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Reader's Bank_Level 5_Unit 10                                    Reading Text

What is the best way to study? Many people think studying alone in a quiet place is best. However, many Jewish people have a different approach. They believe studying with a partner is best. They call this method “havruta,” meaning “friendship” in Hebrew. In havruta, students study with a partner. They ask each other questions. When one person understands something, they explain it to the other. If they disagree, they share ideas to convince each other. This way, students see different points of view and  understand their subjects more deeply. Their classrooms are often noisy. Students raise their hands and actively share their thoughts. It may not work for everyone, but people who use havruta enjoy it.

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Farmers are trying a new way to grow plants. It is called intercropping. This means they grow different plants together in the same field. For example, farmers can plant tall corn in one row and beans in the next row. The corn gives shade to the beans, like an umbrella. The beans help the corn by making the soil better. Their roots have special bacteria that add important nutrients to the soil. Different plants also use the soil wisely. Each plant takes different nutrients, so the soil does not lose just one kind. It is like friends eating together. Each person picks different foods they like. Intercropping also helps keep plants safe from bugs. Because the plants are mixed, bugs have a harder time finding their favorite ones. This way of planting helps plants grow well, keeps the soil healthy, and lets farmers grow more food. Because of these benefits, more farmers around the world are starting to use intercropping.

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Why do zebras have stripes? Scientists have tried to answer this question for years. Some think the stripes help zebras hide from predators. Others believe they protect zebras from the hot sun. However, scientists still don’t know the real reason. Researchers at the University of Bristol have a new idea. They think stripes help zebras avoid biting flies. To test this, they watched flies around horses and zebras on a farm. What they saw was surprising! Fewer flies landed on the zebras than on the horses. They seemed confused by the stripes. The researchers believed the stripes temporarily blinded the flies, which made it hard for them to land. This might help zebras avoid diseases that f lies can spread. Isn’t nature amazing? Next time you see a zebra, think about how every pattern in nature has a purpose — even if we don’t fully understand it yet!