I have done the calculations and Medium has set it up so that the "reading time" is set towards the slower average—hence, when people read rather quickly you don't get "reading" credit—aka "money".

Very often on shorter pieces—like a recent "poem"—I got only 5 reads, yet 13 clapping "fans".

The highlighting also proves that the "read" stats are adjusted against the writer.

There are times I find nothing in partiicular to highlight or comment on—I'm not a professor grading a paper—but I liked the piece and so I clap.