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
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
By Tek Smith ReadOasis Step 4 Ashley was born on March 7, 2027. It's her birthday today, and she is 18 years old. Her birthday present will be a new computer. Her budget is 1,000 dollars, and today (March 7, 2045), this money will buy her a very powerful... Read more
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 3 Evolution is a process of how living things change over time. Natural selection is the basic mechanism of evolution. It was introduced by Charles Darwin in 1859. He compared natural selection with artificial selection. In artificial selection, humans choose traits for breeding. For example, we can... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 A computer needs software, information that tells it how to operate. A computer cannot work without software. Our bodies work like this too. Imagine the body is a computer. It needs an information code to work. DNA is this code. The DNA code contains the instructions... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Isaac Newton People of all kinds have had emotional problems. For example, Beethoven, Abraham Lincoln, and Isaac Newton all experienced trouble with the blues. That is, at times they had trouble with some form of depression. Look at the case of Newton. He was born into... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 Jacques Cousteau (June 11, 1910 - June 25, 1997) studied the sea and all forms of life in the water. He was a French naval officer, explorer, scientist, photographer, author, and film producer. "Captain Cousteau," as people called him, became widely known because of his many... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 The forest was thick, and the grass was tall. We walked quietly and carefully by the bank of the river. We were in the shade of the trees, but the river danced with the light of the afternoon sun. "Watch out for snakes," my father said... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 On May 25, 1961, American President John F. Kennedy announced a big goal. He said, "I believe we should go to the moon." His plan was this. Land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth within 10 years. The goal was... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Mount Everest is the highest mountain on earth. It stands between Nepal and Tibet in the Himalayan Mountain range. Everest is 8,848 meters high (29,029 feet). That is almost 9 kilometers -- or 26 Tokyo Towers. Everest is cold. In the warmest of summer, it is... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 The film ET warmed the hearts of millions of children and adults. It was funny and exciting. And it told a hopeful story about love and friendship. In one scene, ET points his finger to the sky. And he says, "ET phone home." This simple phrase... Read more
By Max L. Knowles ReadOasis Step 1 A doctor was checking an older woman. When he finished, the doctor told her, "You're in good health. You'll live to be 80." "But doctor," the woman said, "I am 80 right now." With a smile, the doctor answered, "See, what did... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 The bell rings. Students close their books and start packing their bags. Raising his voice, Professor Jones says, “Remember to read Chapter 6 before next class, and your first report is due in 3 days!” Some students groan. Mar y hurries back to her room. She’s... Read more
By Dr. Richard Wiseman ReadOasis Step 2 Creative Commons photo by Benjamin Smith This exercise is all about the power of smiling. Obviously you smile when you’re happy. However, research shows the opposite is also true. Smiling actually makes you feel happier. So each day, put a smile on... Read more
ReadOasis Step 3 The sun shined white-hot. John could feel it, almost burning his skin. The air was thick and hard to breathe. The noise and smell of cars surrounded him in a cloud. He looked at his watch. "I'm late," he said to himself, and he started to... Read more
ReadOasis Step 4 (Part 1) “Quick! It’s stormy outside! Maybe there will be thunder and lightning! Get the kite, and let’s go fly it in the storm!” Photo by GPTMC Imagine hearing these words from your father. You might think going out to play in a storm is fun,... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 Why do people cry? Maybe tears are good for us. Maybe they calm our minds and cleanse our bodies. Yet researchers have shown that crying can make people feel worse. Psychologists from the US and the Netherlands recently studied crying. They checked detailed descriptions of crying... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) It was the middle of winter. Galileo was old, weak, and sick. But he had to make the 200 mile (320 kilometer) trip to Rome in the cold. Why all this trouble? The Head of the Roman Church said so. Galileo must go on... Read more
ReadOasis Step 2 (Part 1) Doctor Harry Harlow made a difficult puzzle. At least he thought it was difficult. On a block of wood, he placed a metal catch called a hinge. A hinge is a piece of metal joined to a door. It allows the door to open... Read more