Reading Speed Test

12 - Quartz
English
 Uncle Wilbur
My Uncle Wilbur used to spend hours every day checking on the
lightning rods that stood guard on the roof of his house. We get a
lot of storms here in our state. Sometimes we see wind up to sixty
miles per hour and baseball-size hail. Lightning, Uncle Wilbur
would say, is a living thing, and like a cat, it will strike anything
that moves. You’d better not tempt it, he always told us. He
advised my cousins and me to always be mindful of the nearest
sheltering tree. He said we should be prepared to drop to the
ground like a hot potato at the first sound of thunder. Knowing
that lightning is attracted to the tallest thing around, Uncle Wilbur
worried constantly about my cousin Jared, who, at sixteen, was
6’2” and still growing.
Uncle Wilbur has always been a smart man. We all
listened as he dismissed the automobile as a passing
fancy. Every year it seemed more and more Model Ts
came rolling into town, but Uncle Wilbur insisted that
nothing could replace the reliability of a good old-
fashioned mule when it came to transportation, work, or
even entertainment. Yes, Uncle Wilbur’s Mule Olympics,
complete with obstacle courses and a long jump, was
known far and wide. Sadly, the Mule Olympics did not
survive into the next decade because the mules got too
old and lost interest.
Nonetheless, my uncle Wilbur continued to predict
future trends and warn us of impending tragedy. To this
day, he reminds us that he foresaw the stock market
crash of 1929, and that’s why he kept his money
wrapped in a handkerchief under his mattress. When the
government started collecting income taxes a few years
back, Uncle Wilbur reluctantly shared his wealth with
Uncle Sam, insisting that the money was just a
temporary loan.
Uncle Wilbur did not take kindly to the power company man who
came knocking one day in 1936. This was the year the government
launched a campaign to bring electricity to rural areas like ours. Most
people, like Uncle Wilbur, were a little wary of having electricity in
their homes. Many of us had running water, and we just weren’t sure
that the two mixed. Nevertheless, Uncle Wilbur was downright
floored when the man said he wanted to string power lines up to the
house. Nearly losing his temper, Uncle Wilbur exclaimed, “Here I am
doing everything in my power to keep from getting struck by
lightning, and you want to bring it right to my doorstep?” He sent the
man on his way with a “No, thank you,” and a “Good day, sir,” but in
the months that followed, we all eventually relented and let in the
light. I must admit, playing checkers in the dark is a talent you can
easily lose without daily practice.
Many things have changed since those times. Uncle Wilbur
still lives in mortal fear of a lightning strike, but because he
doesn’t get out much anymore, most of his lightning rods have
rusted through and fallen to the ground. Uncle Wilbur lives
mostly on Social Security, which he proudly proclaims as his
victory (see, he says, the government did eventually give his
money back). He probably spends more time reminiscing
about the past than he does making future predictions, but
Uncle Wilbur will be the first to tell you that television will
never be as popular as radio, and the idea of a human traveling
into outer space is just plain crazy.
Filipino
 “Ang Lihim na Pagtingin”
Matalik na magkaibigan sina Marjorie at John
sila’y nasa kasalukuyang nasa ika-apat na taon
ng kolehiyo. Matagal na silang magkaibigan
halos kalahati ng kanilang buhay ay sila na ang
magkasama at kilala na nila ang isa’t isa.
Isang araw ay inaya ni John si Marjorie sa
madalas nilang puntahan na lugar may mga puno
doon at sariwa ang hangin.
“Bes masayang-masaya ako ngayon at gusto ko ikaw ang
una kong pagsabihan”, nakangiting wika ni John habang
nakahawak sa kamay ni Marjorie. “Ano yon?” may
pagtatakang tanong nito. “kami na Feliz” biglang napayakap
si John sabay buhos ng malakas na ulan. Napaluha ni
Marjorie ngunit hindi iyon nahalata dahil sa ulan.”Masaya
ako para sayo” may pilit na ngiti na lumabas sa bibig ni
Marjorie. “Ako na ata ang pinakamaswerteng lalaki sa
mundo bes. “ bakas pa din ang saya sa mukha ni john.
“Pagod na ko. Umuwe na tayo at baka magkasakit pa tayo,
“ may panghihina sa boses ni Marjorie.
Matapos ang pag-uusap nil
ana yoon ay hindi na sila
nagkikita at nabalitaan ni john
na nagka nobyo na din si
Marjorie.
Isang araw ay napagpasyahan ni john na dalawin si
Marjorie sa kanilang bahay. “Hi Marj. I miss you.
“nakangiting wika ni john. (Wala na ang dating kinang sa
mat ani Marjorie, wala na din sigla, lungkot na lamang ang
nababakas sa kanyang mukha) wika ni john sa sarili. “
Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Wala na din kwenta magkita
man tayo o hindi” may kirot sa bawat bitaw na salita ni
Marjorie. “ Mahalaga kasi mahal!” natigilan si john. “Ano??
Wala!. Alam mo John humiling ako sa bitwin kahit na alam
kong hindi matutupad iyon” umiiyak na umalis si Marjorie.
Naiwan pa ding naiwan si john. “ Bakit hindi ko naituloy ang
nararamdaman ko na mahal……….ko si Marjorie” wika niya
sa sarili.
Araw nang kanilang pagtatapos ay hinahana[ ni
John si Marjorie ngunit sabi ng kaibigan nito na
hindi daw ito dumalo. May biglang lumapit na
lalaking may balbas, pula ang mata, at mahaba
ang buhok na lalaki kay John. “Hi pare, Nakita mo
ba si Marj? Hinid ba ikaw ang bestfriend niya?
Akon ga pala ang nobyo niya” wika ng lalaki kay
John.” Bakit sa akin mo tinatanong hindi ba dapat
ikaw ang nag-aalaga sa kanya!” nanalalaking wika
ni John. “ Easy pare ibibigay ko lang sana sa
kanya ang regalo ko,” at tumalikod na ito.
Kinabukasan ay nagbabasa ng diyaryo si John ng bigla
niya itong nabitawan. Ganto ang kanyang nabasa “ A
College Graduate is Dead because of her Addict
Boyfriend” nasabi doon na pinasubok kay Marj ang
drugs na kahit na siya’y hindi pa niya natitikman.”
Walang hiyang iyon drugs pala ang sinasabi nitong
regalo. Magbabayad siya!” pabulyaw na wika ni John.”
Na kay Feliz ang atensyon ko ngunit ang dapat kong
inalagaan at hindi pinabayaan ay ngayon ay wala na….
ang aking bestfriend. Bakit hindi ko masabi noon pa na
mahal na mahal ko siya higit pa sa matalik na kaibigan”
umiiyak na wika ni John.