''background'' question

[guilhermehm]

Could someone clarify the meaning of the adjective ''background'' on the sentence?
''Students are expected to do some background reading''.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The students have to read things that contributed to the current reading assignment.

 

[Raymott]

Students are expected to read beyond the syllabus materials.

 

[guilhermehm]

The students have to read things that contributed to the current reading assignment.

Why did you put the verb "to contribute" in the past tense, if it is referring to a future tense?

 

[Skrej]

You really just thought of this question 8 years later?!? Mike is no longer with us, so he won't be able to respond himself.

There is no future tense here, so I'm not sure I completely understand your question. Presumably he used the past tense because the assignment was something already created, although the students themselves may not have finished (or even begun) the assigned readings yet.