Look at the title of what you are reading. If it is a short piece, look at the overall title, otherwise look at the subheadings or chapter titles. Think about what the title suggests the work will be about. Look at any pictures or graphical data and begin to build a picture in your mind about the content of the work.
Rephrase the title of the work to give yourself a question. For example, if you are reading a passage on "Common Exports of the European Union," rephrase this as "What are the common exports of the European Union?" You can then approach the question, trying to determine the answer to a given question.
Skim through a paragraph or a short section of text. At the end, think about what the paragraph meant, and whether you understood it. If not, reread it. However, do not worry about individual words or phrases, but try and understand overall meaning.
Look for key words. If you are reading "Common Exports of the European Union" to produce a paper on the French economy, look for "France" and "French" in the text. Your brain will find these words quickly, and you will be able to read key sections of the text.