What is a good approach to annotating reading passages without wasting time?

• A. Skipping difficult sections completely.
• B. Reading once and finishing quickly.
• C. Highlighting every word and turning page by page.
• D. Underline key words, make quick margin notes, and mark difficult sections for review.

Answer: (D)

Efficient annotation of reading passages helps you understand and locate information quickly. The best approach is to underline or highlight only the key words and phrases that carry the main idea, supporting points, or signals like contrast and conclusions. In the margins, write short notes in your own words to capture the gist of a paragraph, the writer’s stance, or links between ideas across sections. Also mark sections that are difficult or unfamiliar so you can review them later. This combination keeps you engaged with the text, makes it easy to scan for answers, and reduces time spent rereading.

Other ways can slow you down or reduce comprehension: skipping difficult parts means you miss important context, trying to read everything fast without annotation loses detail, and highlighting every word creates a cluttered, useless highlight trail.