CONTACT:
Ben Weintraub (212-675-8567)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Merit Software Introduces A Major Upgrade Of Literature-Based Reading


Website Link:
http://www.meritsoftware.com/software/literature_based_reading_series/index.html

New York, NY -- Merit Software announces a major upgrade of Literature-Based Reading. Literature-Based Reading helps students improve their reading comprehension through adaptations of well-known literary works, while giving teachers performance-based scores.

Each set of Literature-Based Reading contains 1) instructional exercises and 2) a text condensation. The specific reading skills covered are: vocabulary, sequence, comprehension, fact-opinion, factual recall, drawing conclusions, and inference. To use this program, students may first read the entire printed condensation or they may see it in sections on the screen. Questions appropriate for each section then follow.

Included in this release are pre-tests, post-tests, and improved printouts of student work. In addition, the software now seamlessly integrates into Merit's management utility, which automatically tracks multiple student results and creates reports that help teachers monitor user progress.

Literature-Based Reading is designed for students who read at U.S. grade level 4.0 to 11.0, ages 9 and up. Reward sounds and graphics do not contain juvenile animations. Older students in ESL classes, adult literacy and GED prep programs, or college prep courses frequently use the software.

Literature-Based Reading is available in sixteen sets. Sets are based on well known literary texts such as: "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Ransom of Red Chief,""A Tale of Two Cities," and "Macbeth." A set of the single station version of the software, which includes multiple student tracking, is available for $39. Network, multi-station, and site licenses are also offered.

System requirements for the software are a computer running Windows 9x/NT/2000 with at least 13 MB of RAM and 13 MB of hard disk space. A sound card is also required.

An evaluation version of the program may be downloaded directly from our web site, http://www.meritsoftware.com/.

Merit Software publishes electronic media products that are effective in improving students' reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, writing, and mathematics skills.

ABOUT MERIT SOFTWARE:

Since 1983, Merit Software (www.meritsoftware.com) has been producing educational software that addresses the core competencies that students require to succeed. The emphasis is on strengthening students' ability to read, analyze data and communicate their ideas.

Merit Software's programs are known throughout the industry for providing context-sensitive tutorials for students and convenient record management features to aid teachers, tutors and parents.

Visit www.meritsoftware.com to examine the company's library of educational applications currently being used in thousands of educational facilities worldwide.

Merit's educational software has been the subject of rigorous, independent, scientific-based research. These studies have concluded that Merit's software provides an effective supplement to everyday instruction. Research findings are available on www.meritsoftware.com/research.

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