我们在朗读一篇短文时，要注意停顿节奏。停顿的主要规则有：
① 句子中若有逗号，在逗号处应当稍作停顿。如：She is my new classmate, / Lily.
② 在句与句之间，遇到有句号(.)、分号(;)、问号()等标点时，应当稍作停顿。
如：I work in Beijing. / I am a teacher.
③ 在朗读一个长句子时，若句中没有标点，同样需要停顿。但停顿不是随意的，只能在意群之间进行。
什么是意群一个句子可根据意思和语法结构分成若干成分，每一个成分称之为一个意群。意群可以是一个词，一个词组或短语，也可以是一个从句。简言之，意群就是意思密不可分的一群词(短语或从句)。
例如：
Unfortunately, / time is limited. 很可惜的是，时间不够了。
We met an old man on the train / and he told us about his story.我们在火车上遇到一个老人，他跟我们讲述了他的故事。
I have told you / not to paly fire. 我告诉过你不要玩火。
以上这些被断开的短语就是我们说的意群。不同意群之间，需稍作停顿。
练习1：根据下面短文中划分的意群和停顿进行朗读。(文中标下划线的为长难句，朗读时，需注意停顿。)
Mr. Kobe owned a small store. When some big chain stores opened in town, / many small stores closed down; / but Mr. Kobe didnt. One day, / the owner of one big store/ went to Mr.Kobes store/ and interviewed a customer. Thecustomer told him/ that Mr. Kobe was a kind store owner. He was kind and helpful/ to his neighbours. So they were happy to shop / in Mr. Kobes small store.
2. 如何正确的连读在同一个意群中，如果相邻的两个词前者以辅音音素结尾，后者以元音音素或半元音/w/、/j/开头，就要自然地将辅音和元音相拼，构成一个音节，这就是连读。
英语中有以下几种常见的连读形式：
①辅音+元音：单词末尾的辅音与后面一个单词开头的元音结合起来拼读。如：
Stand⌒up.
Put⌒off.
He was born in⌒a poor family.
Will⌒it take⌒a lot⌒of time to go to school
②r/re+元音：在英语中，如果单词以r或re结尾，r通常不发音，但当后面接有一个元音开头的单词时，r则会发音，读成/r/，并与后面的元音构成音节连读。如：
there⌒is, for⌒ever
Here⌒are four⌒eggs.
Where⌒is my cup
③ 辅音+半元音/j/
Thank⌒you.
Nice to meet⌒you.
注意：以上连读必须在同一个意群，如果不在同一个意群的两个单词，是不能连读。因为要考虑到我们前面讲的停顿。
如：
There⌒is an⌒old book/ in the bag.
He fell⌒asleep / as soon⌒as he got⌒into bed
句中，There is之间可以连读，an与old之间也可以连读，因为他们在同一个意群中;但是，book虽以辅音结尾，in以元音开头，也不能连读，因为他们不属同一个意群中，这里需注意稍作停顿。
同理，fell⌒asleep和as soon⌒as 可以连读，而asleep as 之间则需稍作停顿。
练习2：请根据连读符号⌒的提示朗读下面的文段。
John climbed West Hill with his classmates last weekend. He led the way. So he often stopped to check⌒if others were following him. They had⌒a picnic at the top⌒of the hill. When they finished, they picked⌒up all their rubbish. On theway down the hill, they stood for⌒a minute to listen to the birds singing. They got very close to some⌒of the birds. It was⌒a tiring day. When John got home, he fell⌒asleep as soon⌒as he got⌒into bed.