<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def __universal_read(file_path, file_type):
 """ Use a file path to create file metadata and load a file in the appropriate way, according to the provided file type. :param str file_path: Path to file :param str file_type: One of approved file types: xls, xlsx, txt, lpd :return none: """

    global files, cwd, settings

    # check that we are using the correct function to load this file type. (i.e. readNoaa for a .txt file)
    correct_ext = load_fn_matches_ext(file_path, file_type)

    # Check that this path references a file
    valid_path = path_type(file_path, "file")

    # is the path a file?
    if valid_path and correct_ext:

        # get file metadata for one file
        file_meta = collect_metadata_file(file_path)

        # append to global files, then load in D
        if file_type == ".lpd":
            # add meta to global file meta
            files[".lpd"].append(file_meta)
        # append to global files
        elif file_type in [".xls", ".xlsx"]:
            print("reading: {}".format(print_filename(file_meta["full_path"])))
            files[".xls"].append(file_meta)
        # append to global files
        elif file_type == ".txt":
            print("reading: {}".format(print_filename(file_meta["full_path"])))
            files[".txt"].append(file_meta)


        # we want to move around with the files we load
        # change dir into the dir of the target file
        cwd = file_meta["dir"]
        if cwd:
            os.chdir(cwd)

    return