(A)

    The Open University was created in 1919 to provide university education for anyone aged 21 or over who wanted it, (1)___ his or her educational background. It uses teaching methods which are quite (2)___ anything to be found in other universities, but awards degrees that are recognized as (3)___ to those of any other.

    By way of television and radio, the Open University teaches its students in the comfort and privacy of their own (4)___. Given this revolutionary teaching method, it's (5)___ that, fourteen years ago, there were many who said the Open University would never (6)___. They claimed that adults (7)___ previous(以前的) academic(学术的) experience simply would not be able to study at (8)___. Today, those people have been proved (9)___. So far, about 43,000 students of the Open University have graduated with BA degrees -- (10)___ just as much as those from any other university in the country. 

(B)

    The ability to see words on either side of the point at which your eyes focus is called peripheral vision (周围的视觉). Foreign students of English often feel that it is impossible to (11)___ so many words at a single (12)___. It is difficult for many native speakers, but it can be done. It is (13)___ that has to be done if you (14)___ read as rapidly as you (15)___. You can increase your peripheral vision by eye (16)___.

    Equally important is the importance of moving your eyes from point to point in a uniform rhythm (不变的节奏). Slow reading often results (17)___ regression (回视), the number of times your eyes have to go (18)___. While practising to increase your peripheral vision and uniform rhythm, you may (19)___ have to reread. Do not get discouraged. A smooth, forward rhythm comes with (20)___. Eventually your speed will get to the point where your eyes move comfortably forward without regression.

    A final cause of slow reading is forming the sounds of each word, even though you might not speak them aloud. The average American speaks English at 180 to 200 words a minute. If you read each word in mind, it is impossible to read faster than this. Reading 200 words a minute is a dangerously slow speed.