In The One Where Monica And Richard Are Just Friends(3.13), it was established that Rachel read Little Women more than once. In The One With the Dirty Girl(4.6), Rachel indicated that she loved The Velvetine Rabbit. So if she enjoys reading books, why in this episode is she so reluctant to read the books in the literature class?
It's all part of the odd writer's plan to make sure that Monica and Chandler are the only ones who aren't relaly f-ing stoopid. Why they want it this way I don't know.
---Great Chandler Line:
(Reacting to the theft of Ross' sandwich at work...)
Phoebe: “Okay, look. You wanna hold onto your food? You gotta scare people off. I learned that living on the street.”
Ross: “Really? So... so what would you say, Pheebs? Stuff like, uh, "Keep your mitts off my grub?"
Chandler: “Say, Ross, when you picture Phoebe living on the street, is she surrounded by the entire cast of Annie?”