<h3>Reading for Different Purposes</h3><p>Skilled readers match their reading style to their goal. Three strategies are especially useful in Grade 9:</p><ul><li><strong>Skimming</strong> – reading fast to get the overall idea (the gist).</li><li><strong>Scanning</strong> – searching for a specific fact, name or number.</li><li><strong>Close reading</strong> – reading slowly and carefully to understand deeply.</li></ul><h3>Inference: Reading Between the Lines</h3><p>Writers do not always state everything directly. <strong>Inference</strong> means working out what is suggested using clues in the text plus your own knowledge. If a passage says “the sky darkened and farmers rushed to gather their maize”, you can infer that rain is coming, even though the word ‘rain’ never appears.</p><div class="callout"><strong>Kenyan context:</strong> When you check a matatu fare chart at the stage, you <em>scan</em> for your destination, say ‘Thika’, and read only that line. When you flip through the <em>Daily Nation</em> to decide which story to read fully, you <em>skim</em> the headlines. You already use these skills every day; this lesson helps you use them on purpose.</div><p>Finally, always identify the <strong>main idea</strong> (the central point) and the <strong>supporting details</strong> (the facts and examples that back it up).</p>