Which form is commonly used to ease reading tasks and enable broad coverage in class?

• A. Epic poem
• B. Short story
• C. Play
• D. Novel

Answer: (B)

Short stories are ideal for classroom reading tasks because their compact length makes them quick to read and easy to discuss within a single class period, while still offering rich ideas and literary techniques. This balance lets teachers cover a larger range of authors, themes, and genres in less time, giving students exposure to diverse writing without getting bogged down in lengthy texts. The form typically presents a complete, focused incident with clear setup, conflict, and resolution, which helps students practice identifying main ideas, plotting, characterization, and literary devices like irony or symbolism without being overwhelmed by volume. In contrast, epics, plays, and novels require more time and sustained attention, limiting how much breadth a unit can achieve in a given timeframe. So the short story’s efficiency and focus make it the most practical choice for easing reading tasks and enabling broad coverage in class.