Name__________________________________________Date______________________
Reading Comprehension
Volume 5, Number 14, January 3, 2000
www.rhlschool.com
I am an American. Perhaps that makes me a little biased, but I believe that the American presidency is the most important job in the world. It’s a job that goes up for grabs every four years. The candidate who wins in November of 2000 will take office the following January and be the first new U.S. president of the twenty- first century.
The election campaign is a long one. Some say it begins right after the election and goes on for the next four years. That’s probably an exaggeration, but it does last a long time. Those who have their eyes on the job have to start gathering support and building campaign organizations early.
Some believe that the campaign for president should be shorter. I disagree. A long campaign is an endurance contest. It gives the candidates a chance to show their strengths and forces them to betray their weaknesses. The extended scrutiny makes it much less likely that the voters will accidentally choose an unqualified candidate to be their leader.
Personally, I enjoy the contest. It’s a marathon that produces a winner who may have a profound effect on all our lives. You can have your playoffs and your championships; the debates, primaries, conventions, and November election are the sporting events that really matter!
Name__________________________________________Date______________________
Reading Comprehension
Volume 5, Number 14, January 3, 2000
www.rhlschool.com
Read the following statements. Based on the author’s essay, decide what his opinion would probably be. Write “agree” after the statement if he would most likely agree with the statement. Write “disagree” if he would most likely disagree.
1. America has lost its importance in the world.
2. The U.S. presidential election should be limited to six months.
3. Political debates are always boring.
4. Longer campaigns produce more qualified winners.
5. Politics is more important than sports.
6. Sometimes it takes time to realize that an attractive candidate would be a poor choice.
7. The president of the United States must be able to handle a difficult and important job.
8. Politics can be entertaining.
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