A science explanation is easier to follow when reading becomes an active process. Keep a pencil or a simple note open and write down the question the text is trying to answer. That question provides a reference point when unfamiliar terminology begins to accumulate.
Mark the difference between a description, an explanation and a claim supported by a particular study. Note which conditions the author includes and which questions remain outside the scope. A clear explanation should not require the reader to pretend that every detail is already understood.
Pause after a section and summarize it in ordinary language. If the summary depends on repeating the original wording, identify the term or step that still needs attention. A small sketch may reveal a gap that a highlighted paragraph conceals.
Finish with two lists: what became clearer and what still needs checking. Follow references that matter to those remaining questions instead of collecting unrelated background. The goal of a careful reading session is a more accurate understanding, including its boundaries. A useful note can preserve that understanding long after the original article has been closed.
