Foundational Concepts & Principles Flashcards

Why is comprehension always paired with speed when evaluating reading performance?

Answer: Speed without understanding provides no real reading value

Effective reading is defined by both rate and understanding, so speed gains that destroy comprehension are considered useless.

A reader who finishes a 500-word passage in 2 minutes is reading at what speed?

Answer: 250 WPM

Reading speed equals words divided by minutes, so 500 words in 2 minutes is 250 WPM.

What is the primary purpose of using a pacer, such as a finger or pen, while reading?

Answer: To guide the eyes forward smoothly and reduce regressions

A pacer leads the eyes at a steady, controlled rate, discouraging backtracking and wandering fixations.

What is peripheral vision's role in speed reading?

Answer: It lets readers capture words beyond the direct point of focus

Expanding use of peripheral vision allows each fixation to take in more words, reducing the total fixations per line.

Which scenario best illustrates the trade-off principle in speed reading?

Answer: Slowing down for a dense legal contract but speeding through a light novel

Skilled readers adjust speed to match text difficulty and purpose rather than using one fixed rate.

What does the term 'reading efficiency' typically combine?

Answer: Reading rate and comprehension level

Reading efficiency is generally calculated by weighting words-per-minute against the percentage of material understood.

Which habit is generally considered the biggest barrier to reading faster than about 300 WPM?

Answer: Subvocalizing every word

Because inner speech is limited to roughly speaking speed, full subvocalization caps reading rates near 250-300 WPM.