Defending Our Homeland - Reading Comprehension
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Defending Our Homeland Reading Comprehension
     Defending Our Homeland reading comprehension (sample is shown below)


Defending Our Homeland
By Phyllis Naegeli 		  
1     Where were you on September 11, 2001? Most of us will always remember the events of that day. America came together in sorrow, shock, and support of one another. We turned to our government for answers. How could this happen? Will it happen again? What do we do now?
 
2     The first step the federal government took was to pass the Patriot Act. This gave the Attorney General additional powers when national security is threatened. Now the government can detain non-citizens without counsel secretly and indefinitely. Also, wiretaps can be obtained against a person rather than a specific phone number. This act also gives the government access to an individual's internet service provider records including web surfing records. Law enforcement officials can get and use a search warrant without notifying the occupant of the property.
 
3     Soon after, the president proposed creating a new cabinet level department - Homeland Security. On March 1, 2003, a massive reorganization of our government occurred, setting this plan into action. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for protecting us from future terrorist attacks. The United States has a population of over 294,000,000 people. We have land area of 3,500,000 square miles. Our borders with other countries stretch more than 7,500 miles. Additionally, over 95,000 miles of marine borders surround us. A coordinated effort across America is needed to keep us safe.

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