Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd Edition

12. Who or what is this passage about? The U.S.
Postal Service.
13. How was mail transported in the past? By horse
and foot.
14. How is mail transported now? By truck, train,
and plane.
15. How long does first-class mail take? Three days
or less.
16. How long does Priority Mail take? Two days or
less.
17. How long does Express Mail take? Overnight.
What a
long time!
3 services listed–
First class–3 days
Priority–2 days
Express–Overnight
Fastest
then
Are ther
e
other
services?
now

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S u m m a r y
Active reading is the first essential step to comprehen-
sion. Why? Because active reading forces you to really
see what you’re reading, to look closely at what’s there.
Like a detective who arrives at the scene of a crime, if
you look carefully and ask the right questions (who,
what, when, where, how, and why), you’re on your way
to really comprehending what you read.
–
G E T T I N G T H E E S S E N T I A L I N F O R M AT I O N
–
2 5
Here are some suggestions for practicing the skills covered in this chapter throughout the day and even
the rest of the week. Try them!
■
Mark up everything you read throughout the day—the newspaper, a memo, a letter from a friend. Under-
line the key terms and ideas; circle and look up any unfamiliar words; write your reactions and ques-
tions in the margins. If possible, share these reactions with the writer and see if you can get answers
to your questions.
■
Develop a 
“detective’s eye.” Begin to notice things around you. Look at the details on people’s faces;
notice the architectural details of the buildings you enter. The more observant you are in daily life, the
more enriched your life will be and the easier it will be to comprehend everything you read.