This site contains 100 original short stories about life in America. These stories are written for ESL(English as a second language ) learners who are, at least, high beginners. We want to help ESL students learn English as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Learning should be interesting, not boring. We hope that learners will find that these stories are of some help to improve their English.

The stories have interesting topics and are easy to understand. Each story comes with an audio narrative so that learners can listen as they read. The audio requires downloading the free Real Player. Each story contains a search for pictures, definitions, and pronunciation.“ Following each story are four sets of exercises, and each containing 10 items.

Exercise A is “Yes / No Questions”. The learner is asked questions like, “Does Sara have children?” The learner can then type in, “Yes, she does.” Then the learner can check whether it’s the right answer or not.

Exercise B is “Wh-Questions”. The learner is asked questions like, “Where does Sara live?” The learner can then type in, “She lives in Pasadena.” Then the learner can check his answer.

Exercise C is “Ask Questions”. The learner is given an answer like, “They have two children.” The learner must then type in a question like, “How many children do they have?”The learner can then check to see whether he is correct or not. Exercise D is “Dictation”. The learner listens to a sentence. Most of the sentences duplicate  the sentences in the stories. The learner types the dictation and then checks to see whether he is correct or not.

Work on the site is in progress. Help us make it better as the years go by. We welcome all comments, suggestions, complaints, new ideas, and questions. Click here to send us emails.

1.Where does this passage come from?

2.The main purpose of this passage is to _____.

3.All of the following statements are correct EXCEPT _______.

4.If you want to improve your listening ability, you may mainly do some practice in _____.

      Learning English is a great challenge, but with a little help from technolo-gy it can be as easy as a piece of cake.

     As well as the classroom, teachers and textbooks, the Internet, TV and radio programmes can play an active role in helping learn English.

     The Internet is full of rich and up-to-date information. English learners might wish to try http://www.in2english.com.cn./

     This website is co-established by the British Council, the BBC World Serv-ice and Central Radio and TV University.

     It provides cultural information about Britain and has an example of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) that students can use   for practice. Different levels of grammar tests can also be found.

Make friends online

       Another useful website for middle school students and teachers is www.21se.com.cn. Besides reading 21st Century School Edition online, students are also invited to put their views on different topics up on the website.

Users have the opportunity  to make friends  with people who share their interests.

       In the teaching and learning section, there are reading and vocabulary tips for students.

      Compared with the Internet, TV programmes have their own advantages: one does not have to sit at a computer and the audio and visual effects can even be relaxing.

     One popular English-learning program is called "Modern English". This focuses  on oral English in  practical situations such as taking photos and shopping.

     The short dialogues and useful phrases may help students to express themselves if they go abroad or meet foreigners in China. More than 50 TV stations in about 300 cities have aired the program.

Word to World

If you watch Beijing Television Channel 8, you might see a program titled "Study Abroad". On this show Professor Wang Qiang  from New Oriental School hosts "From Word to World".

He selects words with  deep cultural background and teaches useful phrases related to that word.  Cartoons  are  also  used to explain  how to use the word in daily life. Listening to the radio may not be a new way to learn English but it is easy.

      China Radio International airs a program called "Studio Classroom" at 6:30 a.m. every day. This 25-minute program is aimed at middle school students and covers subjects from current news to travel and history, all in simple language.

71. This passage ______.

     A. introduces some new websites and TV and radio programmes

     B. focuses on advantages and disadvantages of different medium forms

     C. recommends technological help in learning English

     D.  aims at advertising various English courses

72. If you want to read an English newspaper and make comments on different topics, you try_____.

      A. www.in2english.com.cn.                             B. www.21se.com.cn.

      C. Modern English                                           D. Studio Classroom

73. One can practise oral English in everyday situations in _____.

      A. Studio Classroom                                       B. From Word to World

      C. Study Abroad                                             D. Modern English

74. According to the author,one superiority of TV programmes over the Internet is that they ____.

      A. offer more English learning resources

      B. cost you nothing

      C. have better audio and visual effects

D.  have English courses available whenever you need them

75. The author wants the readers to know that learning English ______.

      A. is difficult

      B. is easy

      C. is neither easy nor difficult

      D. can be made much easier with a little help of modern technology

Learning English is a great challenge, but with a little help from technology it can be as easy as a piece of cake.

As well as the classroom, teachers and textbooks, the Internet, TV and radio programs can play an active role in helping learn English. The Internet is full of rich and up-to-date information. English learners might wish to try http://www.in2english.com.cn.  This website is co-established by the British Council, the BBC World Service and Central Radio and TV University. It provides cultural information about Britain and has an example of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) that students can use for practice. Different levels of grammar tests can also be found.

Make friends online

Another useful website for middle school students and teachers is: Besides reading 21st Century School Edition online, students are also invited to put their views on different topics up on the website.

Users have the opportunity to make friends with people who share their interests.

In the teaching and learning section, there are reading and vocabulary tips for students.

Compared with the Internet, TV programs have their own advantages: one does not have to sit at a computer and the audio and visual effects can even be relaxing.

One popular English-learning program is called "Modern English". This focuses on oral English in practical situations such as taking photos and shopping.

The short dialogues and useful phrases may help students to express themselves if they go abroad or meet foreigners in China. More than 50 TV stations in about 300 cities have aired the program.

Word to World

If you watch Beijing Television Channel 8, you might see a program titled "Study Abroad". On this show Professor Wang Qiang from New Oriental School hosts "From Word to World".

He selects words with a deep cultural background and teaches useful phrases related to that word. Cartoons are also used to explain how to use the word in daily life. Listening to the radio may not be a new way to learn English but it is easy.

China Radio International airs a program called "Studio Classroom" at 6:30 a.m. every day. This 25-minute program is aimed at middle school students and covers subjects from current news to travel and history, all in simple language.

1. This passage ______.

2. If you want to read an English newspaper and make comments on different topics, you try_____.

3.One can practise oral English in everyday situations in _____.

4.According to the author, one advantage of TV programs over the Internet is that they ____.

5.The author wants the readers to know that learning English ______.