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Meaning to Live (Step 2)
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
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
The Bird and the Golden Eggs
ReadOasis Step 2 A man and his wife had the good fortune to find a special bird. This bird laid a golden egg every day. They were very lucky to have this bird. But they began to think that they were not getting rich fast enough. They imagined that... Read more
The Farmer and the Actor (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 It was summer in Small-town. A famous actor was visiting from New York. He walked through the fields and enjoyed the beautiful sights. He loved the country. It was quiet. The air was clean and fresh. The scenery was beautiful, and the smells were delightful. He... Read more
International Etiquette
ReadOasis Step 3 Note: The author, David Woodward, is a well-known expert in cross-cultural communication and education. This story comes from experiences of traveling, teaching, and doing business in over 45 countries. The goal is to show the basic idea of international etiquette. That is, how do we behave... Read more
A Lesson in Manners
ReadOasis Step 2 One morning there was a loud knock at Dean Swift's door. His servant opened it. There was a man outside holding a fat duck that had just been killed. "Here's a present for Dean. It's from Mr. Boyle," the man said. He pushed the bird into... Read more
Atheism in the News
ReadOasis Step 2 Atheism is the belief that God does not exist. An atheist does not believe in God. Recently, atheism has become a topic in the news. This is because famous authors have written books on the topic. For example, Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have sold well... Read more
The Farmer’s Treasure
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
Slower is Faster
ReadOasis Step 1(Part 1) Bill was walking slowly to class. He always walked slowly. He wore thick glasses, and it was hard for him to see far ahead. He didn’t want to trip and fall. It’s better to be safe than sorry, he thought. Safe was good, but Bill... Read more
The Old Woman and the Doctor
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
The Fox and the Grapes (Step 2)
ReadOasis Step 2 A hungry fox saw some fine grapes. The grapes were hanging in a high place on a wooden frame. The fox did his best to reach them. He jumped as high as he could into the air. But the grapes were just out of reach, so... Read more
Momotaro — The Peach Boy (Step 1)
A Story from JapanReadOasis 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 saw... Read more
Momotaro — The Peach Boy (Step 2)
A Story from JapanReadOasis Step 2 Long ago in Japan, there lived a poor old man and woman. The old man often went to the mountains to cut grass. The old woman often went to the river to wash clothes. One day, while she was washing, a big pink... Read more
The Golden Rule
ReadOasis Step 2 What is the Golden Rule? Some people say, "If you have the gold, you make the rules!" But seriously, the Golden Rule is a guide for behavior that we find in almost all cultures, religions, and moral systems. This rule has two basic forms. A negative... Read more
The Farmer and the Actor (Step 1)
By AesopReadOasis Step 1 It was summer in a small country town. An actor was visiting from the big city. He walked through the fields and enjoyed the beautiful place. He loved the country. It was quiet. The air was clean and clear. The view was beautiful and fair.... Read more
The Nature of Time
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
Luther and the Storm (Step 3)
ReadOasis Step 3(Part 1) Creative Commons Photo by johnbailey63 It was a cloudy day in summer. The sun's light flickered on the green grass as clouds moved across the sky. The colors of the German countryside danced in the changing light. A cool breeze whispered in the trees. Martin... Read more
The Wolf in a Sheep’s Suit
ReadOasis Step 1 (Part 1) "A Hungry Wolf by Bruce McKay" The wolf was hungry. He hadn't eaten in days. He looked around the forest, but he could not find any food. He chased after a rabbit, but the rabbit got away. He saw a deer and ran after... Read more
The Rabbit: A Traditional Story (Step 2)
With special thanks to storyteller Hugh Lupton. ReadOasis Step 2 In the south of Oregon, near Lake of the Woods, young John Jones was walking through the forest. As he walked, he enjoyed the fresh air and the tall green trees. He came to an open field. The grass was... Read more
The Lion and the Mouse (Step 2)
By AesopReadOasis Step 2 It was a dark night, deep in the Gir Forest of India. A great Lion was sleeping under a teak tree. His breath sounded like the wind as he slept. And every time he opened an eye, the forest listened. The animals did not want... Read more