1st Posting - Computerized Reading

EXAMPLE OF READING COMPREHENSION TEXT

Reading Comprehension- History- Science
Name _______________________________ Date _____________________
©2004-2008 abcteach.com

LEAP YEAR
As February 29, 2008 approaches, some people may notice something unusual
about the date. Last year, there was no February 29th. In fact, there has not
been a February 29th since 2004. Why does February 29th occur only once in
four years? To understand this confusing arrangement, it is necessary to
understand the calendar that is currently used in the United States.
Nearly all modern societies use some kind of calendar to decide on the dates
and times of everything, from religious holidays to business meetings. The kind
of calendar used determines what makes up a week, a month, or a year. Some
societies use lunar calendars, which are based on the revolution of the moon
around Earth, and others use solar calendars, which are based on the
revolution of Earth around the sun. The United States, like much of the rest of
the world, uses a solar calendar.
The solar calendar used by most of the world today is known as the Gregorian
calendar. Named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in 1582, this
modern calendar is the end result of hundreds of years of fine-tuning. It was
developed from the Julian calendar, which was created in 46 BC by Julius
Caesar.
The Julian calendar was also a solar calendar, based on the time it takes for
Earth to travel one complete loop around the sun. In Julius Caesar’s time,
although astronomers believed that the sun revolved around Earth, they still
managed to make fairly accurate measurements of the length of a complete
cycle. A solar year, they calculated, was about 365.25 days long.
Julius Caesar, deciding that it would be difficult to add ¼ of a day onto each
year, ordered one extra day to be added every four years to the month of
February, creating what would be called “leap” years. This calendar was used
by the western world for over a thousand years.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with the Julian calendar. When Julius
Caesar ordered a leap year every four years, he was putting in too many extra
days. A solar year is not 365.25 days long, but in fact 365.24219 days. The
difference between the actual length of the solar year and the approximated
value is very small, but over several hundred years it began to add up. By the
1500s, spring holidays were starting to happen in the summer.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII came up with an idea of how to fix the problem. He
realized that there were too many leap years in the Julian calendar, so he
reorganized it into a more complicated system. In the new calendar, there is
still a leap year almost every four years, but there is also a new rule. If the year
ends in 00, it is only a leap year if the year’s number can be divided by 400. For
this reason, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years, but 2000 was.
The new calendar was so accurate that over the next several hundred years, it
was adopted by almost every country in the world. Over 400 years after its
introduction, the Gregorian calendar is currently in use world-wide.


QUESTIONS
Reading Comprehension- History- Science
Name _______________________________ Date _____________________
©2004-2008 abcteach.com

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ABOUT LEAP YEAR
1. Which is the name of the calendar currently used in the United States?
a. the Gregorian calendar
b. the Julian calendar
c. the Lunar calendar
d. the Pope’s calendar

2. How many days are there in a solar year?
a. 365
b. 365.25
c. 366
d. 365.24219

3. When were leap years first used?
a. 46 BC
b. 1592
c. 1700
d. 1582

4. Which best describes the kind of calendar used today in the United States?
a. a solar calendar, based on the revolution of the moon around Earth
b. a lunar calendar, based on the revolution of the moon around Earth
c. a solar calendar, based on the revolution of Earth around the sun
d. a lunar calendar, based on the revolution of the moon around the
sun

5. By our modern calendar, which of the following years WILL be a leap year?
a. 2100
b. 2500
c. 2200
d. 2800

6. Which of the following best describes the reason for creating leap years?
a. The Earth revolves around the sun.
b. The solar year does not divide into an even number of days, and it
would be difficult to add ¼ of a day onto each year.
c. Astronomers calculated the approximate length of a solar year.
d. Pope Gregory XIII saw the problem with the Julian calendar.

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Elaboration on the reading comprehension text above:

Firstly, my partner Faezah and i decided to choose the text above because we thought that it was quite interesting. Looking at the reading comprehension text above we can say that this reading material is more suitable for high school kids.

We personally think that reading comprehension does indeed play an utterly important role in enhancing an individuals language skills. This is due to the fact that among all other reading materials, we seem to have come face to face with reading comprehension in an early stage of life.

Besides, reading comprehension is easy to understand and also enables us to read the text in order to find answers for the questions that follow later. In this way, students won't just read the text for the sake of reading it but instead the students have to understand what they are reading in order to answer the questions accurately. Reading comprehension can also be really helpful when it comes to spelling and vocabulary as it can improve your knowledge of both this fields.

For more information and examples on reading comprehension, please do take a peek at http://www.abcteach.com/

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EXAMPLE OF ''READING FOR PLEASURE'' TEXT

I Married a Ranger
By Dama Margaret Smith (Mrs. "White Mountain")

Chapter I: "OUT IN ARIZONA, WHERE THE BAD MEN ARE"

"So you think you'd like to work in the Park Office at Grand Canyon?"
"Sure!" "Where is Grand Canyon?" I asked as an afterthought.
I knew just that little about the most spectacular chasm in the world, when I applied for an appointment there as a Government worker.
Our train pulled into the rustic station in the wee small hours, and soon I had my first glimpse of the Canyon. Bathed in cold moonlight, the depths were filled with shadows that disappeared as the sun came up while I still lingered, spellbound, on the Rim.
On the long train journey I had read and re-read the Grand Canyon Information Booklet, published by the National Park Service. I was still unprepared for what lay before me in carrying out my rôle as field clerk there. So very, very many pages of that booklet have never been written—pages replete with dangers and hardships, loneliness and privations, sacrifice and service, all sweetened with friendships not found in heartless, hurrying cities, lightened with loyalty and love, and tinted with glamour and romance. And over it all lies a fascination a stranger without the gates can never share.
I was the first woman ever placed in field service at the Grand Canyon, and the Superintendent was not completely overjoyed at my arrival. To be fair, I suppose he expected me to be a clinging-vine nuisance, although I assured him I was well able to take care of myself. Time softens most of life's harsh memories, and I've learned to see his side of the question. What was he to do with a girl among scores of road builders and rangers? When I tell part of my experiences with him, I do so only because he has long been out of the Service and I can now see the humorous aspect of our private feud.
As the sun rose higher over the Canyon, I reluctantly turned away and went to report my arrival to the Superintendent. He was a towering, gloomy giant of a man, and I rather timidly presented my assignment. He looked down from his superior height, eyed me severely, and spoke gruffly.
"I suppose you know you were thrust upon me!"
"No. I'm very sorry," I said, quite meekly.
While I was desperately wondering what to do or say next, a tall blond man in Park uniform entered the office.
The Superintendent looked quite relieved.
"This is White Mountain, Chief Ranger here. I guess I'll turn you over to him. Look after her, will you, Chief?" And he washed his hands of me.


**For the continuation of Chapter 1 and all the other chapters, please refer to http://www.talewins.com/

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Elaboration on the ''reading for pleasure'' text above :

My partner Faezah and i, picked the novel above as our reading for pleasure material. What is reading for pleasure? Reading for pleasure can be defined as reading for no reason or just reading for fun.

We found out that people normally read for pleasure as a hobby or just to kill time. Pleasure reading materials aren't just novels, as it also includes story books, magazine's, comic's and all other materials used by individuals as a pass time. Reading for pleasure can be done online or manually which is by purchacing your own books.

How is reading for pleasure different from other types of reading? For one, reading for pleasure does not require you to seek information nor to complete any tasks. In short, reading for pleasure does not have to have any reason or motif at all.

For the continuation of the novel above and all the following chapters, please do visit http://www.talewins.com