English Stories
Improve your reading skills with these stories
These Majestic Seabirds Never Stop Pooping
Discover the incredible story of the streaked shearwater, a seabird with a surprisingly efficient, and messy, secret to its long flights over the ocean.
Gang-Related Attack Kills 3 in Shootout at a Brooklyn Bar
A violent, gang-related incident at a Brooklyn bar results in fatalities and injuries. This story explores the event and its aftermath from a basic factual report to a more detailed and nuanced narrative.
Unraveling in Las Vegas, Then a Massacre in New York
This story follows the journey of a troubled man from Las Vegas to New York, exploring the events that led to a tragic shooting. The narrative is adapted for learners at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to trace the path to a national tragedy.
Disabled Amtrak Riders See Progress, but Still ‘Feel Like Freight’
This story explores the challenges and experiences of disabled passengers on trains, highlighting their ongoing fight for better accessibility and respect. The narrative is adapted for beginner, intermediate, and advanced English learners.
For Some Venetians, This Overgrown Island Is Paradise
An abandoned island near Venice is being transformed into a beautiful park. A group of citizens is working to create a peaceful place for people to escape the busy city.
PBS Slashes Budget by 21% After Federal Funding Cuts
Explore the challenges faced by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) as it deals with significant budget cuts. This story, adapted for three learning levels, examines the impact of reduced federal funding on the nonprofit organization and its members.
What Does It Mean to Be a ‘Very American’ Artist Now?
An American artist, Robert Longo, prepares for a major exhibition in Denmark. He feels nervous about how his uniquely American art will be received, leading him to reflect on his identity as an artist in a global world.
How Short-Term Thinking Is Destroying America
This story explores the consequences of prioritizing immediate gains over long-term stability. It follows a community's struggle with decisions made for quick benefits and the difficult path toward a more sustainable future.
What Happened When Mark Zuckerberg Moved In Next Door
A story about what happens when a tech billionaire decides to build a massive private compound in a quiet neighborhood, exploring the clash between extreme wealth and community life.
Book Blacklist in Kashmir Aims to Muzzle Criticism of India
In the politically sensitive region of Kashmir, the government has banned a number of books, sparking a debate about freedom of speech. This story explores the event, its context, and its impact on the people living there, adapted for different English learning levels.
Trump Wants U.C.L.A. to Pay $1 Billion to Restore Its Research Funding
The U.S. government cuts funding for a major university, and the president proposes a surprising and costly way to get it back. This story explores the conflict over research funding at different levels of English complexity.
Trump Administration to Require Universities to Submit Data on Applicants’ Race
The U.S. government has announced a new policy requiring universities to provide detailed information about their applicants, focusing on race and academic merit. This story explores the reasons behind the directive and its potential effects on higher education.