Amazon.com description: Product Description: Designed as a core reader/work text for first- and intermediate-level developmental reading courses, this book teaches reading skills within the context of relevant selections, with many issues drawn from books, magazines and newspapers. A variety of exercises and assignments have been included. Many of the reading selections are written by women and for ethnic writers. "Word Origins" sections are also included: these provide the history of the word, its root and its progression into the English language.