Each of the following statements expresses one of the major principles of reading efficiency and flexibility. 1. You do not always have to read everything. Depending on your purpose of reading, there are situations in which it is perfectly acceptable and even advisable to skip portions of sentences and paragraphs. 2. Not everything on a page is of equal importance. Sentences, paragraphs, and longer selections each contain a mixture of important and less important information. You will learn to identify what is important and to see how the remaining parts of the sentence, paragraph, or article relate to it. 3. There are shortcuts that can save valuable time and make reading or learning easier. Reading is not simply a matter of opening a book and jumping in. There are specific techniques you can use before you begin reading, while you are reading, and after you have finished reading that will greatly increase your efficiency.