Originally published in The New Directions in Language Teaching Series, edited by Howard B. Altman and Peter Strevens.

Originally published in 1981.

Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction -- Reading and reading comprehension -- What is reading comprehension? -- Some assumptions -- Reading comprehension in the classroom -- Reading comprehension exercise-types -- The exercises -- I. Reading techniques -- Sensitizing -- Improving reading speed -- From skimming to scanning -- II. How the aim is conveyed -- Aim and function of the text -- Organization of the text: different thematic patterns -- Thematization -- III. Understanding meaning -- Non-linguistic response to the text -- Linguistic response to the text -- IV. Assessing the text -- Fact versus opinion -- Writer's intention

"This is a handbook for language teachers who would like to develop their own reading materials or who wish to enrich a reading course. It offers a classification and description of exercises aimed at developing different reading skills. While the book is designed primarily for teachers of English as a second language, the exercises are equally appropriate for the teaching of other foreign languages and much of the book is relevant to the teaching of first-language reading skills. The question-types range from the familiar (for example, multiple-choice and open questions) to highly original exercises which require the integration of different skills and an active, creative response from the student. The book encourages teachers to introduce variety into the teaching of reading and offers them a great deal of resource material to draw on." (Book Cover)