Reading Comprehension and Rate Self-Assessment: This test allows you to assess your comprehension and reading rate.

1		EXERCISE: Take the test and assess your comprehension and reading rate. (Don’t miss the interesting sections on the Evaluation page that put this information in the context of average national reading rates.) How did you do? Consult Improving Reading Rate and Comprehension, a site from the Learning and Academic Skills Center at the University of Minnesota, for some strategies to increase your skills in these areas. (Six Reading Myths, from Middelbury College’s website, offers another “take” on reading rate and comprehension that you might find useful.)

2		EXERCISE: Try at least 5 passages, with the accompanying quizzes. Were you able to complete them within the allotted time (5 minutes)? Did you show any improvement over time? What strategies might help you improve your performance?

Word Safari: Vocabulary Expeditions: Billed as a “playful approach to expanding your academic vocabulary,” this site quizzes you on the definition of intriguing words and then sends you to sites where you can see them in their “native habitats.” It’s a fun way to surf the web and learn something at the same time. Be sure to take advantage of the “Expedition Gear,” too – a list of links to dictionary sites, thesaurus sites, and others that focus on word knowledge.

3		EXERCISE: Go to “Fresh Tracks” and select either the “Latest Quarry” or one of the “Recent Forays.” Once you’ve discovered the correct definition of the word you choose, visit at least five of the sites where it can be “tracked.” Make notes on the different contexts in which the word appears. Does the word appear to be used widely, or only by specialists? Are any of the sites that you discover worth visiting again?