Hawaiian Treasure
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ReadOasis Step 3 Far into the middle of the Pacific Ocean rest the Hawaiian Islands. They are a paradise of nature and human civilization. They stand like green gardens in the center of the deep blue sea. Creative Commons Picture by Paul Bica Hawaii was first settled by Polynesians... Read more
Woodstock: A Symbol of the 1960s (Step 3)
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ReadOasis Step 3 The middle of August marks an extraordinary moment in popular music history. In 1969, about 2,500 residents lived in Bethel, New York. But that summer, there were big ambitions for that small town. Concert promoters were organizing a music festival to take place on a local... Read more
Gandhi: Promoter of Peace (Step 3)
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ReadOasis Step 3 Mohandas Gandhi is known as the father of India. He was a politician, patriot, philosopher, and religious leader. In Gandhi's time, the British had ruled India for about 190 years. And many Indians suffered under the British. The British did not give Indians equal status. And... Read more
The Biggest Band (Step 3)
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ReadOasis Step 3 It was a hot August night in New York City, 1965. Two thousand policemen in charge of security watched anxiously as 55,000 fans filled Shea Stadium. But this was not for a baseball game; it was for the first ever stadium concert in the history of... Read more
By Robert Louis Stevenson ReadOasis Step 4 The moon has a face like the clock in the hall; She shines on thieves on the garden wall, On streets and fields and harbour *quays, And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees. The squealing cat and the squeaking mouse,... Read more
International Etiquette
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ReadOasis Step 3 Note: Mr. Woodward is President of Associates in Cultural Exchange (A.C.E.). A.C.E. has language institutes at two university locations: A.C.E at Seattle Pacific University and A.C.E at Montana State University. This story comes from experiences of traveling, teaching, and doing business in over 45 countries. The... Read more
The Themes of Frankenstein
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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
ReadOasis Step 4 By Caroline H. and Samuel B. HardingRetold by ReadOasis.com In the northern part of Greece stood a high mountain called Mount Olympus. The mountain towered so high that all year around snow covered the top. And most often, the peak rested in a wrapping of clouds.... Read more
ReadOasis Step 5 Textured Tiger by Steve Wilson (Creative Commons) The Tiger by William Blake may be the most popular poem in English. This is because editors have put it in more poetry collections than any other English poem. Blake was a graphic artist and a genius with words.... Read more
A Definition of Health (Step 4)
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ReadOasis Step 4 A medical doctor was examining a patient. He summarized his diagnosis in the following way. "You're in superb health, and you'll live to be 80." The patient responded, "But, doctor, I am 80 right now. The doctor replied, "See, now what did I tell you? But... Read more
ReadOasis Step 4 (Part 1) On June 2, 2010, President Barack Obama stood on a small stage in the White House. In the audience sat a mix of elite leaders and famous musicians. The President was about to give America’s highest award for popular music to Paul McCartney of the... Read more
By Robert Louis Stevenson ReadOasis Step 3 Photo by NASA The lights from the parlour and kitchen shone out Through the blinds and the windows and bars; And high overhead and all moving about, There were thousands of millions of stars. There ne’er were such thousands of leaves... Read more
ReadOasis Step 4 The Spanish painter Picasso demonstrated remarkable artistic aptitude at a very young age. According to his mother, his first words were "piz, piz." "Piz" is short for "lápiz," which means "pencil" in Spanish. Picasso's father was an art professor who raised his son in a world... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Charles Dickens (1786-1851) Most people know Charles Dickens for his famous ghost story: A Christmas Carol. But many people don’t realize that Dickens was the most notable English author of the... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) "I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow. Vice President Ford will be sworn in as President at that hour in this office." These words were spoken by President Richard Nixon on August 8, 1974 on national television. They came after many months... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 In 1966, Richard was 16 years old. He was a student, but he was annoyed with the way he was taught in school. He wanted to change his world, and he was going to do something about it. He resolved to publish a magazine that was... Read more
A Force for Good in Music
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ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) U2 in Concert It was a cool winter night in January 2002 in New York. The city that never sleeps was wide-awake and full of movement. Even in the cold, you could feel the energy of arts, entertainment, culture, and money. That week, top... Read more
Your Cross-Cultural Purpose
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ReadOasis Step 2 Viktor listened to the sound of hard coughing. He looked at the man in the bed next to him. The man coughed and fought for air. Other men in the room coughed hard, too. Just then, the door burst open. A cold wind filled the room,... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 The word renaissance means "rebirth." In history, the Renaissance refers to the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries in Europe. We call the period before this the Middle Ages. In the Renaissance, people changed the focus of their learning. They took serious interest in the cultural achievements... Read more
By Robert Louis Stevenson ReadOasis Step 4 Through all the pleasant meadow-side The grass grew shoulder-high, Till the shining blades went far and wide And cut it down to dry. Those green and sweetly smelling crops They led in wagons home; And they piled them here in mountain tops... Read more