AN EXPLORATION OF COMPREHENSION AND RAPID READING IS PRESENTED. THE QUALITY OF READING IS DISCUSSED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. RESEARCH FINDINGS WHICH INDICATE THE LOW COMPREHENSION RESULTING FROM "DYNAMIC" READING, THAT IS, READING DOWN THE CENTER OF THE PAGE WITH NO LEFT-TO-RIGHT EYE MOVEMENTS, ARE CITED. VISUAL ACUITY, USEABLE SPAN OF RECOGNITION, AND LENGTH OF FIXATION ARE CONSIDERED AS COMPREHENSION CONTROLS WHEN READING MORE THAN 800 WORDS PER MINUTE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ACCORDING TO VISUAL SURVEY BEHAVIOR, RATES ORDINARILY ASSOCIATED WITH RAPID READING CAN BE CONSIDERED ONLY A MASTERFUL FORM OF SKIMMING. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL READING CONFERENCE (TAMPA, NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2, 1967). (MC)