Skimming
Advanced略讀 = 快、找主旨。
- Skimming means reading quickly for the gist, not for details.
- The topic sentence of each paragraph, usually the first, builds the overall idea.
- Titles, subheadings and the opening or closing paragraph give the strongest clues.
文體小知識：Get the main idea fast.
§Text Passage
1The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world. It stretches 55 kilometres across the Pearl River Delta and links Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao. The bridge opened in October 2018 after nine years of construction. Before it was built, travellers had to take a ferry, and the journey took about four hours. Now the same journey takes only 45 minutes by car.
2The bridge cost over 100 billion dollars, making it one of the most expensive engineering projects in modern history. Its designers used huge steel sections and artificial islands to protect the marine environment. Yet some people still worry about the impact on Chinese white dolphins, whose home lies near the bridge route. Others point out that traffic has been lower than expected, so the bridge may take much longer to pay back its cost.
3For tourists, the bridge has become an attraction in itself. Visitor numbers increase during long holidays, when families drive to Zhuhai for seafood and shopping. For students, the bridge is a popular topic in projects about transport and city planning. When we write about it, the topic sentence of each paragraph should state one clear main idea.
4The HZMB shows what happens when engineers think across borders. It also reminds us that every great project has two sides: amazing convenience and real costs. If you skim the news about the bridge, the headline and subheadings alone tell you the main idea. The bridge connects cities, saves time and raises important questions.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world.
港珠澳大橋是全球最長的跨海大橋。
It stretches 55 kilometres across the Pearl River Delta and links Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao.
它全長 55 公里，橫跨珠江三角洲，連接香港、珠海和澳門。
The bridge opened in October 2018 after nine years of construction.
大橋在 2018 年 10 月開通，之前用了九年時間興建。
Before it was built, travellers had to take a ferry, and the journey took about four hours.
未有這條橋之前，旅客要乘搭渡輪，航程大約四小時。
Now the same journey takes only 45 minutes by car.
現在同樣的路程，駕車只需要 45 分鐘。
The bridge cost over 100 billion dollars, making it one of the most expensive engineering projects in modern history.
大橋造價超過一千億，是現代史上最貴的工程項目之一。
Its designers used huge steel sections and artificial islands to protect the marine environment.
設計師用了巨型鋼結構和人工島，去保護海洋環境。
Yet some people still worry about the impact on Chinese white dolphins, whose home lies near the bridge route.
不過，仍然有人擔心大橋對中華白海豚的影響，因為牠們的棲息地就在大橋路線附近。
Others point out that traffic has been lower than expected, so the bridge may take much longer to pay back its cost.
亦有人指出，實際車流比預期低，所以大橋可能要更長時間才回本。
For tourists, the bridge has become an attraction in itself.
對遊客來說，大橋本身就是一個景點。
Visitor numbers increase during long holidays, when families drive to Zhuhai for seafood and shopping.
長假期間，遊客人數會上升，許多家庭會駕車去珠海吃海鮮、購物。
For students, the bridge is a popular topic in projects about transport and city planning.
對學生來說，大橋是交通與城市規劃專題的熱門題目。
When we write about it, the topic sentence of each paragraph should state one clear main idea.
我們寫這類文章時，每段的主題句應該講清楚一個中心思想。
The HZMB shows what happens when engineers think across borders.
港珠澳大橋告訴我們，當工程師跨地域思考時，可以做到些什麼。
It also reminds us that every great project has two sides: amazing convenience and real costs.
它亦提醒我們，每一項偉大工程都有兩面：驚人的便利和真實的代價。
If you skim the news about the bridge, the headline and subheadings alone tell you the main idea.
如果你略讀關於這條橋的新聞，單是標題與小標題就已經講出主旨。
The bridge connects cities, saves time and raises important questions.
大橋連接城市、節省時間，同時帶出重要的問題。
1Summary 重點摘要
略讀 = 快、找主旨。
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Fast reading for gist.
Gist.
Section.
Main sentence.
Title.
Subtitle.
Important word.
Skip.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1Read the title. Example: the opening line of this passage already says the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world — you know the topic and the angle at once.
- Step 2Read the first sentence of each paragraph. Example: paragraph one opens with the 55-kilometre link, paragraph two with the cost over 100 billion, paragraph three with its appeal to tourists — four sentences give you the whole skeleton.
- Step 3Find the topic sentence. It is usually first, sometimes last. Example: the closing paragraph says the headline and subheadings alone tell you the main idea — the passage demonstrates its own skill.
- IgnoreIgnore details and examples while skimming. Example: 55 kilometres, 45 minutes and 100 billion are evidence, not the gist — sweep past the numbers without stopping to keep your speed.
- Passage practiceUse this passage: after skimming you should say what it is about (the bridge's two sides — convenience and cost) and which paragraph carries the debate (dolphins, traffic). If not, sweep the first sentences again.
- Gist sentenceMerge the topic sentences into one: The bridge connects cities and saves time, but it cost over 100 billion dollars and may threaten the white dolphins — a good gist sentence keeps both sides.
- After skimmingDecide what to scan afterwards. Example: once the gist is clear, scan back for 55 kilometres only if a question asks how long the bridge is — skim for direction, scan for data; the two work as a team.
5Worked example Example
Skim the four-paragraph article about the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. What is the main idea of the whole passage?
- Step 1: Read the title and the opening line; the topic is clearly the HZMB.
- Step 2: Sweep the first sentence of each paragraph: 'longest sea-crossing bridge', 'cost over 100 billion dollars', 'an attraction for tourists', 'engineers thinking across borders'.
- Step 3: Ask what side of the bridge each paragraph covers: the record, the cost debate, tourism value, the overall meaning.
- Step 4: Ignore details such as '55 kilometres' and '45 minutes'; they are evidence, not the gist.
- Step 5: Merge the four paragraph ideas into one summary sentence.
- Answer: The passage is about the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world, which cuts a four-hour ferry journey to just 45 minutes and has even become a tourist attraction. However, it cost over 100 billion dollars, carries less traffic than expected and may threaten the home of the Chinese white dolphins. The writer's message is that every great project has two sides: amazing convenience and real costs. This shows that when skimming, recognising the topic sentence of each paragraph is already enough to find the main idea of the whole text.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Purpose?
Q2Where is topic sentence?
Q3What to do?
Q4Speed?
Q5Use of headline?
Q6Skim or scan?
Q7How long is the bridge?
Q8When did it open?
Q9How long by car?
8Recap Recap
- Skimming means reading quickly for the gist, not for details.
- The topic sentence of each paragraph, usually the first, builds the overall idea.
- Titles, subheadings and the opening or closing paragraph give the strongest clues.
- Never stop at unknown words or figures while skimming; keep your eyes moving.
- After skimming, decide which parts to scan closely for specific answers.