一篇文章是一個整體。文章作者通過整篇文章的構思、佈局、對事物的論證、說明、敘述和描寫等方法向讀者傳授知識和資訊。知識和資訊是存在於整篇文章之中，而不是存在於孤立的詞句之內。在閱讀句、段、篇時都應從整體原則出發。這樣才能既理解字面含義，又能洞察深層含義;既能看到上下文呼應的語言結構，又能體會到字裡行間的潛在含義;既能瞭解文章的各區域性的含義，又能抓住文章的中心思想，從而對整篇文章達到較高層次的理解。
整體閱讀有兩個層次：
(1) 篇章的閱讀。在閱讀一篇文章時，應從五個方面駕馭整篇文章，遵循如下的模式：文章的標題;作者;基本內容;事實;文章的特點、爭議和批評意見。這樣可以避免盲目性和疏忽遺漏。閱讀時，可把主要精力放在有用資訊上，大大減少處理無用作息的時間，並使資訊條理化，以便理解和吸收。
(2) 句、段的閱讀。句子是一個整體，段也是一個整體。閱讀句子時，如果不太長，要一口氣讀完。這樣不僅讀速快，而且有助於理解。當然，英語句子一般比較長，不能一口氣讀完。這時應以較大的意群為單位進行閱讀。所謂意群是指句子中可以分開來看的各個部分，每個部分都有其相對獨立的意義。
把句子和段落看成整體並不意味著要把句中所有的詞、段落中所有的句子都看得同等重要。一個句子中有些詞是關鍵詞，有些詞只是結構訊號，有些詞只表示輔助資訊。對前者應注意，對後兩者可一掃而過。
例:
If there is any single factor that makes for success in living, it is the ability to profit by defeat. Every success I know has been achieved because the person was able to analyze defeat and actually profit by it in his next undertaking. Confuse defeat with failure, and you are doomed to failure. For it isn't defeat that makes you fail; it is your own refusal to see in defeat the guide and encouragement to success.
Defeats are nothing to be ashamed of. They are routine incidents in the life of every man who achieves success. But defeat is a dead loss unless you do face it without humiliation, analyze it and learn why you fail. Defeat, in other words, can help to cure its own cause. Not only does defeat Prepare us for success, but nothing can arouse within us such a compelling desire to succeed. If you let a baby grasp a rod and try to Pull it away he will cling more and more tightly until his whole weight is suspended. It is this same reaction which should give you new and greater Strength every time you are defeated. If you exploit the power which defeat gives, you can accomplish with it far more than you are capable of.
11 what does the author know?
A He knows at lest several cases o f success.
B He knows every success in life.
C It's not mentioned in the passage.
D He knows every success that has been achieved by man.
通讀全文，應該選擇A。