Mode 1 - Passive Mode

The Passive Mode of reading is the most common approach people adopt when looking to take a test. It is, actually, the most common approach people take with reading. It entails merely reading something from beginning to end. If you're reading with a purpose, you might even underline or highlight various points as you read, but all you're doing is merely reading.

Rather, you should be looking for the author's main point. Not each and every sentence is as important as the one before or after it. But how do you know what is the most important thing to remember? It depends on your purpose for reading; but let's say you're taking a reading comprehension test. You want to be giving a great deal of thought as to the importance of the information. If you don't you're approaching your test with a lack of strategy.

What will happen when you use the passive mode of reading? You might remember some bits and pieces of information and facts. If you're lucky enough to have a photographic memory, you may remember even more than that. However, the average person won't remember enough about what they read in order to answer the specific questions as put forth in the test. Further, this type of reader will not develop any insight or understand about the author's ideas.

Passive readers read from beginning to end, very little thought going into what point the author is trying to make, and their degree of interaction with the material is very low.

Mode 2 - Passive Mode

In the preview mode, a method that many people adopt when they are approaching a reading comprehension test, they will preview the questions, but not the answers, prior to reading the material. This approach might give you some hint as to the subject of the material and possibly some insight into the author's thesis.

This method of reading moves you into a moderate level of activity with regard to reading. It will help you anticipate what you will be reading, putting you in a position to learn more.

You might also preview the first and last sentence of each paragraph which will help you to understand the structure and flow of the passage. You might underline particular passages that you recall from having read the questions prior to reading the passage.

This sounds like a good approach, and it is certainly more interactive than the passive mode of reading, but it is not necessarily the most effective approach to a reading comprehension test.

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