B1-Intermediate | ReadOasis

5 Stages of Culture Blues

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ReadOasis Step 3 Corey loved Japan. But not today. The honeymoon was over. He had enjoyed sushi, ramen, temples, and gardens. But today, he was tired. He tried to speak Japanese. But the words didn't come out. He missed his family and friends. He missed home. Corey started to... Read more

The Magic of Hidden Culture

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ReadOasis Step 2 On his first day in Spain, Harry got lost in Madrid. He thought: "These streets aren't like home in Toronto." 500-year-old buildings. Gray stone streets. Red meat hanging in shop windows. The smell of fresh bread. The sound of a guitar in the park. "So, this... Read more

W.C. Handy: Father of the Blues (Step 3)

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ReadOasis Step 3 "Then I saw the beauty of primitive music." W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues W.C. Handy at Age 19 W.C. Handy grew up in a small town in Alabama in the southern part of the US. His father was the pastor of a church, and Handy... Read more

This Old Man

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A Traditional Children's Song ReadOasis Step 1 This old man, he played one, He played knick knack with his thumb, With a *knick, knack, paddy whack, Give the dog a bone; This old man came rolling home. This old man, he played two, He played knick knack with my... Read more

Great Waves of Art

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ReadOasis Step 3 Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was a Japanese artist, painter, and maker of prints, called UKIYO-E. During his life, he was the leading expert on Chinese painting in Japan. His most famous work is The Great Wave off Kanagawa, created in the 1820s. The Great Wave comes from... Read more

Stevie, The Musical Wonder

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ReadOasis Step 3 The announcer opens the envelope. He looks down at the card, then smiles. "And the winner is, Stevie Wonder!" The crowd cheers and cheers. Their happiness fills the room. It was the 1989 Academy Awards. Stevie Wonder just won "Best Original Song." The song was "I... Read more

A Colorful Cultural Connection

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ReadOasis Step 3 Mia and Sam lived in Los Angeles. Mia's family came from Mexico. Sam's family came from Japan. Raised in different cultures, they grew up learning different things. Mia loved spicy food and danced to Latino music. She often greeted people with a hug. Sam enjoyed sushi... Read more

12 Rules for Crossing Cultures

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ReadOasis Step 3 Mo climbed up the rocky mountain. Suddenly, a rock broke off under his foot. He grabbed onto a small tree and watched the rock bounce down and down. He took a deep breath and looked up. And he saw the mountain top covered in smoke, fire,... Read more

The Happiness Class (Step 3)

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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

Born a Businessman (Step 2)

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ReadOasis Step 2 In 1966, Richard was 16 years old. He was a student, but he didn't like the way he was taught in school. He wanted to change his world, and he was going to do something about it. He decided to create a magazine that was for... Read more

The Mystery and Horror of Poe

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ReadOasis Step 3 A man sits at night in his room alone. He is deeply saddened by the death of his lover. Her name was Lenore. Deep in despair, he begins to hear a tapping at the window. He looks up and opens it. And there stands a large... Read more

How to Acquire Language (Step 3)

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ReadOasis Step 3 How do humans acquire languages? The answer is remarkably simple. All people everywhere acquire languages in the same way. “We acquire languages by understanding messages.” This is called the “comprehension hypothesis,” and it was made famous by the distinguished linguist Dr. Stephen Krashen. I give this... Read more

Nature Boy — a Jazz Classic

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ReadOasis Step 2 Eden felt the sunlight warm his face. He opened his eyes and took a deep breath of fresh air. He stood up, walked forward, and looked down the hill. He took another deep breath and enjoyed the sight -- green trees, grand homes, and the city... Read more

A Big Idea: Critique of Pure Reason

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ReadOasis Step 3 By Will Durant (Re-presented in Basic and Essential English) Kant’s Critique is not a criticism, but a critical analysis. Kant is not attacking "Pure Reason." He hopes to show its potential. He wants to praise it above knowledge that is not pure and that comes through... Read more

Are Lectures Effective? (Step 3)

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ReadOasis Step 3 The professor stood in front of the class. He put his notes on a tall stand. The stand was in the middle of the room, and the professor could move around behind it. As he faced the class, there were many windows on his right. On... Read more

Seven Elements of Story Grammar (Step 3)

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ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) Harry glanced at his best friends Ron and Hermione. He was not smiling. He was isolated at his uncle's house for the summer. And Harry's uncle, aunt, and cousin were dreadful. Ron and Hermione stayed with their group of friends, a group that Harry didn't... Read more

Luther and the Storm (Step 2)

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ReadOasis Step 2(Part 1) Creative Commons Photo by JohnBailey63 It was a cloudy day in summer. The sun's light lit up the green grass as clouds moved across the sky. The colors of the German countryside danced in the changing light. A soft, cool wind blew through the trees.... Read more

How to Attain Presentation Zen (Step 2)

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ReadOasis Step 2 PowerPoint is the most popular presentation software today. Over 400 million copies are in use. But there are problems with PowerPoint. It can cause you to simplify too much and stop you from connecting with people. To give good presentations, you need practice. Expert presenter Garr... Read more

Meaning to Live (Step 2)

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ReadOasis Step 2 Viktor had just married Tilly. She was the love of his life. He was a young doctor in Vienna, Austria. And Viktor and Tilly should have expected a bright future together. But Nazi Germany was in control of Austria, and Viktor and Tilly were Jewish. In... Read more

On the Reality of Morals

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ReadOasis Step 2 All cultures have morals for good and bad behavior. And people think their morals are real. For example, "stealing is wrong." Even a thief says, "It's wrong to steal from me!" People act like they have a real basis for moral action. They argue about morals... Read more