Explored how to integrate the cultivation of thinking qualities into language teaching activities in primary and secondary school English teaching. The article points out that there are differences in cultivating thinking abilities between comprehension activities (listening, reading, watching) and output activities (speaking, writing). Understanding activities focus on logical thinking and analytical skills, while output activities emphasize creative thinking and practical abilities. Teaching should comprehensively consider the characteristics of two types of activities and design targeted teaching activities to comprehensively cultivate students' thinking qualities. At the same time, the article emphasizes that the difference between comprehension activities and output activities cannot be absolutized, as they have inherent diversity and discourse characteristics have a significant impact on the cultivation of thinking qualities. Teachers should flexibly design teaching activities based on the characteristics of the discourse and the needs of students, in order to unleash the potential of reading and other activities in cultivating thinking qualities.