Don't read in the same passive way that you watch television. Reading takes effort! Before you read anything, preview the passage. Look at the title, the pictures, and major headings. Read the first and last paragraph and skim through the text. Get a general idea what the whole thing is about. Remember that a real person actually wrote this passage which you are about to read. Disagree with the author. Get emotionally involved. Make up some questions in your mind which you'd want to ask him as you go along in the reading. As you read, actively seek the answers to your questions.