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Bill Gates: A Model for Business?

A3-Beginner++Biz Biz Step 2B BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Protected Step 2 Stories 1

By Tek Smith ReadOasis Step 2 As a young man, Bill Gates had the idea to make a company. In 1975, he left Harvard University, and he started Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen. By 2007, Microsoft employed 78,000 people in 105 countries. Today about 90% of the world’s... Read more

Knowledge and Freedom

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ReadOasis Step 1 Be careful of the man who really knows how to be a fool. Alec Fronimites Knowledge is power. Through science, we have learned to fly. We make medicine and build great cities. We use the power of nature. And we fill our cities with energy. Through... Read more

Johnny Cash: The Man in Black (Step 2)

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Protected Step 2 Stories

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

The Nature of Time

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ReadOasis Step 2 A man was trying to understand the nature of time. In prayer, he asked God, "How long is a million years to you?" God answered, "A million years is like a minute." Then the man asked this. "God, how much is a million dollars to you?"... Read more

The Farmer’s Treasure

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ReadOasis Step 3 A Fable by Aesop, Retold by Cana Short There once was a farmer who became very ill. He visited the doctor, who told him that he would not live much longer. The farmer had a wife and two sons. He hoped to find a way to... Read more

The Most Famous Not a Protest Song (Step 3)

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ReadOasis Step 3 The little boy didn't want to eat chicken. He did not like the flavor and smell, so he protested. He said, "I hate chicken! It tastes bad! I will never eat it -- ever! His mother looked at him and smiled. And she said, "Jimmy, that's... Read more

Moving to Think (TV -Step 2)

Arts BNC Levels Listen!Protected Step 2 Stories TV 2

You can read this story at Step 2 and Step 4 (with audio and text).... Please login to read the rest of the story, or join ReadOasis today! Read more

Mary Shelley: Author of Frankenstein

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ReadOasis Step 3 Mary Shelley was born on August 30, 1797 in London, England. She was the second daughter in her family. Her parents were Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist, and William Godwin, a philosopher. Her mother died during childbirth. But her father was quick to marry again. Mary got... Read more

A Humble Ruler

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ReadOasis Step 4 A long time ago, there was a man who ruled over the Arab peoples. His name was Raschid. Because he was the ruler and leader, he was called the caliph. One day Raschid made a great feast. The feast was held in the best room of... 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

Music and Mindfulness – with Christopher Hardy

Arts B1-Intermediate BNC Levels CEFR Levels Listen!Public Step 2 Stories

ReadOasis Step 2 Christopher took his seat in the middle of the concert hall. A flow of people filled the room. The lights went dark, and all the talking heads turned silent. In the quiet and dark, electricity filled the air as people waited for the music. And when... Read more

Momotaro — The Peach Boy (Step 1)

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A Story from Japan ReadOasis Step 1 Long ago in Japan, there lived a poor old man and woman. The old man often went to the high places to cut grass. The old woman often went to the river to wash clothes. One day, while she was washing, she... Read more

The Rabbit: A Traditional Story (Step 3)

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With special thanks to storyteller Hugh Lupton ReadOasis Step 3 In the southern territory of Oregon, near the majestic Lake of the Woods, young John Jones was wandering through the forest. As he wandered, he calmly breathed in the fresh air and gazed upon the grand, green trees. Then... Read more

The Last Gift

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By Hans Christian Andersen ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) There was once a rich, happy family, who were all gathered together. The master, the servants, and friends of the family were full of joy. On this day a son was born, and mother and child were doing well. The... 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

The Prince, Love, and the Clock

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By O. Henry ReadOasis Step 3 (Part 1) Prince Michael sat on his favorite bench in the park. The September night was nice and cool. It made him feel more alive. The benches were not filled. Most people are quick to stay home when the autumn weather becomes cool.... Read more

Jesse James: Robber or Robin Hood?

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ReadOasis Step 2 It was just past noon on December 7, 1869. Two brothers walked into a bank in Gallatin, Missouri. Their names were Frank and Jesse James. One of them, maybe Jesse, walked up to the bank clerk and asked to exchange a $100 bill. The bank clerk... Read more

The Guitar Hero

A3-Beginner++Arts BNC Levels CEFR Levels Courses Listen!Music Step 2B Protected Step 2 Stories 0

ReadOasis Step 2 Humans have played instruments like guitars for 5,000 years. The English word "guitar" originally may come from the Indian word, "sitar." Today guitars play a main part in jazz, blues, country, rock, and pop music. They are also used for solo classical music. In popular culture,... Read more

On the Road Again (Step 2)

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ReadOasis Step 2 Willie Nelson's Guitar "Trigger" Little Willie was born into hard times. On October 29, 1929, the American economy crashed. It was called Black Tuesday. Many people lost all their money. By Willie’s day of birth in 1933, around 25% of Americans had lost their jobs. People... Read more

The Old Woman and the Doctor

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ReadOasis Step 2 An old woman was nearly blind from a disease of her eyes. She consulted a doctor and made an agreement with him. She would pay him a high fee if he cured her. But if she did not get better, he would receive nothing. The doctor... Read more