暑假由 6 月 19 日開始，至 8 月 31 日。
The new school year will start on 1 September 2027.
新學年會在 2027 年 9 月 1 日開始。
To scan this calendar, do not read it line by line.
要在這個校曆中尋讀，不要逐行去讀。
Decide what you need — a specific date, name or number — and then run your eyes quickly over the page until you locate it.
先想清楚你要找什麼——一個具體日期、姓名或者數字——然後快速掃視全頁，直到找到為止。
Key words such as 'exam' or 'holiday' help you ignore everything else.
「exam」或者「holiday」這類關鍵字，可以幫你忽略其他所有內容。
If you remember only one thing, remember this: permission slips for Sports Day must be returned by 20 November.
如果你只記得一件事，記住這一點：運動會的家長同意書要在 11 月 20 日前交回。
1Summary 重點摘要
尋讀 = 找特定資訊。
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Search for detail.
Exact.
When.
Who.
How many.
Search word.
Find.
忽略。
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1Know what to find. Example: if the question asks when the S4 final examinations are, you know before scanning that you are hunting for exam and June — scanning without a target is just slow reading.
- Step 2Sweep your eyes; do not read line by line. Example: the school calendar holds dozens of dates, so let your eyes move vertically over numbers and months only — skip every festival name.
- Step 3Hunt for keywords. Example: permission slips leads you to the Sports Day sentence, and exam leads you to final examinations — keywords are your locators.
- Step 4Read the located sentence and confirm. Example: after locking onto from 1 to 12 June, check that the question wants a range — if so, copy both dates; for permission slips it is by 20 November.
- Passage practiceScan targets in the calendar: Term 1 begins 1 September; Mid-Autumn runs 25 to 27 September; S4 finals run 1 to 12 June; the summer holiday runs from 19 June to 31 August; the slip deadline is 20 November.
- Format checkCheck the format of your answers: range questions need two dates (1 to 12 June), deadline questions need one (20 November), and spelling and capital letters matter — format carries marks too.
- Best textsScanning suits informative texts: calendars, timetables, notices and posters. Example: this calendar never needs full reading — two answers in thirty seconds leaves more time for your writing.
5Worked example Example
Scan the school calendar to answer: When are the S4 final examinations held, and when must the Sports Day permission slips be returned?
- Step 1: Circle the key words — 'final examinations' points to 'exam'; 'permission slips' points to 'Sports Day'.
- Step 2: Run your eyes vertically down the text, watching only for 'exam', 'June' and 'November' while skipping festival names.
- Step 3: Lock onto 'from 1 to 12 June' in paragraph three and 'returned by 20 November' in the last paragraph.
- Step 4: Check the format of your answers: a range question needs both dates, a deadline question needs one clear date.
- Answer: Using key words to locate the answers: the S4 final examinations run from 1 to 12 June, so revision should begin in May; the permission slips for Sports Day must be returned by 20 November. I did not read line by line. I scanned vertically with the key words 'exam' and 'permission slips' in mind, slowed down only when I hit the target sentences, and skipped all the festival information. Both answers were found in under half a minute.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Purpose?
Q2What to look for?
Q3Scan or skim?
Q4Tip?
Q5After finding?
Q6Read whole text?
Q7When is Term 1?
Q8When is National Day?
Q9When is Easter?
8Recap Recap
- Scanning means hunting for specific answers, not reading for general understanding.
- Circle the key words first — names, dates and numbers — then sweep your eyes vertically.
- Slow down only when you reach the target sentence and confirm it answers the question.
- Calendars, timetables and notices are perfect texts for scanning practice.
- Check the format of your answer: full dates, ranges and capital letters all matter.