Reading comprehension has long been given much attention to, but the result is not so satisfactory as expected. This paper tries to analyze the causes resulting in the problems in reading comprehension, and argues that to improve reading comprehension, cognitive strategy alone is far from enough. So metacognitive strategy which has not been paid much attention to is also very important and necessary. In this paper, the difference between cognitive and metacognitive strategies is presented in order to show the advantages of using metacognitive strategies. Moreover, the emphasis is placed on the importance and applicability of metacognitive strategies.

1 Introduction
2 Present situations in reading comprehension
A: Investigation 1.
B: Investigation 2.
3 About reading
4 Analysis of causes resulting in poor reading comprehension
4.1 Lack of enough vocabulary
4.2 Lack of the knowledge of grammar
4.3 Lack of background knowledge
4.4 Lack of reading skills
4.5 Ignorance of metacognitive strategies
5 Strategies used in reading comprehension
5.1 Cognitive strategy
5.2 Metacognitive strategy
6 The difference between cognitive strategy and metacognitive strategy
7 Suggestions
7.1 Using metacognitive strategies to improve intensive reading
7.2 Using metacognitive strategies to improve extensive reading
7.3 Some other metacognitive strategies in reading comprehension
8 Conclusion

McKowen, Clark. Get Your A Out of College: Mastering the Hidden Rules of the Game. Los Altos, CA: Crisp Publications, Inc. 1979
Gardner, David and Miller, Lindsay. Establishing Self-Access From Theory to Practice. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. 2002

Tussing, Lyle. Study and Succeed. New York: London, Department of psychology el Camino College. 1963

Sandra Silberstein. Techniques and Resources in Teaching Reading. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. 2002.

R. M. 加涅 著， 皮连生，王映雪，郑蔚 译 《学习的条件和教学论》，华东师范大学出版社. 1999

王蔷 主编，程晓堂 副主编，A course in English Language Teachin，高等教育出版社. 2001

章兼中, 俞红珍 著，《英语教育心理学》，警官教育出版社. 1998

左焕琪 编著，钟启泉 总主编，《外语教育展望》，华东师范大学出版社. 2002

卢植.《 英语学生的元认知一学习时间分配策略》 现代外语（季刊），第25卷2002年第四期（总第98期）：396-407

徐玉臣.《阅读教学中的语境化策略》. 外语与外语教学 2001年第三期.

郑敏.《对语言学习策略分类框架的质疑》. 外语与外语教学2000年第12期。

http://www.zsedu.net.cn/news/2003/12/29/101412am.html
http://www.wxedu.net/jiaoshi/mshi1/czd4.htm
http://www.szed.com/n/ca97705.htm
http://www.ldrc.ca/contents/view_article/146/
http://www.jbedu.org/english/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=283
http://www.ergocn.com/wenzhai7.htm
http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/0110anderson.html http://www-writing.berkeley.edu/TESL-EJ/ej26/a5.html