Skimming Techniques - Travel Information

At a glance

Focus: Reading Task 1

Aims: Reading comprehension practice
Objectives: Familiarity with reading comprehensions
Skill: Skimming
Topic: Travel
Language functions: Giving reasons, expressing obligation and
necessity
Lexis: Travel

1. Write the following questions on the board:

i) What do you read in (your language)
ii) How fast do you read?
iii) What do you usually do while reading?
iv) What do you read in English?
v) How fast do you read in English?
vi) What would you like to read in English?
vii) Why is reading important?
Skimming
This is when you read a text fairly quickly to get the general idea of it
and the main points
2. Ask the students to skim Texts A-E on the worksheet and to give each
text an appropriate heading. Give the students approximately 15
minutes. Go through the answers in open-class.
3. Now ask the students to skim texts A-F on the worksheet and to
answer the questions. Give the students approximately 15 minutes.
Go through the answers in open-class.
Skimming Techniques – Travel Information
Student Worksheet

Below are 6 texts which you are going to skim read. Once you
have read the texts, give each one an appropriate heading, then
answer the questions
Text A

1. Read the text and add an appropriate heading.

2. Answer the questions below.

Heading:

Today, many people prefer to travel independently. Firstly, they decide

where they want to go and then think about the details, such as how long
they want to stay, where they want to stay, how they will get there, how
much it will cost, when they will go and what they need to take.
Answer the following questions
1. How do people like to travel these days?
2. What do they decide on first?

3. How many other details are mentioned in the text?

Text B

1. Read the text and add an appropriate heading.

2. Answer the questions below.

Heading:

The time you go depends on what you want to do. For example, if you
want to do outdoor activities such as walking, cycling or canoeing then
you need to choose a time when the weather is dry. If you prefer a more
relaxed holiday spent sunbathing and swimming then the weather should
not be too hot.
Answer the following questions.
1. What does the time you go depend on?
2. What are some examples of outdoor
activities? ____________________
3. What do you do on a relaxing holiday?
Text C

1. Read the text and add an appropriate heading.

2. Answer the questions below.
Heading:

Most people take too much when they travel, travel light is the key!
Remember you will have to carry it and heavy luggage soon becomes a
nightmare. Take enough clothes (but not too many), a towel, soap,
shampoo and your travel documents and money.
Answer the following questions
1. What do most people take when they travel?
2. What is the best solution?

3. Which six items should you take with you? ____________________

Text D
1. Read the text and add an appropriate heading.
2. Answer the questions below.
Heading:
Monalos is a lively, noisy place, suitable for young people and those who
do not like peace and quiet. The information centre is in the main street
(number 50, High Street), and their phone number is 324-5698. They are
open every day from 10am to 8pm except Sundays when they are open
from 1pm to 4pm.
Answer the following questions

1. What is the address of the information centre?

2. What is their phone number?

3. What time are they open on Fridays?

4. What time do they close on Sundays?

Text E

1. Read the text and add an appropriate heading

2. Answer the questions below

Heading:
The area covers over 2,000 miles and has around 100,000 inhabitants.
The coastline is over 500 miles long and there are 54 islands, 22 of which
are inhabited. The highest mountain is 3,007ft, and the deepest lake is
700ft below sea level.
Answer the following questions

1. What is the area?

2. How many people live there?

3. How long is the coastline?

4. How many islands do people live on?

5. What is the highest point?

6. What is the lowest point?

 Text F

Look at the following temperature chart and find the answers.

Average temperatures and rainfall

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Monalos

C/F 6/43 7/45 9/48 11/52 14/57 16/61 17/63 17/63 15/59 12/5 9/48 7/45

mm 146 109 83 90 72 63 55 22 36 47 120 132

inches 5.8 4.3 3.3 3.5 2.8 2.1 1.8 .9 1.2 1.6 4.0 5.2

1. What is the average temperature in September in C?

2. How much rain falls in February in mm?

3. How many inches of rain do they receive in May?

4. What is the average temperature in August in F?

The History of Modern Fashion

At a glance
Focus: Reading Task 1
Aims: Understanding information about the history of modern fashion
Objectives: To select the most suitable heading for paragraphs, to
identify whether statements are true or false and select the most suitable
word from the text to complete sentences
Skill: Skimming and scanning for key information about the history of
fashion and understanding specific information about origins and
developments in the industry
Topic: Fashion
Language functions: Processing and comprehending a straightforward
factual text and selecting appropriate language to identify key details.
Lexis: Parts of the world, countries in Asia and Europe, historical names,
fashion capitals of the world and adjectives
 The History of Modern Fashion
Student worksheet
Reading Comprehension
Read the text about fashion and answer the questions below.

Fashion – the World Over

1 Today, dedicated followers of fashion look to cities such as New York City,
London, Paris and Milan for their inspiration and to buy the latest trends. The
fashion scene changes with every season and in many countries, this means
that there are four collections – one each for spring, summer, autumn and
winter. The concept of fashion trends developed in the 14th century in
Europe, but what about fashion in the rest of the world?

2 Early Western travellers going to the East noted that fashion styles did not
change rapidly in countries such as Persia, India, China and Japan. However,
this was not always the case as there was also evidence uncovered during
the dynasty of Ming China of rapidly changing fashions in Chinese clothing.
History shows us that changes in costume often took place at times of
economic or social change, which occurred in ancient Rome and the medieval
Arabian Peninsula. Then a long period without major changes would follow.

3 At this time, most weaving, embroidery, cutting and stitching was hand-
crafted by skilled craftsmen and seamstresses. Many textiles originated in
countries such as China, where exquisite silks were produced and Turkey
with its rich history of embroidery and clothing styles influenced by Central
Asia and the Far East. Until the mid-nineteenth century, in Europe and
America most clothing was therefore custom-made by skilled dressmakers
and tailors. This meant that following fashion trends was clearly an expensive
past-time.

4 In the twentieth century, mechanised production of textiles and the

introduction of the sewing machine dramatically changed the way fashionable
garments were produced. It led the development of haute couture and, much
later, affordable branded clothing which was the offshoot of haute couture.
Mass production meant that clothing became much cheaper and more widely
available, yet at the same time was easily adapted to meet the designers‟
demands. As economies grew and people became more affluent, more
people could afford to buy designer clothing across the world.

5 To sum up, fashion is closely interlinked with the history of the world. Periods
of rapid change and movement of people influenced the textiles and styles
that people chose to wear. Nowadays, people are still extremely conscious
about the way they dress for various occasions. Adolescents and young
adults feel very strongly about the brands they wear, whether it is for
college, partying or sportswear. Their parents feel the same about their own
designer labels. There are designer or boutique brands all over the world. In
many Asian countries, local designers can charge a small fortune for
exclusive bridal wear, wedding attire and other formal wear.
Questions 1-5 (1 mark per question)

The text on „Fashion – the World Over‟ has 5 paragraphs (1,2,3,4 and 5).
Choose the best title for each paragraph from A-F below and write the letter in
the numbered box. There is one more title than you need.

Questions 1-5 (1 mark per question) Example

10 z
A. Origins of textiles Paragraph Letter
B. Industrialisation 1
C. Designer companies 2
D. Modern approach to fashion 3
E. General information about fashion in Europe. 4
F. History of clothing in the Orient 5

Questions 6-10 (1 mark per question)

Choose the 5 statements from A-H below that are TRUE according to
the information given in the text opposite. Write the letters of the TRUE
statements in the boxes provided (in any order).

A Fashion designers can be found almost everywhere in the True

world. statement
B Many people wear expensive sports gear. 6.
C Mass production has not made designer brands accessible to 7.
more people.
D Bridal wear is more often than not exclusively designed. 8.
E Changes in clothing did not coincide with economic and social 9.
movement.
F Following fashion trends has not always been easy. 10.
G There were generally few fashion trends in China.
H Many processes were done by machine during the early 20th
century
Questions 11-15 (1 mark per question)

Complete sentences 11-15 with a word, phrase or number from

the text (maximum 3 words). Write the word, phrase or number in
the space provided.
11. Early travellers to the Far East believed that fashion changed
.
12. Dressmakers and tailors had to be very
.

13. Haute couture was very

.

14. Designer clothing became more

.
15. People are still particularly about
the way they dress.

Task A: Grammar

Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the verb. There
is one verb you do not need.

begin - mean – alter – purchase – look - run

Followers of fashion 1. to cities such as New York City,

London, Paris and Milan for their inspiration and to 2. the

latest trends. The fashion scene 3. with every season and

this 4. that there are four collections – one each for spring,

summer, autumn and winter. Fashion trends 5. in the 14th

century in Europe.

Task C

Using a dictionary, find suitable words used in the text to match the
synonyms.

Synonym Word used in text

1. costly a)expensive
2. related to b)
3. changed c)
4. wealthy d)
5. a lot of money e)
6. fast; quick f)
7. specially made g)