On how to effectively improve the reading ability of university students of EnglishAbstract reading comprehension of students learning English at the university should have an important skill. How to improve student reading ability is the current major issues that must be addressed. Expansion of vocabulary; increase in reading, improve reading speed; to master the necessary reading skills is to improve the reading skills the key. Key words college English; reading ability; reading skills As the worlds political, economic and cultural exchanges deepened, English as a lingua franca of the worlds status has become increasingly acute, reading is to obtain information on a very important tool. Reading in foreign language learning plays an important position is the most effective learning foreign languages, the most important means, whether it is to deal with various grades examinations, or the future survival and development, is a very necessary way of learning. 1 In the College English Test, because of reading comprehension can be centralized, comprehensive testing of students to access information from the reading ability and accuracy of understanding, so to read in college English teaching in the proportion of very large, in all types of Level exam in English reading comprehension questions had a share of about 40%, and read a small part of each question scores are also high. Can be seen, to the reading comprehension category of the kinds of questions to get high scores, you must have a certain amount of reading speed, good reading habits and high reading ability. 1. Students to read the problems 1.1 did not have enough vocabulary. Vocabulary that affect college students to read a major obstacle that hinders a small vocabulary, unable to raise students to read the root causes. If the English reading than doing high-rise buildings, then the word is like countless bricks. Students master the vocabulary size is proportional to the number of general and reading speed. Large vocabulary, reading less Shengci encountered in the process, read on the fast, accurate rate will increase. College English Curriculum Requirements in clearly defined three levels of English proficiency, which generally require the recommended vocabulary of 4500 words and 700 phrases (including secondary schools should be to master the vocabulary); high requirements for the recommended vocabulary of 5500 words and 1200 phrases (including secondary schools and the general requirements should master the vocabulary); higher requirements for the recommended vocabulary of 6500 words and 1700 phrases (including secondary schools, general requirements and higher requirements should be to master the vocabulary, but does not include professional English vocabulary). 2 Thus, whether it is the law of language itself, or the requirements of the community tells us that, in order to the successful completion of college required to read the article, you must master the appropriate vocabulary. 1.2 lack the necessary cultural background knowledge. Cognitive theory, the logic of that: If the author is ignorant of the background cultural knowledge, he basically could not read the material. If the reader does not have enough background knowledge, he is also very difficult to read and understand material. An extension of a persons background knowledge is bound to accompany his reading capabilities. Therefore, students in their daily a large number of students must pass the reading of books to expand their knowledge. Many students to read was fairly narrow, the culture of the Anglo-Saxon countries know little about. Overview of college English reading comprehension test article, we can see: most of the English article is mainly from the United Kingdom and the United States original newspapers and magazines, articles, all-inclusive, often including: history, culture, biographies, science and technology, geography, biology, general knowledge and literature. This requires students to have a wide range of knowledge, background knowledge and mastery of things are not overnight, but rather a process of gradual accumulation. 1.3 bad reading habits. Student reading ability is poor, mainly due to the existence of their reading bad reading habits. For example: (1) translation read. In reading the English into Chinese, this is bound to extend the understanding of the process, slowing down reading speed. It should be noted here is that reading is not a translation in English should be to cultivate a good habit of thinking in English. (2)-dependent dictionary. Some students practice in reading, often went to check when you encounter Shengci dictionary or electronic dictionary. Encountered while reading the side of the clear meaning of the New Words. Although this approach would be timely and clear meaning of New Words, so continue to read smoothly, but will also develop bad habits over-reliance on the dictionary. So tha