file reading and array's

Hi gang: In my constant effort to improve my perl conversion project, I have a question regarding file reading. I am taking two files and combining them in an array and then writing out a new file. Is there a way to: a)strip out the first line of the second file b)test for conditions based on what is on the next line on the file An example, I start the array on file one, then mid-way I start another array on the second file (this array within in the first). I need to check the next line in the file for a condition to exist. I have tried this, but run into the pointer resetting on each pass. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. -Scott