Category: L1 – Beginner
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The Tattoo
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Anxious, Barber, Bum, Go bald, Hidden, Lie, Months in advance, Original, Remove, Shape, Shave your hair off, Tattoo, Treat someone likeWord Count: 2244Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘I know you think you don’t want it,’ said Gary’s girlfriend, Claire, ‘but just think. When you turn 18, most of your friends will have their tattoos already. People will want to see yours. Look, you can tell them that you’re getting it later, that you couldn’t book an appointment, but how long can you lie? One day, you’ll look around and think, “God, why don’t I have a tattoo? Everyone else does.” ’
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One-Eyed, Two-Eyed, Three-Eyed (Beginner)
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Genre: Children’sSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Asleep, Awake, Dig a hole, Fringe, Goat, Hoof, Horn, Marry, Pick (fruit), Skin, Work hardWord Count: 2083Original Author: Fairy TalesSuddenly, the goat started changing. It grew long and square, and became a big white table. And on the table were all kinds of food: bread, cheeses, jams, pickles, tomatoes, olives, and so on. The girl was hungry from the work, so she ate lots and lots of food, and when she was done, she said, ‘Little goat, little goat, it’s time to go.’
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Have You Seen This Woman?
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Genre: Science FictionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Christian society, Doughnut, Drunk, Embarrassed, Hungover, I wish I had…, Lecture, Poetry, SurprisedWord Count: 1345Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyShe was singing. She was drunk, I think, the way she sang. Maybe she had drunk a big glass of vodka. But her singing was good. She sounded sad, but the music was good. We were all so surprised to see her there.
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The Tightrope Walker
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Genre: ActionSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Arrest, Beauty, Break the law, Drop by drop, Imagine, Leak, Shoot, Step by step, Suddenly, Tightrope, Worried to deathWord Count: 1147Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyThe people began to shout and cheer: ‘You can do it!’ ‘He’s three quarters of the way across!’ ‘Just a bit more!’ Everyone’s hearts were open to the tightrope walker. They did not imagine him dying now. They imagined him making it to the end. They imagined the feeling, when he would make the last step, and everything would be OK.
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Misty the Snake
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Genre: ComedySetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: Bubble wrap, Ex, Lick, Marmite, Owner, Parcel, Prison bars, Put a bounty on someone’s head, Queue, Sneak, TongueWord Count: 1457Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyWhy could nobody understand it? I loved Marmite, and so did my pet snake, Misty. Well, she wasn’t my pet. She was my ex-boyfriend’s. But I loved her more than him. And she loved me, too. As soon as that letter had come through the door, I knew it. I was her real owner. Not my ex.
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Big Peter and Little Peter
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Genre: PhilosophicalSetting: FairytaleNew Vocabulary: Basket, Chop off, Heaven, Let someone out, Priest, Scared, Shove, Stupid, Tell the future, WoollenWord Count: 2016Original Author: Norwegian MythsAs Little Peter rode his horse, he held the basket so that the priest could not get out. ‘Help! Help!’ shouted the priest. ‘Shh!’ said Little Peter. ‘Do you hear that?’ They were by a river, and the priest listened to the water. ‘Most baskets do not talk, so if you can talk, you must be a magic basket. And I don’t like magic. I think I’ll throw you in the river!’
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Why You Must Read (Introduction to my new book)
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Genre: OtherSetting: OtherNew Vocabulary: “Don’t sweat it”, Comprehensible, Contradict, Crime, Experiment, Expert, Follow a story, Juvenile delinquent reform centre, Memorise, Naturally, No shame in, Novel, Pleasure, Replicate a study, Science fiction, Second language acquisition, Silence, Train your ear, TranslationWord Count: 3459Original Author: Ariel Goodbody‘Why do I need to read in English?’ My students often ask me this. They think, ‘I go to classes, I do my homework, I watch films in English. Why should I read books?’ Actually, reading is the best way to improve your English. I will tell you why.
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The Tooth Fairy
‘Can you replace it this time?’ said Alex. ‘I know you did it last time, but I’m so tired.’ ‘I didn’t do it last time,’ said Kayla. ‘Huh?’ said Alex. ‘You did! Last time, I went and looked under the pillow, but the tooth had already been replaced.’ ‘I’m telling you, I didn’t do it!’ said Kayla. ‘I don’t understand,’ said Alex. ‘If I didn’t do it, and you didn’t do it, then who did?…
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Aldar Kose’s Magic Coat
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Genre: ComedySetting: KazakhstanNew Vocabulary: Blow, Fan yourself, Fox, Fur coat, Hole, Icebreaker, Scoundrel, Shiver, Spur, Swift, Trick, YurtWord Count: 773Original Author: Rose SharipovaOne day, Aldar was riding through a field. He was wearing his cheap coat full of holes, and he was very cold. His hands and feet hurt, and his nose was blue. He shivered and shivered. He wanted to find a yurt. In the yurt it would be warm and comfortable. But the wind was blowing loud and strong, and he only saw grass and ice. He saw no yurts and no fires. And the…
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New Year, New Me
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Genre: PhilosophicalSetting: ModernNew Vocabulary: All at once, Childhood, Frown, Go off (sound), Gym, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s resolution, Pour, Serious (person), Smile, Spontaneous, WiseWord Count: 1515Original Author: Ariel GoodbodyDiana was surprised. ‘You don’t make resolutions? But you’re the most serious person I know! You go to the gym, and cook healthy food, and read books… How do you do all that without New Year’s resolutions?’ Minerva drank some wine. ‘Let me ask you something. How much are you planning on drinking tonight?’ Diana frowned. ‘You plan how much you’re going to drink?’