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Listen and Read: Listen to the recording, answer the questions, and then read along with the audio recording.

I really enjoy reading in my free, but my mood often determines what I read. I enjoy comic books; it usually is light reading, and the stories aren’t very long, but some comics really reflect daily life in my culture. I also like to skim the newspaper every day to find out what’s happening in the world. This keeps me up to date on current local and international events. Because I don’t have much time to read, I generally skip over the editorial section of the newspaper and read the business and sports sections. Every once in a while, I take the time to read a good novel if time permits. Overall, reading helps me not only stay in touch with the world, but it also gives me a chance to relax.

Discussion

What types of materials do you enjoy reading for pleasure? Do you enjoy reading in English? Why or why not? What things can you do to improve your reading skills?

Online Investigation

The internet now contains a very large collection of materials to choose from for reading, including classic novels and newspapers. In addition, people can find many downloaded audiobooks. Search online for a newspaper from your country that is in English. Find a current event story happening in your country, summarize the content, and discuss the topic in a group.

Online Listening Practice (from www.esl-lab.com):

• Tapped Library Tour
• The Workplace
• Reading Time