INTRODUCCION<br >Nota preliminar<br >As recent efforts in developing materials have focused on improving the<br >capabilities of students to use language effectively in realistic oral con-<br >texts， emphasis on reading has declined. Yet the ability to process and<br >derive meaning from a written passage may be the most useful and long-<br >term benefit to accrue from beginning- and intermediate-level language<br >courses， particularly at the secondary level.<br > Since textbook length remains a concern of both teachers and<br >authors， there has been a tendency in recent years to reduce the amount<br >of reading material in order to provide space for more oral communicative<br >activities. As a result， teachers who want to incorporate reading instruc-<br >tion and practice must turn to supplementary sources. Most often， these<br >teachers look for whatever short， connected texts they can find in the<br >materials at hand. The preferred source for many teachers is magazines<br >and periodicals prepared by and for native speakers of the language， i.e.，<br >authentic materials.<br > Currently there is no textbook--either primary or supplementary--<br >that provides teachers with a suitable collection of authentic readings<br >that appeal to the interests of secondary school students. A propOsito and<br >its companion volume， iSin duda!， are designed to meet that need.<br >vii<br >A PROPOSITO<br >