B1 — Real-World Reading
News, blogs, stories, interviews, personal essays and informative articles. 10 original texts, each with vocabulary, key expressions, a reading strategy, and questions with explanations.
Skills at this level: Main idea · Inference · Author's purpose · Vocabulary from context · Organization · Fact vs opinion
The Night Market
A news report from Cedar Falls, where the summer night market has opened again. (News · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenWhy I Run
A personal blog about morning runs, stress, and one small medal. (Blogs · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenThe Old Bookshop
A Boston bookshop is about to close forever — until a customer finds a note in an old book. (Stories · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenAn Interview with a Chef
Chef Daniel Cole talks about his grandmother's kitchen, hard work, and advice for young cooks. (Interviews · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenMy Semester in Seattle
A student from a small town spends a semester in Seattle — rain, libraries, and growing up. (Personal Essays · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenHow Recycling Works
Follow a plastic bottle from your kitchen bin to a new life as a jacket. (Informative Articles · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenPhones in the Classroom: Help or Distraction?
Facts, studies, and strong opinions — can you tell them apart? (Informative Articles · ~2 min · ●●● Challenge)
OpenThe Library of the Future
Makerspaces, cafés, and robots that bring you books — libraries are changing fast. (Informative Articles · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenThe Marathon Runner
At 65, Ms. Alvarez is training for her twentieth marathon. A news profile. (News · ~2 min · ●●○ Steady)
OpenWorking from Home: A Balanced View
No commute, but also no colleagues at lunch. A blog post weighs both sides. (Blogs · ~2 min · ●●● Challenge)
Open