BNC Levels

The Line of Least Resistance

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 2 Stories Story November 18, 2019 0

By Edith Wharton ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Mister Mindon returned home for lunch. His wife Mary was not at home. The servants did not know where she was. Mister Mindon sat alone at the table in the garden. He ate a small piece of meat and drank some... Read more

5 Amazing Facts About Reading

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Step 2 Stories Styles November 18, 2019 4

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

Happiness in 59 Seconds (Step 1)

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Sciences Step 1 Stories November 18, 2019

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 Seven Habits Made Easy

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Public Step 2 Stories November 18, 2019

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

Making Work Fun: The Levity Effect

B1-Intermediate Biz BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 3 Stories Top Picks November 18, 2019 2

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

The Blues: Music of Survival

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Music Step 2A Public Step 2 Stories November 18, 2019

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

Grow Your Mindset!

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Sciences Step 2 Stories November 18, 2019

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

Drifting Cowboy: Hank Williams

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 2 Stories Top Picks November 18, 2019 0

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

Story Power

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Ideas Movies Step 2B Public Step 2 Stories November 18, 2019

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

The Boy on Graves-End Road

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Public Step 2 Stories Story November 18, 2019 3

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

Sticky Communication

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Public Step 2 Stories November 18, 2019 1

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

The Farmer and the Actor (Step 2)

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Step 2 Stories Story November 16, 2019 1

ReadOasis Step 2 It was summer in Small-town. A famous actor was visiting from New York. He walked through the fields and enjoyed the beautiful sights. He loved the country. It was quiet. The air was clean and fresh. The scenery was beautiful, and the smells were delightful. He... Read more

ANTs in your Brain

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Sciences Step 2 Stories November 15, 2019

ReadOasis Step 2 Jane took a deep breath. She reached for the door, opened it, and stepped into the room. When she looked up, she saw five men in dark suits, sitting in a row. Jane introduced herself and took another deep breath. The man in the middle waved... Read more

The Happiness Class (Step 3)

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Listen!Protected Step 3 Stories November 8, 2019

ReadOasis Step 3 In his last year of high school, Alan didn't sleep much. Instead, he studied. Sometimes he crammed for exams all night. Sometimes he drank 3 or 4 cans of energy drinks so that he could study more. And he felt the agony of overwork. He got... Read more

Learn to Be Lucky (Step 3)

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Sciences Step 3 Stories November 6, 2019

ReadOasis Step 3 Devin woke up late. He skipped breakfast and got in his car and drove off in a hurry. But the traffic was dreadful. "Another bad day," he said to himself. "Maybe I will have another accident." But he didn't have one more accident. He had two... Read more

The Themes of Frankenstein

Arts B3-Intermediate++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Step 5 Stories November 4, 2019 0

ReadOasis Step 5 The author of Frankenstein (Mary Shelly) focuses on three critical themes. She is concerned with how we use science for good or evil; how we develop technology but become enslaved by it, and how we receive from nature the power of life and death. Knowledge Shelly... Read more

What to Do Before an Earthquake

B3-Intermediate++BNC Levels CEFR Levels News Public Step 2 Stories Story October 31, 2019 1

ReadOasis Step 2 Earthquakes come suddenly, violently, and without warning. You need to find dangers ahead of time. And you need to plan ahead. Then you can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. The following things will reduce the impact of earthquakes... Read more

The Three Bears

A3-Beginner++BNC Levels CEFR Levels Protected Step 1 Stories Story October 31, 2019 0

ReadOasis Step 1 (Part 1) Once upon a time, there were three bears. They lived together in a little house in the middle of the woods. One of them was a Little Bear. One was a Middle-Sized Bear, and the other was a Big Bear. Every morning the bears... Read more

The Lion and the Mouse (Step 4)

B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Ideas Protected Step 4 Stories October 30, 2019 0

By Aesop ReadOasis Step 4 It was a dark and gloomy night, deep in the Gir Forest of India. A great Lion was sleeping under a magnificent teak tree. As he slept and snored, his breath sounded like gusts of wind. Every time the Lion opened an eye and... Read more

Halloween Jack and His Lantern

A2-Beginner+BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Step 1 Stories Story October 23, 2019

ReadOasis Step 1 This is the story of Halloween night. It happened in Ireland a long time ago. There was a man named Jack. He drank too much. One day Jack met a Devil. The Devil wanted a human soul. "Hello Jack, I want your soul," said the Devil.... Read more