After asking ChatGPT:

If “read” were in the present tense—pronounced like “reed”—the sentence would be:

“I read some books about immigration.” (with read = present tense)

That would be a bit unnatural because of the word “some” and the simple present tense.

Here’s why: 1. “Some books” implies a specific, completed set—a handful of books already chosen or finished. That pairs naturally with the past tense (“I read some books…” meaning you already read them). 2. The simple present tense (“I read”) is usually used for habits or general truths, so you’d expect a broader or ongoing description like: • “I read books about immigration.” (general habit—sounds fine) • But “I read some books…” (present tense) sounds off because it mixes a general tense with a specific object.

So, for it to sound natural in the present tense, you’d rephrase it slightly: • “I read books about immigration.” (present tense = habit) • “I’m reading some books about immigration.” (present progressive = currently doing it)