How does skimming differ from scanning in Reading?

How does skimming differ from scanning in Reading?

• A. Skimming is for details; scanning for main idea
• B. Skimming finds the main idea; scanning searches for specific details
• C. They are the same
• D. Skimming is slower

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is how skimming and scanning differ in purpose and approach when reading quickly. Skimming is about getting the overall sense of a text—its main idea and overall structure—by reading rapidly and focusing on headings, topic sentences, and the general flow. Scanning, on the other hand, is about locating specific information—dates, numbers, names, or particular keywords—by moving your eyes quickly over the text to find those details without reading everything. So the correct statement matches this distinction: skimming finds the main idea, while scanning searches for specific details. The other options mix up the purposes, treat them as the same, or claim skimming is slower, which is not how these strategies are intended to be used.

The main idea being tested is how skimming and scanning differ in purpose and approach when reading quickly. Skimming is about getting the overall sense of a text—its main idea and overall structure—by reading rapidly and focusing on headings, topic sentences, and the general flow. Scanning, on the other hand, is about locating specific information—dates, numbers, names, or particular keywords—by moving your eyes quickly over the text to find those details without reading everything.

So the correct statement matches this distinction: skimming finds the main idea, while scanning searches for specific details. The other options mix up the purposes, treat them as the same, or claim skimming is slower, which is not how these strategies are intended to be used.