The first step in reading is to look for the main idea of the part that you concentrate on. But the main idea does not give you all the information you need. Facts and details appear within the paragraphs you read and help to develop the main ideas of the paragraphs. To read more effectively, readers should keep the required information in their mind while reading, and try to scan the text to locate the key information quickly.
The following are three short paragraphs taken from Passage A.
Example 1
Required information: How much are all the items bought in Collins' name worth?
During the months that ensued, he and his wife learned that someone had bought four more cars and 28 other items — worth $113,000 in all — in their name. Their hitherto good credit record had been destroyed. “After a lifetime of being conscientious,” says Collins, “all of a sudden I was basically being accused of stealing and treated like a criminal.” (Para. 5)
Key: $113,000.
Example 2
Required information: Why was the special government office set up?
Of course, thousands of people are caught and prosecuted for identity theft. But it was only last year that Congress made identity theft itself a federal crime. That law set up a special government office to help victims regain their lost credit and to streamline police efforts by tracking cases on a national scale. (Para. 14)
Key: To help victims regain their lost credit and to streamline police efforts.
Example 3
Required information: How many calls did the credit bureau receive per day in 1997?
There is no way to gauge the true magnitude of identity fraud. One of the biggest credit bureaus reported an average 20,000 calls a day from fraud victims in 1997, up from 135 a day in 1992. About a third were from consumers wanting to know how to avoid identity theft. (Para. 19)
Key: 20,000.
Now read Passage B to obtain some specific information.
