when it comes to reading, people often worry when they cannot catch every single word. however, the key is to only pay attention to the main words and ignore the prepositions and other wordy material. this will help you read faster. and that's how i learned to speed read ;) looking for context also helps. when you read and you come across a word you don't know, keep reading. the other words surrounding the word you don't know might help you understand it. you can keep a vocabulary notebook and copy the sentence with the word, so you know how to use it later.

you can get an english-chinese dictionary.

Hello Cecilia, You can check the words in a dictionary as John suggested. To read articles or any material quicker,you have to practice reading , spelling ,writing on a regular basis. The more you practice ,the quicker your ability to read will become.You will start by making mistakes which is normal at a stage and gradually you will sense an improvement .You can use audio supportive material online and repeat the sentences in the passage so that you pick up the correct pronunciation . Your tutor or native speaking friend could help correct your mistakes .So good luck :)