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
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
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 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
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
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ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Long ago, there lived in Persia a little prince whose name was Cyrus. He was not spoiled like many other princes. Although his father was a king, Cyrus was brought up like the son of a common man. He knew how to work with... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Note: This is a scary story and may not be appropriate for younger readers. Illustration by Gustave Doré Many years ago there was a rich man with a blue beard. He was ugly and had no wife. Actually, he had had many wives, but... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) George turned over in bed and went back to sleep. The alarm kept ringing. It was noisy. The neighbors could hear it through the walls. It kept ringing, so George finally opened his eyes and looked at the clock. The green numbers shined: "9:17... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Once there was a war between the Roman people and the Etruscans. The Etruscans lived in the towns on the other side of the Tiber River. Porsena was the King of the Etruscans. He raised a great army, and they marched toward Rome. The... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Johnny started singing, but he looked uncomfortable. The audition was not going well. Sam Phillips, the producer, listened politely. But he didn't smile. Johnny kept singing, but with no confidence. Then Mr. Phillips said, "Hold up!" Johnny and his friends stopped playing. Phillips said, "I hate... Read more