When preparing for reading, which action can help clarify purpose?

Setting personal goals for what to learn or discover is an effective way to clarify purpose when preparing for reading. By establishing specific objectives, readers can direct their attention and focus on what they hope to achieve or understand from the material. This practice not only enhances engagement with the text but also aids in retaining information, as the reader is actively seeking to meet their goals throughout the reading process.

In contrast, the other actions listed do not effectively contribute to clarifying purpose. Reading as quickly as possible may lead to superficial understanding and misses out on important details that could contribute to the reader's objectives. Skipping the introduction and conclusion can prevent readers from grasping the main ideas and context, which are critical for understanding the text's purpose. Focusing solely on visual elements disregards the depth of content that written text provides, making it challenging to achieve a robust comprehension of the material. Overall, setting personal goals creates a framework for purposeful and meaningful engagement with reading.