Daily Reads-41 (Level-1)

English reading exercises: How to improve one’s English Language Skills?

How does one improve one’s English language skills? What kind of English reading exercises should one use to improve as a reader? There are two key English reading exercises that you can use to improve as a reader:
a. Make sure you carefully select what you read. This is where we come in with this daily selection of articles. We provide you the best reading material that you can use on a daily basis.
b. Make sure while reading, you constantly ask yourself these questions:

What is the key idea of the passage?
What are the key subjects the author highlights?
What is the viewpoint of the author?
What kind of tone and approach does the author maintain?

When you keep these questions in mind while reading, your brain attunes itself to focus more closely on the text concerned and you do not lose your focus while reading. This is handy tool-tip you can keep in mind for reading.

Now that we have shared some tips on reading, let’s get started with the article selection for today.

Reading Suggestion-1

Article Name: Why desi ghee is the intelligent choice?
Author Name: Bhagyashree Dassani
Source: The Weekly Standard
Category: Health and Fitness

Summary for this article:

This article talks about the benefits of ghee consumption. As the title rightly says, “Why ghee is the intelligent choice?”, the writer states reasons for proving the same. An interesting read for anyone who wishes to know the why!!
For the folks who worry about all the extra fat that such a consumption can lead to, the writer has some good news for you, he says “It is full of all the good important fatty acids, Omega3 and Omega 6 as well as significant amount of vitamins A, D, E, and K.” He also states reason as to why ghee is not included in the healthy fats – because it was thought to be bad for lactose intolerant people.
Ghee is added in most of the Indian cuisines for the taste factor and to help in digestion Ghee is given in various forms in many of our Indian cultures. The West is also opening up to its benefits says the writer. The write concludes by stating the essentialities of ghee. “Do yourself a favour and enjoy the desi flavour of ghee.” says the author.

Words to learn from this article:

Blob: A shapeless object
Lard: Excess fat

Reading Suggestion-1: Click to read full article

Reading Suggestion-2

Article Name: Gandhi, the Economist
Author Name: Shaibal Gupta
Source: Indian Express
Category: History and Politics

Summary for this article:

In this piece of writing, the writer praises Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals by hoping that his principles are brought back to practice in the current times. He starts by saying how the “Gandhi Conclave” in Patna that took place on the 10th and 11th of April commemorating his centenary visit to Bihar in 1917 marked the Gandhian strategy of non-violent approach to every problem. Two conclusions that can be drawn from Gandhism, as per the writer, are:
1) He appears compulsively antediluvian.
2) He wasn’t bound by standard frameworks.

The writer goes on to say how the two books that he read inspired him to revisit the two basic Gandhian economic principles:
1) The limitation of wants and
2) The concept of trusteeship

He goes on to say that Gandhi was aware of the monstrous consequences of capitalism. The “practical trusteeship formula” that he had finalised just before his assassination which had the potential of transforming the capitalist order of the society into an egalitarian one, was never brought to action. The writer closes the article by hoping that the Gandhian principles are brought back to action in the present times of growing inequality.

Words to learn from this article:

Commemorate: To celebrate an occasion as a sign of respect
Antediluvian: Of ancient times
Emancipation: To let go, set free
Forthright: To the point
Prophesy: Predicting the future
Interim: In the meantime
Unbridled: Free from constraints

Reading Suggestion-2: Click to read full article

Reading Suggestion-3

Article Name: A Kshatriya Superhero
Author Name: G.Sampath
Source: The Chronicle
Category: Culture

Summary for this article:

In this article, G. Sampath talks about a movie’s influence in uniting the Hindu community that’s deeply divided by castes. The writer says that in spite of Baahubali being a South Indian Film, where none of the actors seemed familiar to the North Indians, it connected well with the viewers in the cow belt.

The movie along with its exemplary storytelling was successful in fabricating an Indian superhero who is a Hindu kshatriya and whose religious and caste identity are defined by the kshatriya ethnic. The writer says that everything about the movie – the plot, cast, landscape, etc. reflect the Hindu ethos. Then he goes on telling how the movie is set and what’s it about. Beneath all this, says the writer the subtext of the movie glorifies the caste order and seeks to unite the Hindu community divided by caste constituting a significant cultural intervention.

Words to learn from this article:

Exemplify: Explain by giving an example
Vanquish: Defeat someone
Propaganda: To promote something
Splendour: Beautiful appearance
Exhort: To encourage

Reading Suggestion-3: Click to read full article

English reading exercises: What should you keep in mind?

Regular reading is the key to improving your language skills.
You can jot down 5 to 10 new words from every article you read. You will always discover new words while reading and you should set yourself a daily limit of learning. Remember, you cannot learn an infinite number of words in one go.
You should run a quick Google search for the term ‘English reading exercises’ and ‘speed reading exercises’. You will discover some useful links that you can for reading practice.
There are some speed reading tools that help you identify your reading speed. You should take up these tests to identify your current reading speed and check the improvement over a period of time.