Critical reading applies to non-fiction writing in which the author puts forth a position or seeks to make a statement. Critical reading is active reading. It involves more than just understanding what an author is saying. Critical reading involves questioning and evaluating what the author is saying, and forming your own opinions about what the author is saying. Here are the things you should do to be a critical reader.
apply vt. 申请；涂，敷；应用vi. 申请；涂，敷；适用；请求
applies to 适用于；可应用于；向…提出申请
apply to 适用于，应用于 。to 是借此 后面接名词或动名词 作宾语
apply for 申请
put forh 提出 产生
accept/take .....at face value 相信表面 信以为真
with a grain of salt 有保留的持怀疑态度
non-fiction n. 非小说；非小说类文学作品；纪实小说
position n. 位置，方位；职位，工作；姿态；站位vt. 安置；把……放在适当位置
forth adv. 向前，向外；自…以后
seek vt. 寻求；寻找；探索；搜索vi. 寻找；探索；搜索
statement n. 声明；陈述，叙述；报表，清单
active n. 主动语态；积极分子adj. 积极的；活跃的；主动的；有效的；现役的
involves v. 包含；牵涉（involve的第三人称单数形式）
understanding n. 谅解，理解；理解力；协议v. 理解；明白（understand的ing形式）adj. 了解的；聪明的；有理解力的
evaluating v. 评估（evaluate的ing形式）
forming n. 形成v. 形成（form的ing形式）
opinions n. 意见；评价（opinion的复数）；舆论
批判性阅读适合于那种作者提出一个观点或试图陈述一个说法的纪实类写作。批判性阅读是积极阅读。它不仅仅包括理解作者说了些什么，还包括质疑和评价作者的话，并对此形成自己的观点。成为一名批判性阅读者需要做到以下几点。
Consider the context of what is written. You may be reading something that was written by an author from a different cultural context than (=from) yours. Or, you may be reading something written some time ago in a different time context than yours. In either case, you must recognize and take into account any differences between your values and attitudes and those represented by the author.
consider vi. 考虑；认为；细想vt. 考虑；认为；考虑到；细想
context n. 环境；上下文；来龙去脉
written adj. 书面的，成文的；文字的v. 写（write的过去分词）
cultural adj. 文化的；教养的
either conj. 也（用于否定句或否定词组后）；根本prep. 任何一个adj. 两者之中任一的；两者之中每一的pron. 任一，两方，随便哪一个；两者中的一个或另一个
recognize vt. 认出，识别；承认vi. 确认，承认；具结
account n. 账户；解释；账目，账单；理由；描述vt. 认为；把…视为vi. 解释；导致；报账
attitudes n. 态度，看法（attitude复数）
represented v. 代表；表现；描写（represent的过去分词）
考虑写作背景。你所读的可能是与你有不同文化背景的人所写的，或者是与你有不同时代背景的人多年以前所写的。无论哪种情况，你都必须注意并考虑你的价值观和态度与作者所代表的价值观和态度有何不同。
Question assertions made by the author. Don't accept what is written at face value(完全地, 以面值/表象). Before accepting what is written, be certain that the author provides sufficient support for any assertions made. Look for facts, examples, and statistics that provide support. Also, look to see if (=whether) the author has integrated the work of authorities.
assertions n. 断言（assertion的复数）；认定
accept vi. 承认；同意；承兑vt. 接受；承认；承担；承兑；容纳
certain adj. 某一；必然的；确信；无疑的；有把握的pron. 某些；某几个n. (Certain)人名；(葡)塞尔塔因；(法)塞尔坦
provides 提供规定（provide的第三人称单数形式）
sufficient adj. 足够的；充分的
support n. 支持，维持；支援，供养；支持者，支撑物vt. 支持，支撑，支援；扶持，帮助；赡养，供养
assertions n. 断言（assertion的复数）；认定
statistics n. 统计；统计学；[统计] 统计资料
integrated adj. 综合的；完整的；互相协调的v. 整合；使…成整体（integrate的过去分词）
authorities n. 当局，官方（authority的复数）
* look to see
质疑作者的论点。不要轻信作品的表面意思。在接受作者观点前，首先要确定作者作出的每一个论点都有足够的论据支持。找出能支持该论点的事实、实例、和数据。另外，注意作者是否参考了权威著作。
Compare what is written with other written work on the subject. Look to see that what is written is consistent with what others have written about the subject. If there are inconsistencies, carefully evaluate the support the author provides for the inconsistencies.
compare vi. 相比，匹敌；比较，区别；比拟（常与to连用）vt. 比拟，喻为；[语]构成n. 比较
consistent adj. 始终如一的，一致的；坚持的
is consistent with adj. 与…不一致；与……相矛盾
inconsistencies 矛盾
evaluate vt. 评价；估价；求…的值vi. 评价；估价
support n. 支持，维持；支援，供养；支持者，支撑物vt. 支持，支撑，支援；扶持，帮助；赡养，供养
provides 提供规定（provide的第三人称单数形式）
与同主题文章进行比较。查看该作者的文章与其他作者关于同一主题的文章是否有一致性。如果存在不一致性，对不一致的地方背后的论据支持要进行仔细甄别。
Analyze assumptions made by the author. Assumptions are whatever the author must believe is true in order to make assertions. In many cases, the author's assumptions are not directly stated. This means you must read carefully in order to identify any assumptions. Once you identify an assumption, you must decide whether or not the assumption is valid.
Analyze vt. 对…进行分析，分解（等于analyse）
assumptions n. 假定，设想（assumption复数形式）
whatever conj. 无论什么adj. 不管什么样的pron. 无论什么；诸如此类
assertions n. 断言（assertion的复数）；认定
cases n. 情况（case的复数形式）；[法] 案例；箱v. 把…装于容器中（case的第三人称单数形式）
assumptions n. 假定，设想（assumption复数形式）
directly conj. 一…就 adv. 直接地；立即；马上；正好地；坦率地
stated v. 规定（state的过去分词）；陈述；阐明adj. 规定的；阐明的；定期的
identify vt. 确定；鉴定；识别，辨认出；使参与；把…看成一样 vi. 确定；认同；一致
assumptions n. 假定，设想（assumption复数形式）
decide vt. 决定；解决；判决vi. 决定，下决心
valid adj. 有效的；有根据的；合法的；正当的
分析作者提出的假设。假设是作者认为具有正确性的前提，基于这些前提作者才能提出论点。很多时候作者的假设并没有直接说明，这就意味着你必须通过仔细阅读来发现这些假设。一旦发现某一假设，你必须判断这一假设是否合理。
Evaluate the sources the author uses. In doing this, be certain that the sources are credible. For example, Einstein is a credible source if the author is writing about landmark achievements in physics. Also be certain that the sources are relevant. Einstein is not a relevant source when the subject is poetry. Finally, if the author is writing about a subject in its current state, be sure that the sources are current. For example, studies done by Einstein in the early 20th century may not be appropriate if the writer is discussing the current state of knowledge in physics.
evaluate vt. 评价；估价；求…的值vi. 评价；估价
certain adj. 某一；必然的；确信；无疑的；有把握的 pron. 某些；某几个
credible adj. 可靠的，可信的
landmark n. [航]陆标；地标；界标；里程碑；纪念碑；地界标；划时代的事adj. 有重大意义或影响的
achievements n. 业绩；获得（achievement的复数）
physics n. 物理学；物理现象
certain adj. 某一；必然的；确信；无疑的；有把握的 pron. 某些；某几个
relevant adj. 相关的；切题的；中肯的；有重大关系的；有意义的，目的明确的
poetry n. 诗；诗意，诗情；诗歌艺术
Finally adv. 最后；终于；决定性地
current n. （水，气，电）流；趋势；涌流adj. 现在的；流通的，通用的；最近的；草写的
state n. 国家；州；情形 adj. 国家的；州的；正式的 vt. 规定；声明；陈述
early adj. 早期的；早熟的adv. 提早；在初期
appropriate adj. 适当的；恰当的；合适的
discussing 论述
knowledge n. 知识，学问；知道，认识；学科
physics n. 物理学；物理现象
鉴别文章出处。鉴别时要确保文章出处真实可信。例如，如果文章是关于物理学里程碑式的成就，那么爱因斯坦的论述就是可靠的出处。此外还要确保出处具有相关性。如果文章主题是诗歌，那么爱因斯坦的论述就不是相关出处。最后，如果作者写的是某个主题当前的情形，那就要确保出处来源也是当前最新的。例如，如果作者讨论的是物理学知识的现状，那么爱因斯坦在二十世纪早期进行的研究可能就不适合作出处了。
Identify any possible author bias. A written discussion of American politics will likely look considerably different depending on whether the writer is a Democrat or a Republican. What is written may very well reflect a biased position. You need to take this possible bias into account when reading what the author has written. That is, take what is written with "a grain of salt" （有保留地）.
Identify vt. 确定；识别；使参与；把…看成一样vi. 确定；认同；一致
possible n. 可能性；合适的人；可能的事物adj. 可能的；合理的；合适的
bias n. 偏见；偏爱；斜纹；乖离率adj. 偏斜的vt. 使存偏见adv. 偏斜地
discussion n. 讨论，议论
American n. 美国人，美洲人；美国英语adj. 美国的，美洲的；地道美国式的
politics n. 政治，政治学；政治活动；政纲
considerably adv. 相当地；非常地
depending v. 依赖；信任（depend的ing形式）
whether conj. 是否；不论pron. 两个中的哪一个
democrat n. 民主党人；民主主义者；民主政体论者
Republican n. 共和党人adj. 共和党的
reflect vt. 反映；反射，照出；表达；显示;反省vi. 反射，映现；深思
biased adj. 有偏见的；结果偏倚的，有偏的
possible n. 可能性；合适的人；可能的事物adj. 可能的；合理的；合适的
bias n. 偏见；偏爱；斜纹；乖离率adj. 偏斜的vt. 使存偏见adv. 偏斜地
grain n. 粮食；颗粒；[作物] 谷物；纹理vt. 使成谷粒vi. 成谷粒
salt n. 盐；风趣，刺激性adj. 咸水的；含盐的，咸味的；盐腌的；猥亵的vt. 用盐腌；给…加盐；将盐撒在道路上使冰或雪融化
甄别作者可能带有的偏见。有关美国政治的书面论述可能因作者是共和党人或民主党人迥然而异。作者所写的内容很可能反映其带有偏见的立场。阅读时要考虑到这种偏见存在的可能性。也就是说，要对文章内容“半信半疑”。
By being a critical reader, you will become better informed and may change your views as appropriate.
informed v. 通知；使了解；提供资料（inform的过去分词）adj. 消息灵通的；见多识广的
appropriate adj. 适当的；恰当的；合适的vt. 占用，拨出
成为一名批判性阅读者，你的思路会不断拓宽，观点会更加合理。
Text A Critical Reading
Critical reading applies to non-fiction writing in which the author puts forth a position or seeks to make a statement. Critical reading is active reading. It involves more than just understanding what an author is saying. Critical reading involves questioning and evaluating what the author is saying, and forming your own opinions about what the author is saying. Here are the things you should do to be a critical reader.
Consider the context of what is written. You may be reading something that was written by an author from a different cultural context than (=from) yours. Or, you may be reading something written some time ago in a different time context than yours. In either case, you must recognize and take into account any differences between your values and attitudes and those represented by the author.
Question assertions made by the author. Don't accept what is written at face value(完全地, 以面值/表象). Before accepting what is written, be certain that the author provides sufficient support for any assertions made. Look for facts, examples, and statistics that provide support. Also, look to see if (=whether) the author has integrated the work of authorities.
Compare what is written with other written work on the subject. Look to see that what is written is consistent with what others have written about the subject. If there are inconsistencies, carefully evaluate the support the author provides for the inconsistencies.
Analyze assumptions made by the author. Assumptions are whatever the author must believe is true in order to make assertions. In many cases, the author's assumptions are not directly stated. This means you must read carefully in order to identify any assumptions. Once you identify an assumption, you must decide whether or not the assumption is valid.
Evaluate the sources the author uses. In doing this, be certain that the sources are credible. For example, Einstein is a credible source if the author is writing about landmark achievements in physics. Also be certain that the sources are relevant. Einstein is not a relevant source when the subject is poetry. Finally, if the author is writing about a subject in its current state, be sure that the sources are current. For example, studies done by Einstein in the early 20th century may not be appropriate if the writer is discussing the current state of knowledge in physics.
Identify any possible author bias. A written discussion of American politics will likely look considerably different depending on whether the writer is a Democrat or a Republican. What is written may very well reflect a biased position. You need to take this possible bias into account when reading what the author has written. That is, take what is written with "a grain of salt" （有保留地）.
By being a critical reader, you will become better informed and may change your views as appropriate.
