Covered bridges were built for safety and for economic reasons. A roof over the bridge served to protect the timbers and trusses from the weather. This is the reason the bridge is still standing after more than100 years. Uncovered wooden bridges have a lifespan of only 10 to 15 years because rain causes joints to rot in summer and freeze in winter. Oil and tar applied to preserve the wood floor make the surface slippery when wet.
Horses fear rushing water and become spooked as they approach uncovered bridges.
But a horse will trot up to the entrance of a covered bridge and will clip-clop through, reassured by the side walls and the light at the end of the tunnel. The soft light provides a feeling of intimacy for the romantic. All students will have to pass this test in order to receive a secondary school diploma. I think it is fair to say that most people would agree that reading skills at a tenth or eleventh grade level would be the bare minimum to survive in today s world. If this is the case, then the EQAO s sample passage is cause for concern.