When reading a newspaper article, which technique would you use to quickly find the main idea?

You need to find a specific piece of information in a long document. Which technique would you use?

You are reading a research paper and need to find the methodology section. Which technique would be most helpful?

You are searching for Lucy's phone number in a phone book. Which technique would be most effective?

You have a large textbook chapter to review and need to understand the main concepts. Which technique would be most useful?

You are looking at a restaurant review for the overall rating. What are you doing?

You're in a bookstore, considering purchasing a novel, so you read the back cover blurb to see if the plot interests you.

You're looking for your favorite song on a playlist.

You're shopping for a new smartphone, so you  read the product descriptions for features.

If you want to find the football results in a paper, do you...

You're in a hurry, so you slide through social media updates to catch up on your friends' activities. This situation is scanning.

You're at a social event, and you want to find your friend, Tom, in the crowd. This situation is scanning.

Your friend says she'll give you the money for a book you bought her. You’re looking at the bill to find the price. This is skimming.

You're at an art gallery, and you want to find a painting by a specific artist, so you look for the gallery labels. This is skimming.

What sort of reading do you use to find out what's on TV today? This is skimming.

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Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

What is the main idea of this passage?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

Why do Russians avoid celebrating birthdays in advance?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

What superstition is associated with celebrating a birthday early in Russia?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

Why do many Russians avoid celebrating their 40th birthday?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

What is a common feature of a Russian birthday celebration?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

Who is expected to provide the feast during a Russian birthday celebration?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

Which of the following presents is considered bad luck to give in Russia?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

What do knives and scissors symbolize in Russian superstition?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

Why should flowers given for a birthday celebration in Russia be in odd numbers?

item 16-25

Russians generally don’t celebrate birthdays before the actual day because this is considered bad luck. There is a belief that the birthday boy or girl who celebrates a birthday in advance may not live to see his or her special day. Also, many people don’t celebrate the 40th because this number is associated with death.

In Russia, a birthday celebration is usually a great dinner with many dishes. It is customary for the birthday person to provide the feast, and this includes paying for dinner if the celebration takes place in a restaurant.

Russians do not give some kinds of presents to birthday people. Knives and scissors symbolize future conflict and are therefore seen as bad omens. Likewise, scarves and handkerchiefs represent sorrow, and clocks are a sign of departure. An empty purse is believed to cause poverty. Flowers given for a birthday celebration must be in odd numbers. An even number of flowers indicates misfortune and even death.

Why is an empty purse believed to be a bad birthday present in Russia?