Hot Topic s is guaranteed t。engage readers，stimulate thinking，and provoke conversation while developingvocabulary and reading skills．The controversial topicsexplored in the text all have more than one side to them，thus encouraging debate and classroom interaction．Three readings per chapter explore the same hot topicfrom different points of view．The readings in each chapter vary by genre and increase in difficulty to support reading development．A focus on reading skills and reading comprehension through pre—reading questions，skimming and scanning activties，lhe use of context clues，vocabulary analysis．and the development of critical thinking skills helps students increase their reading fluency．Open-ended questions at the end of every chapter encourage students to voice their opinions and defend their viewpoints either through discussion or in writing．