E:Type 'Reading' is not known on line 53 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list, E:The
 

E:Type 'Reading' is not known on line 53 in source list /etc/apt/sources.list, E:The list of sources could not be read.'

I am new to linux so how do i fix this problem with out having to reinstall linux

Open up /etc/apt/sources.list in your favorite text editor (gedit, mousepad, nano, vi..), with root privileges (sudo, su, gksudo, however you want to do it) and comment out line 53 (put at # at at the beginning).

Don't forget aptitude update