What’s the best way to improve your English? Of course, there are many ways. But big, easy reading is one of the best. And it probably has the most research and evidence to support it. What is big, easy reading? First, you read lots of books and stories. That’s... Read more
Dorothy looked up into the sky. And she started to sing. Her soft voice rose up gently in the air. Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There’s a land that I’ve heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue And the dreams that... Read more
Hank would never make it to the concert. There were too many problems. It was icy cold outside. He sat under a cover in the back of his light blue Cadillac car. He was heading to the city of Canton, Ohio, to give a big concert on New Year’s... Read more
Mike waited and waited. Was it going to be good news or bad news? Who would be in, and who would be out? Would he make the team or not? Finally, the coach put two lists on the door of the school gym. Mike looked at the list for... Read more
Four men were walking across a field. They were carrying a body wrapped up in white cloth. Their strong, black hands and arms supported the body as they walked on. Other men, women, and children walked behind. And the tall green trees listened. They listened to the cries of... Read more
A manager at a company was interviewing a job candidate. The manager said, “We need a very responsible person for this job. We need someone who can take charge.” The candidate’s eyes lit up, and he responded with great enthusiasm. “Sir, your search ends here! I’m the one. In... Read more
Max is running late. He hurries out the door of his apartment, holding a cup of coffee. Then he sees his bus. “It’s leaving!” he cries. Max starts to run, but he trips over a rock and falls. His coffee flies out of his hands and spills all over... Read more
ReadOasis Step 1 (Part 1) Jim sat into a soft, red chair. He looked down, and then he started to cry. “Am I asking too much?” he said. “I just want to be happy.” Dr. Jones gave Jim a box of paper tissues. “Thank you,” said Jim as he... Read more
The bell rang. Jim’s things were already in his red book bag, which looked brown under the white lights of the classroom. Zip! Zip! He closed the bag. He stood up and let out a sigh, “Ahhhh.” It was loud enough that other students and the teacher noticed. Jim... Read more
By Caty Weaver Kelly Ryan was making dinner. Her ten-year-old son Benjamin was watching television in the living room. Or, at least she thought he was. “Benny-boy, do you want black beans or red beans?” “Red beans, Mama.” Ben had come up quietly right behind her. “Don’t do that,... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 It was a cloudy and rainy day. Men sat high up on horses, riding through the stone streets around the king's castle. The metal sound of the horseshoes bounced off the walls of old buildings. At the end of the street, a metal worker was putting... Read more
ReadOasis Step 1 Once there was a great Lion. He ruled the world. And all living things feared him. He ran to the top of mountains. He listened to the wind blow, and he watched the clouds change colors. And there, the Lion was King. He walked upon the... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 VOA Learning English reports that China has paid for the longest railway in the world. It's 13,000 kilometers long! The longest railway in the world is now open. In December, a train carrying products from China arrived in Spain’s capital, Madrid. The railway is one of the most recent transportation projects that China has financed in Europe. The train took three weeks to go from the city of Zhejiang in China to Madrid in Spain. It takes a ship... Read more
Lady Sings the Blues
ArtsCoursesLevelsMovies Step 2BMusic Step 2AProtectedStep 2StoriesTop Picks May 20, 2019 1
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Southern trees bear strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees These sad words open the song “Strange Fruit.” The song was written by Abel Meeropol, and... Read more
By Tek Smith ReadOasis Step 4 Ashley was born on March 7, 2027. It's her birthday today, and she is 18 years old. Her birthday present will be a new computer. Her budget is 1,000 dollars, and today (March 7, 2045), this money will buy her a very powerful... Read more
By Max L. Knowles ReadOasis Step 3 In November 2004, the BBC News reported this extraordinary story. Near the North Island of New Zealand, lifeguard Rob Howes was training in the ocean water. He was with two co-workers and his young daughter. Then, like a frightful scene from a... Read more
W.C. Handy: Father of the Blues (Step 2)
ArtsCoursesLevelsMusic Step 2BPublicStep 2Stories May 19, 2019 0
By Maria Sonora ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) “Then I saw the beauty of primitive music.” W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues W.C. Handy grew up in the southern part of the United States, in a small town in Alabama. His father was a church leader, and Handy was... Read more
From English Fairy Tales By Flora Annie Steel, 1918 Retold by ReadOasis.com at ReadOasis Step 2 Once upon a time there was a boy named Jack. He lived with his mother, and they were poor. The old woman made her living by sewing, but Jack was so lazy that... Read more
From Fables from Afar By Catherine T. Bryce ReadOasis Step 2 One night a little monkey went to a well to get a drink. As he bent over, he saw the moon shining on the water. In great fear he ran to the other monkeys. “My friends,” he cried,... Read more
By O. Henry ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) (Public Domain Content Adapted from Voice of America) Author O. Henry (Image, Wikipedia) Pitcher, who worked in the office of Harvey Maxwell, broker, usually allowed his face to show no feeling. This morning he allowed his face to show interest and... Read more