Rhyming word after speed

READ

Think of a common phrase that starts with "speed" and ends with a synonym for "study"—what’s the missing word?

The clue hints at a word that sounds like "speed" but comes right after it in a phrase. Think of the common saying "speed read"—the word following "speed" is "read," which rhymes with it. So the answer plays on both the sound and the position of the word in that familiar expression.