english articles to read upper intermediate

...English with attitude in search of a purpose

English articles for upper-intermediate and advanced students, newer english articles worth reading.

Aaron Ralston's Story The climber who escaped death by cutting his arm off

Leverage & the financial crisis Leverage & the financial crisis explained for the EFL classroom

Einstein's Theory of Relativity for Dummies Einstein Theory of Relativity - an introduction and summary - EFL, ESOL advanced reading material from Fullspate

Digital Heaven Heaven online - Ray Kurzweil and the idea of uploading the brain to the internet - EFL, ESOL advanced reading material from Fullspate

Nanotechnology - an Introduction Nanotechnology - an Introductiont - EFL, ESOL advanced reading material from Fullspate

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster Chernobyl nuclear disaster EFL ESOL article English language teaching materials - from Fullspate.net

Catch 22 - EFL ESL lesson material Catch 22, Joseph Heller - advanced TEFL TESOL English lesson material

Archive of Fullspate stuff worth reading

Drugs and teenagers Scott Douglas' story of his fatal addiction.

How dumb are you? Ever wondered if you are as smart as your mum says you are? Do this little quiz to check.

Are you hot? A little test for girls to see how hot they are. Plus some consoling thoughts for the poor girls who just can't make it.

The death of poetry Poetry is dead. We do a little post-mortem to find out what killed it.

The next ice age Forget about global warming. In northern Europe it's going to get colder - a lot colder. Find out why.

Relativity for dummies At last we bring you the fun introduction to everyone's favourite theory: the theory of relativity. Find out how you can use the theory to live longer.

No more heroes The old heroes are gone - no one has pin-ups of them on their bedroom wall. What put an end to the epoch of greatness? Is the age of the TV celebrity any better?

Robocop - the true story They connected his brain to a computer so he could control it just by thinking. Robocop is just around the corner.

Falling idols Why do so many popstars lose their touch and end up recording rubbish? We look at the reasons.

Screen idle TV - is the stuff you see on TV really as bad as some people say? An alternative look at the impact of the small screen.

Boy and girl problems Why do men and women find it so difficult to understand each other? Why does love so often end up in a big shouting match?

Nuclear nightmare Harrowing stories from the disaster at Chernobyl.

Terror on the pitch What was it like to play football in Iraq under Saddam Hussein and have your coach tell you they might just cut your legs off if you miss a penalty?

What happens when you lose your trousers on the battlefield? A true story from the invasion of Iraq.

Down with school Pink Floyd sang, "We don't need no education." Ivan Illich said, "We don't need no school." Here we look at one argument against school.

Alien ancestors? Are we descended from aliens? Are whales more intelligent than us? Check out what the prophets of the New Age tell us.

The truth about adverts Adverts are everywhere. How does all this advertising affect us, and is it all so innocent? Is there more to adverts than meets the eye?

How modern are we? Some say the modern world is a thing of the past - it's over and done with. But what was the modern world? And are we still modern, or have we gone beyond that?

He will clone himself We report the views of one man who insists he doesn't want regular kids, only clones. Find out why it just might be better to be a clone.

The joy of laziness Why do people try to make us feel guilty if we don't spring out of bed at sunrise and start working? Here we try to soothe the conscience of work-shy late risers.

Happy shopper How super are supermarkets? They are universally popular with shoppers, but why are so many other people unhappy with what supermarkets are up to?

I won't stop smoking A British popstar puts the cat among the pigeons when he explains why he won't stop smoking.

From Art to pop Art used to be such a powerful force in society. Why is it now so irrelevant? Can pop take its place?

Thanks for bombing me (?) Did the Iraqis really want to be bombed? Here, Raed - the blogger from Baghdad - sets the record straight and speaks out against the madness.

The real Father Christmas Where was Santa Claus born? Why does he always wear red and white? Find out in our short biography of the merry man of Christmas.

Sex and the older woman The story of a 15 year old boy falling in love with a 26 year old woman. A happy story until the police arrive. Should the woman have been sent to prison?

Want to become a teacher? Some tips for those who might be considering a career in teaching. Are you cut out for the job? Have you got what it takes?

A girl's life in Iraq One girl's experience of life after the war in Iraq.

YES, spank 'em : the subtle arguments for. NO, all u need is love : the arguments against.

Inside Hitler's brain Never read Adolf's book "My Struggle"? No need coz here we give you the craziest bits from a truly crazy book.

Crazy Christians Ever heard of Christian fundamentalism? Find out about the crazy end of Christianity and why US airlines won't let both the pilot and the copilot of a flight be fundamentalist Christians.

2. Closed Circuit TV CCTV cameras are everywhere now. Spend a day walking the streets of London and your image will have been recorded hundreds of times. Is it only the guilty that should worry, or should we all be concerned about the invasion of privacy?

Shooting your classmates Two boys planned to blow up their school canteen and then shoot the survivors. What actually happened at the Columbine School massacre, and why did they do it?

The f*** word It may be bad language but it's still English. Here are a few of the things said in English when people get really pissed off.

Chaos Is the world essentially chaotic? How could a butterfly change an entire weather system across the Pacific Ocean? Is this the end of science as we know it? Find out about the chaos theory.

4. Crazy laptops : What on earth was the UN thinking about? Laptops for hungry kids without electricity in the Thirld World?

Chain gangs Chaining groups of prisoners and taking them out to work. Is this a step forward? See what the prisoners have to say.

Dreaming of politics A fun look at the two extremes of the political spectrum: John Lennon and Adam Smith.

A reply to our critics People say we are too miserable. "Where is the joi de vivre (the joy of life)?" they ask. Here we set the record straight.

The other drug dealers Is it right for pharmaceutical companies to make so much money out of drugs that people need to stay alive? Should they be the ones to decide which drugs get produced and how much they cost?

Love and Sex Why are there so many thorny issues surrounding that girl-boy thing? Here we give frank answers to some of your most troubling questions.

The German cannibal The truly gruesome story of the man who wanted to eat human flesh and the other man who wanted to be loved and eaten. (Not suitable for younger readers.)

What is reality? We say that a whole bunch of things that people used to believe in are not real. But do we really know what reality is? How about trees - what are they really?

• The Michigan ECPE exam explained
• ECPE speaking test
• ECPE survival guide
• ECPE grammar examples
• ECPE grammar test
• ECPE cloze test
• ECPE vocabulary test
• ECPE reading test part 1
• ECPE reading test part 2
• ECPE reading test oart 3
• ECPE reading test part 4
• Proficiency exam mania in Greece
• Fullspate C1 Primer
• Advanced essay writing
• Hot worksheets
• English articles and fun stuff to read
• Books recommended
• EFL Bliss: in place of a blog

About Fullspate: - Fullspate is actually one man with a PhD and a laptop who grew tired of the bland contents of EFL coursebooks, decided to write slightly more engaging stuff for his English students, and then thought it might be nice to share them online. Then subsequently packed it in.

Lake District holiday cottages

Thalassa Garden Corfu

Pelion bike tours

Feeling generous? Show your generosity by giving us the thumbs up on our Facebook page and do leave a message. It's the feedback that makes it all seem worthwhile.

Or make a donation to help keep the show on the road

UK Web Design

ESOL Courses

Free English Lessons Online

Reading For Pleasure - Intermediate Level Graded Readers

Reading | Intermediate | Advanced

Improve your English reading skills with our free collection of articles, fact files and short stories.

Popular lessons.

Level 5 | 350 Words

Greenland is a huge island in the far, far north of the world. The weather there is very harsh and cold... ( read more )

PLASTIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Level 6 | 250 words.

Plastic is a material we use every day. The first plastics were made more than 100 years ago from parts of plants.... ( read more )

THE STORY OF COFFEE

Level 7 | 950 words.

Many people enjoy a cup of coffee at their local coffee shop, but few people know the story of coffee and how it is produced... ( read more )

New Additions

The Great Barrier Reef

Level 6-7 | 200 words.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest group of coral reefs in the world. It stretches for more than two thousand kilometers along Australia's northeast coast.... ( read more )

THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON

Level 5-6 | 450 words.

London was a busy city in 1666. It was very crowded. The streets were narrow and dusty. The houses were made of wood and very close together. Inside their homes, people used candles for light and cooked on open fires... ( read more )

THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT

Level 7-8 | 450 words.

Just outside the Egyptian city of Cairo, three giant stone pyramids rise out of the desert sands. For centuries, they have captured the attention of historians... ( read more )

THE HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE

Level 7-8 | 400 words.

Historians believe the Maya people of Central America first learned to farm cacao plants around two thousand years ago. The Maya took the cacao trees from the rainforests and grew them in their gardens.... ( read more )

Browse by Level

Level 5      a2-b1, level 6      b1.

GROWING ROSES

Level 6 | 400 words.

Most kinds of rose plants come from Asia. But roses are also native to other areas including northwest Africa, Europe and the United States.... ( read more )

WORDS AND THEIR STORIES - SHENANDOAH

Level 6 | 300 words.

Many hundreds of years ago, a Native American chief named Shenandoah lived with his people in what is now the state of Virginia... ( read more )

PUMPKINS FOR ALL SEASONS

Level 6-7 | 275 words.

Pumpkins grow on vines or bushes. Most pumpkins weigh only a few kilos. But some pumpkins grow to be huge. Pumpkins belong to the gourd family... ( read more )

Level 7      B1-B2

Level 7 | 475 Words

Guide dogs help people who are blind or visually impaired move around safely, and often transform their lives. They are usually allowed anywhere that the public can go... ( read more )

Level 7 | 375 Words

Americans love popcorn. They eat it at home, at sports events, and in cinemas. Popcorn has smaller pieces or kernels than other kinds of corn... ( read more )

THE SCIENCE OF ROLLER COASTERS

Level 7 | 175 words.

Why do people find amusement park rides so much fun? The roller coasters, free-fall, and pendulum rides are exhilarating, if not terrifying... ( read more )

BATS IN YOUR GARDEN

Level 7 | 225 words.

Bats are flying mammals. They are warm blooded creatures that hibernate in winter. Growing warmth from the sun wakes them from sleep... ( read more )

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BEES

More than ninety kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seed crops depend on bees for reproduction. Bees pollinate thousands of millions of dollars' worth of crops... ( read more )

Clouds come in many shapes and sizes, but all clouds are made up of billions of tiny water drops or ice crystals.... ( read more )

ALL ABOUT POTATOES

Level 7 | 600 words.

Potatoes were first grown for food in South America thousands of years ago. People found a way to preserve them by leaving them out at night... ( read more )

CELEBRATING DIWALI

Level 7 | 150 words.

Diwali is an important Indian festival. Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. People in India and Nepal celebrate Diwali... ( read more )

THE HISTORY OF STREET ART

Street art can be found on buildings, sidewalks, street furniture and signage in urban areas from Tokyo to Paris to New York City... ( read more )

ELVIS PRESLEY

Level 7-8 | 950 words.

Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in the southern US town of Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis went on to become one of the most popular musicians of the twentieth century... ( read more )

Browse by Type

Website content © copyright ESOL Courses Limited, except where otherwise stated. All rights reserved.

Search Our Site

Upper intermediate

Better at English podcasts and articles suited for English learners at the upper-intermediate level.

053 – Is seeing believing? Deepfakes and the information apocalypse

When you watch the news these days, do you trust your eyes and ears? Do you think what you’re seeing is real and happened the way it is being shown? Or is your first reaction to think: Hmm, I wonder if this video is fake? That’s what today’s episode is about, so stay tuned. TRANSCRIPT …

053 – Is seeing believing? Deepfakes and the information apocalypse Keep reading »

053 – Is seeing believing? Deepfakes and the information apocalypse – TRANSCRIPT

Download PDF Introduction Hi English learners! Lori here, your teacher from betteratenglish.com. When you watch the news these days, do you trust your eyes and ears? Do you think what you’re seeing is real and happened the way it is being shown? Or is your first reaction to think: Hmm, I wonder if this video …

053 – Is seeing believing? Deepfakes and the information apocalypse – TRANSCRIPT Keep reading »

051 – The good, the bad, and the flat-out liars. Real English Conversation

Imagine if you will, the following scenario. You’ve volunteered to take part in a psychology study, say, at your university. All you have to do is show up to the lab, sit by yourself in a little booth and play a very simple game of chance, something like flipping a coin, where there’s no skill …

051 – The good, the bad, and the flat-out liars. Real English Conversation Keep reading »

Common English Learner Mistakes – subject verb agreement

Mistakes in subject-verb agreement are very noticeable in written English. People tend to overlook mistakes in spoken, conversational English. But in writing, subject-verb agreement errors really jump out at the reader. So it’s a good idea to check important pieces of writing for subject-verb agreement errors. The good news is that subject-verb agreement is based …

Common English Learner Mistakes – subject verb agreement Keep reading »

Narrative tenses in conversational English – past, present, and future

Telling stories is a huge part of conversational English, so being comfortable with narrative tenses is important for English fluency. Most English lessons about narrative tenses in English focus on the following 4 tenses: Past simple Past perfect Past continuous Past perfect continuous But did you know that you can use present tenses in English …

Narrative tenses in conversational English – past, present, and future Keep reading »

043 – Real English conversations: Lori scores a year’s supply of toilet paper (archive)

A funny thing happened today when Lori was shopping for office supplies, and it involves an industrial-sized package of toilet paper rolls.

042 – Make the Most of your Motivation part 2 of 2 – Real English Conversations

This is the transcript and bonus vocabulary lesson for part 2 of Lori’s conversation with Dr. BJ Fogg, an expert in the field of persuasion and motivation. You’ll learn about how to make the most of the motivation that you have, no matter if it’s high or low. This conversation is an example of informal …

042 – Make the Most of your Motivation part 2 of 2 – Real English Conversations Keep reading »

041 – Make the most of your motivation – a conversation with BJ Fogg (part 1 of 2)

What can you do when you’re not feeling motivated? What is the best way to use your motivation when you ARE motivated? Find out in this episode of Real English Conversations from Better at English. Lori talks to Dr. BJ Fogg about how to make the most of the motivation that you have, no matter if it’s high or low.

040 – Daily Rituals part 5 of 5 – Real English Conversations

Introduction Hi English learners! Lori here, your teacher from Betteratenglish.com. In this episode of Real English Conversations, you’ll hear part 5 of my conversation with Kyla. This is the final part of our conversation about the book Daily Rituals by Mason Currey. In the previous episode we talked about dealing with distractions and interruptions when …

040 – Daily Rituals part 5 of 5 – Real English Conversations Keep reading »

030- Perfectionism and Procrastination 2 – Real English Conversations

Lori and her Dutch friend Yvette continue their discussion of perfectionism, focusing on how it can cause problems for foreign language learners.

Intermediate English reading

Linguapress.com.

• English grammar
• Advanced reading
• Intermediate reading
• Language games and puzzles

Reading texts for intermediate  English - CEF levels B1 and B2

1.  topics about life in britain, britain in general.

• NEW   Charles III, his coronation and the future   New  audio
• NEW   London Fashion - London is the world capital of fashion
• NEW   Remembering Queen Elizabeth - simple English   New  audio
• NEW   Britain's new king  With  audio - Queen Elizabeth II has died. God save the King.
• The Commonwealth .  After the United Nations, it is the world's largest grouping of nations ..
• Britain - a nation of cat-lovers  -  New  audio A touching story about an old lady and her cats: interactive
• The tradition of Christmas cards .  People have been sending Xmas cards in England since 1843.
• Christmas in England With  audio - Christmas is the biggest... and longest... festival in the year.
• Christmas shopping  For many people, it is the most important aspect of Christmas.
• Britain, that island   With  audio - Why did Britain vote for Brexit? Is Britain really so different ? Easy intermediate English
• Living in the Highlands. What is it like to live in the Highlands of Scotland, specially for young people?
• The wind farm controversy - Conservationists oppose plans to modernise a wind farm.
• Moving to the Country - With  audio   More and more people want to live the rural life, but....
• Leaving home - Leaving home is part of the teenage dream, particularly in Britain. But the dream is often a long way from reality.
• Black and British; an extended document .  A full Focus on minorities in Britain.
• No more Fish 'n' Chips?  a look at Britain's original fast food
• Scouting moves ahead . The scout movement is over 100 years old, and still going strong.
• English ghost stories   New  audio Fact or fiction?
• The Mother of Parliaments!  The English / British parliament is almost 1000 years old. 
• Cambridge new and old - The historic university city is the heart of Britain's "Silicon Fen".
• NEW   Polluting for pleasure ? - B1 - a dialogue in simple English
• Pollution - someone else's problem - a humorous dialogue on a serious subject.
• Dialogue: School uniforms  With  audio -  British school pupils discuss the pros and the cons
• Dialogue: Work  British school pupils talk about work
• Dialogue: Drugs  British school pupils discuss drugs – now less cool than they used to be
• Dialogue: Talking about "culture"  What is culture? And do teenagers get enough of it?
• Dialogue: Are you a brand slave? British teens discuss designer clothes
• Dialogue: Fast food, OK ?  With  audio - British teens discuss fast food. 
• NEW   Black taxis going green .  London's iconic black taxis are changing.
• My name is Bond .  An imaginary interview with James Bond.
• New Life for Big Ben.  With  audio . London's iconic clock is being renovated.
• Charlie Chaplin and the Little Tramp .  A classic story of "rags to riches".
• Sherlock Holmes is getting old  - The famous detective first appeared in 1887. - over 130 years ago.
• Still No. 1 in 2023 ! Music : the Beatles - Fifty years on, they are still among the best-selling groups in the world.
• Robin Hood - Fact or fiction ?  Did this popular hero really exist?
• The Loch Ness Monster - does it really exist?
•   Who is James Bond ?
•   The story of the BBC - Britain's main broadcaster is one of the most important in the world
•   The men who guard the King With  audio - who are the red-coated guards outside Buckingham Palace ?
• New Life for Big Ben.  With  audio .  London's iconic clock has been renovated.
•   London in the Sea ? - Britain's capital city is at serious risk from rising sea levels.
• The story of London - Britain's capital city, once the biggest city in the world, is over 2000 years old.
• Big red London buses  With  audio   -  the story of London's famous routemaster buses
• London : Madame Tussaud's -  Where you can be sure to see the celebrities every day
• London: the Lord Mayor's show .  One of the biggest free shows in the world.
• London: the Great River Race  London's other marathon
• Britain: sport cuts crime.  In Bristol, a new football league is making its mark
• Sport: The story of the Derby - With  audio - The oldest and most famous horse race in the world.
• Sport: The story of football and rugby - and how football came from England to Brazil.
• More resources coming

2. Topics with a North-American theme

• NEW    American Indians -  New  audio - Also known as Native Americans, they are the original inhabitants of the USA 
• Alcohol, Prohibition and Al Capone B1 level, a simple but interesting text with interactive worksheet.
• Profession : Cowboy New  audio   There are still cowboys working today in the American west
• George Washington  -  With  audio - the story of America's first president
• Hollywood & Superheroes    New  audio

• USA: Still looking for Gold  Out west, the gold rush is not yet over...
• USA: who was Buffalo Bill? With  audio - Remembering one of America's great folk heroes .
• USA: Team sports, American style  Why do the USA and Europe have different sports?
• Elvis - he's still the "King" and his home Graceland, in Memphis, is a major tourist attraction.
• The story of Silicon Valley  What is Silicon valley, where is it, and why ?
• The story of Coca-Cola.   New  audio  The name "Coca-Cola" is the best-known name in the whole world.
• The story of Blue Jeans. The world's most popular garment was first created in 1873
• Hollywood - its life and times A short story of Hollywood, in easy English.
• America's oil - a love affair Americans use a lot of energy; but the cost of oil is going up.
• USA: Winter sports USA  Americans love winter sports, because their winters are so cold
• USA: Close encounters with a Twister  -  A tornado strikes....
• Go West, young man! The phrase that built America  - With  audio
• Plastic pollution; how can we stop it? - With  audio

3. Other resources - short stories, technical English, songs, cartoons

•  Looking for the yeti .  Does this legendary creature really exist ?
•   Humour and jokes .  in easy English

Short stories - teenage fiction  ( ► see also short stories )

• NEW    Short story: Dr. Trelew's Encounter - (B1) a Victorian mystery with worksheet and  audio
• NEW    Short story: Dance Macabre  - (B1) a short story from the USA with worksheets and  audio
• NEW   Short story: Driftwood  - (B2) a short story from England with worksheet and  audio
• Short story: the Wimp .  Teenage fiction, in two parts, with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - The Girl in the Denim Jacket , a story in two parts with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - The Trap , a story in two parts
• Mystery : The Titanic and the Temple of Doom  Did this really happen ?
• Short story: the Box  - a short story in two parts with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - One Foggy Night - teenage fiction -  a short story in two parts with worksheets and  audio
• Short Story - The path to High Crag , a story in two parts
• Song: I would if I could.  An English learning song; theme, modal verbs (+ audio )
• Song: the Titanic.   A popular folk song, with words (+  audio )

Technical subjects

• NEW   Storing electricity - the big challenge . The sun doesn't shine at night, and sometimes the wind stops blowing....
• NEW   Climate change: can we stop it ? -  Or are we heading for disaster? With  audio
• Polluting for pleasure ? -  a dialogue in simple English
•   Short text: The car of the future?  An easy text in semi-technical English.  With  audio
•   Will there be life after oil?  What will happen when the oil runs out ?  With  audio
•   Short text: Holidays in space  With  audio   An easy text in semi-technical English
•   The story of Silicon Valley  What is Silicon valley, where is it, and why ?
• Short text: Living without energy  A short text in semi-technical English
• The legendary Mini Cooper - Semi-technical English
• The story of the bicycle - semi technical English
•    Cartoon - MacBrain & MacBrawn 1 - Fiona McBelle -          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 2 : A Walk in the hills         MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 3 : The Sales         MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 4 : Wishful thinking          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 5 : The motorbike          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 6 : Another dinner date          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 7 : African safari ?          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 8 : A new job...          MacBrain & MacBrawn - cartoon 9 : Hang-gliding champion...    and more to come.

4.  Go to > Intermediate Puzzles and word games

English for a2 b1 and b2 levels. intermediate english reading resources .

Simplified English ?

Schools, teachers .

Search form

Are you an upper intermediate (CEFR level B2) learner of English? Practise and improve your reading skills with these texts and exercises.

Choose a lesson

Are celebrities bad for you?

What's wrong with enjoying a bit of celebrity gossip? It doesn't do us any harm ... or does it? Read the article to find out if celebrities really are bad for you.

• Log in or register to post comments

Are zoos a good thing?

How do you feel about keeping animals in zoos? Read both sides of the argument to help you decide.

Choosing a musical instrument

Have you ever thought about taking up a musical instrument? Here's the perfect guide for you.

Are you suffering from FOMO – that is, Fear Of Missing Out? Research shows that a growing number of young people are, with worrying consequences for their sleep and schoolwork. Read the blog post to find out more.

Leaving home

Leaving your family home to go to university is not always easy. Read the advice from a first-year student and her dad to get two points of view on the experience.

Study problems – help is here

Are you going crazy with the amount of homework and exams you've got? Never fear, help is here ... in the form of E-tutor's online problem page.

The end of life on Earth?

Could a meteorite collision really mean the end of life on Earth? Read this to find out what happens when small meteorites collide with Earth, and just how much damage a big one could do.

The Facebook party that became a riot

How did a quiet 16th birthday celebration turn into a full-scale riot? Read this to find out what happened when a Dutch teenager made a Facebook error.

The history of graffiti

Is graffiti a vibrant urban art form or senseless vandalism? When did graffiti first become popular? Read this article to find out about the history of street art and hear from both sides of the debate.

The world's weirdest food

How hungry would you have to be to eat a brain sandwich? What about some fried spider? Read this to find out about the world's weirdest food.

Video games are good for you!

You know all those people that told you that video games are bad for you? They were wrong. Read this to find out more.

Your digital footprint

Every time you do anything on the internet you leave a trail behind you, in the same way you leave a footprint when you walk on sand or mud. Do you know how to take care of your digital footprint? Here are some tips.

Sign up to our newsletter for LearnEnglish Teens

We will process your data to send you our newsletter and updates based on your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of every email. Read our privacy policy for more information.

A short story extract

Read a section from a short story to practise and improve your reading skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation

Matching_MjIzMjk=

Sam squinted against the sun at the distant dust trail raked up by the car on its way up to the Big House. The horses kicked and flicked their tails at flies, not caring about their owner's first visit in ten months. Sam waited. Mr Carter didn't come out here unless he had to, which was just fine by Sam. The more he kept out of his boss's way, the longer he'd have a job.

Carter came by later while Sam was chopping wood. Carter lifted his hat as if he were waiting for an appointment with the town priest, and then removed it completely as if he were talking to his mother. He pulled out a pile of paper from his back pocket and held it out.

'Don't pick up your mail often, do you?'

Sam took it without a glance and dropped the envelopes onto the bench.

'Never,' he replied and waited for Carter to say why he was here. The fact it was Carter's house was no explanation and they both knew it. Carter twisted his hat round and round, licking his lips and clearing his throat.

'Nice work fixing those fences,' he said finally.

'I'll be back to the beginning soon,' Sam said. It wasn't a complaint. A fence that took a year to repair meant another year's work to the man who did it well.

'Don't you ever want to take a holiday?'

'And go where?' A holiday meant being back out in the real world, a place even people like Carter travelled to escape from. Sam's escape was his reality and he wasn't going back.

Mr Carter wiped the sweat from the back of his neck. The damp patches on his shirt drew together like shapes in an atlas. His skin was already turning ruddy in the June sun. Otherwise he had the indoor tan of a man that made money while other people did the work.

'I've brought my son with me on this trip. He's had some trouble at school.' Mr Carter's eyes flicked up, blinked rapidly and then shifted back to the hat occupying his hands. 'Not much trouble out here for a young boy.' He attempted a laugh but it came out like a dog's bark.

The two men looked towards the northern end of the property. It stretched as far as the eye could see. Even the fences were barely visible from where they stood. However bored and rebellious a teenage boy might get, it wasn't possible to escape on foot. Sam looked at the biggest of the horses, kicking at the ground with its heavy hooves. Could the boy ride? he wondered. There was a whole load of trouble a good rider could get into out here, miles away from anyone. But maybe there was even more trouble for someone who knew nothing about horses and wanted to get away from his father.

Why do you think Mr Carter has brought his son to the farm?

Language level

"Why do you think Mr Carter has brought his son to the farm?"

I think it is because he wants to keep him away from trouble. I expect the boy to feel his father is too controlling when he needs freedom. That's why he rebels and makes trouble at school. But the father doesn't understand, and he thinks that keeping him away from people will do good for him. 

• Log in or register to post comments

I think Mr Carter brought his son to the farm to teach him a moral life lesson.He wanted to show him that having a high standard living come out with the hard work and time is so precious to waste it.Plus he wanted to introduce him to a hard-working boy named Sam who has never taken a holiday before as he has to work all day for his living.

I think he wants to keep him away from the trouble he made at school

I think Mr Carter cannot find a common language with his son because of a lack of trust. From the narrative, we know that his son has problems with sth. So, I guess that Mr Carter sent him to the farm to avoid doing sth with the problems of his son and shift the responsibility for upbringing to Sam.

In my opinion Mr Carter brought his son to the farm because of his problems in school. Text does not give us an explanation of what kind of problems it was. My assumption that Mr Carter actually took his son to the farm to make him have more life experience. The boy would grow up physically and mentally so his old school problems will seem a lot easier than before.

I think Mr. Carter brought his son to the farm to allow him to settle down in a natural environment with animals. This way, he can reflect on and potentially address any behavioral issues.

I think, to keep him away from the trouble that his son made .

Maybe he thought, that living at the farm would help his son to improve, realise his mistakes. But I don`t really think it would help

Mr Carter brought his son to the farm because he was worried and tried to figure out how to help him. In my opinion, Mr Carter thought that spending time with his son and change of the environment could be beneficial for the boy.

I'm not sure if the text could give the correct answer to this question. I believe Mr. Carter would like to teach something to your son because he’d have trouble in school, or it might be that Mr. Carter built his life working hard and his son doesn’t care about his father's life.

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.  

English Current

ESL Lesson Plans, Tests, & Ideas

• North American Idioms
• Business Idioms
• Idioms Quiz
• Idiom Requests
• Proverbs Quiz & List
• Phrasal Verbs Quiz
• Basic Phrasal Verbs
• North American Idioms App
• A(n)/The: Help Understanding Articles
• The First & Second Conditional
• The Difference between 'So' & 'Too'
• The Difference between 'a few/few/a little/little'
• The Difference between "Other" & "Another"
• Check Your Level
• English Vocabulary
• Verb Tenses (Intermediate)
• Articles (A, An, The) Exercises
• Prepositions Exercises
• Irregular Verb Exercises
• Gerunds & Infinitives Exercises
• Discussion Questions
• Speech Topics
• Argumentative Essay Topics
• Top-rated Lessons
• Intermediate
• Upper-Intermediate
• Reading Lessons
• View Topic List
• Expressions for Everyday Situations
• Travel Agency Activity
• Present Progressive with Mr. Bean
• Work-related Idioms
• Adjectives to Describe Employees
• Writing for Tone, Tact, and Diplomacy
• Speaking Tactfully
• Advice on Monetizing an ESL Website
• Teaching your First Conversation Class
• How to Teach English Conversation
• Teaching Different Levels
• Teaching Grammar in Conversation Class
• Members' Home
• Update Billing Info.
• Cancel Subscription
• North American Proverbs Quiz & List
• North American Idioms Quiz
• Idioms App (Android)
• 'Be used to'" / 'Use to' / 'Get used to'
• Ergative Verbs and the Passive Voice
• Keywords & Verb Tense Exercises
• Irregular Verb List & Exercises
• Non-Progressive (State) Verbs
• Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
• Present Simple vs. Present Progressive
• Past Perfect vs. Past Simple
• Subject Verb Agreement
• The Passive Voice
• Subject & Object Relative Pronouns
• Relative Pronouns Where/When/Whose
• Commas in Adjective Clauses
• A/An and Word Sounds
• 'The' with Names of Places
• Understanding English Articles
• Article Exercises (All Levels)
• Yes/No Questions
• Wh-Questions
• How far vs. How long
• Affect vs. Effect
• A few vs. few / a little vs. little
• Boring vs. Bored
• Compliment vs. Complement
• Die vs. Dead vs. Death
• Expect vs. Suspect
• Experiences vs. Experience
• Go home vs. Go to home
• Had better vs. have to/must
• Have to vs. Have got to
• I.e. vs. E.g.
• In accordance with vs. According to
• Lay vs. Lie
• Make vs. Do
• In the meantime vs. Meanwhile
• Need vs. Require
• Notice vs. Note
• 'Other' vs 'Another'
• Pain vs. Painful vs. In Pain
• Raise vs. Rise
• So vs. Such
• So vs. So that
• Some vs. Some of / Most vs. Most of
• Sometimes vs. Sometime
• Too vs. Either vs. Neither
• Weary vs. Wary
• Who vs. Whom
• While vs. During
• While vs. When
• Wish vs. Hope
• 10 Common Writing Mistakes
• 34 Common English Mistakes
• First & Second Conditionals
• Comparative & Superlative Adjectives
• Determiners: This/That/These/Those
• Check Your English Level
• Grammar Quiz (Advanced)
• Vocabulary Test - Multiple Questions
• Vocabulary Quiz - Choose the Word
• Verb Tense Review (Intermediate)
• Verb Tense Exercises (All Levels)
• Conjunction Exercises
• List of Topics
• Business English
• Games for the ESL Classroom
• Pronunciation
• Teaching Your First Conversation Class
• How to Teach English Conversation Class

2022 News in Review (Upper-Intermediate Lesson)

• As a warm-up, students brainstorm a list of the top local, national, and international news stories of 2022.
• The reading passage presents 13 major news items from 2022. As students read, they also fill in the clozes (blanks) to match the news items.
• Post-reading activities include a review of past perfect , two role-play scenarios and a presentation on tips for fighting inflation.
• All lessons come with warm-up questions and discussion questions. This lesson also includes two extra activities on page four.

UPPER-INTERMEDIATE 2022 News Review Lesson Plan (EFL)

Warm-up questions (pair work).

• How was 2022 for you? What were the high and low points? Did you accomplish your goals?
• Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2023?
• How is New Year celebrated in your culture?

2022 ESL News Lesson Plan: Brainstorm (Group Work)

In pairs or groups, make a list of the major events of 2022. Include local, national, and international news. When finished, present your list of news items to the class and discuss them as a group.

Membership is required to view this post. Please support EnglishCurrent by becoming a member today. Members, please log in . -- Lesson plan about 2022 News by Matthew Barton of EnglishCurrent.com (copyright). Site members may photocopy and edit the file for their classes. Permission is not given to rebrand the lesson, redistribute it on another platform, or sell it as part of commercial course curriculum. For questions, contact the author.

Article answers: Ukraine, Yangtze, Boris Johnson, Pakistan, Charles III, Iran, Xi Jinping, eight, China, Argentina

Vocabulary Answers: 1-b, 2-h, 3-a, 4-k, 5-j, 6-i, 7-g, 8-f, 9-e, 10-d, 11-c

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

20 Best for upper intermediate english learners Books to Read in 2021 | Book List

After an entertaining book to read? Looking for the perfect book to gift to your dad/mother/sister/anyone. This article showcases our top picks for the best for upper intermediate english learners books. 

Best for upper intermediate english learners Books

Looking for a book to read in 2021? Explore this list of the best for upper intermediate english learners books. This list was curated with thanks to ISBNdb and images partially provided by Unsplash.

If you have a book suggestion, feel free to drop it in the moderated comment section at the bottom of the article.

Test Your Business Vocabulary In Use Advanced (cambridge Professional English)

Test Your Business Vocabulary In Use Advanced (cambridge Professional English) by Joy Godwin, Lyn Strutt was published in 2005. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 0521611504.

Information provided with thanks to  isbndb.com  and  unsplash.com

Author : Joy Godwin, Lyn Strutt

Date Published : 2005

Publisher : Cambridge University Press

ISBN :0521611504

Business Vocabulary In Use Advanced (cambridge Professional English)

Business Vocabulary In Use Advanced (cambridge Professional English) by Bill Mascull was published in 2004. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 0521540704.

Author : Bill Mascull

Date Published : 2004

ISBN :0521540704

New Insights Into Business Toeic Workbook New Edition

New Insights Into Business Toeic Workbook New Edition by Graham Tullis, Tonya Trappe, Susan Power was published in 2004. It was officially published by Longman and has the ISBN: 0582838037.

Author : Graham Tullis, Tonya Trappe, Susan Power

Publisher : Longman

ISBN :0582838037

Oxford English-english-malay Dictionary

Oxford English-english-malay Dictionary by Oup/oxford Fajar was published in 2018. It was officially published by and has the ISBN: 9834725868.

Author : Oup/oxford Fajar

Date Published : 2018

Publisher :

ISBN :9834725868

Upper Intermediate Matters: Pt. A

Upper Intermediate Matters: Pt. A by Roger Gower, Jan Bell was published in 1993. It was officially published by N/a and has the ISBN: 0582092671.

Author : Roger Gower, Jan Bell

Date Published : 1993

Publisher : N/a

ISBN :0582092671

Work on Your Vocabulary: A Practice Book for Learners at Upper Intermediate Level (Collins Work on Your)

Work on Your Vocabulary: A Practice Book for Learners at Upper Intermediate Level (Collins Work on Your) by Collins UK was published in 2013-02-01T00:00:01Z. It was officially published by HarperCollins UK and has the ISBN: 0007499655.

Author : Collins UK

Date Published : 2013-02-01T00:00:01Z

Publisher : HarperCollins UK

ISBN :0007499655

The New Cambridge English Course 1 Student’s book

The New Cambridge English Course 1 Student’s book by Swan, Michael, Walter, Catherine was published in . It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 052140973X.

Author : Swan, Michael, Walter, Catherine

Date Published :

ISBN :052140973X

Intonation In Context Audio Cd: Intonation Practice For Upper-intermediate And Advanced Learners Of English

Intonation In Context Audio Cd: Intonation Practice For Upper-intermediate And Advanced Learners Of English by Barbara Bradford was published in 2011. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 0521187451.

Author : Barbara Bradford

Date Published : 2011

ISBN :0521187451

Macbeth (British English): Classic Graphic Novel Collection

Macbeth (British English): Classic Graphic Novel Collection by Classical Comics was published in 2008-09-05T00:00:01Z. It was officially published by Heinle ELT and has the ISBN: 1424028701.

Author : Classical Comics

Date Published : 2008-09-05T00:00:01Z

Publisher : Heinle ELT

ISBN :1424028701

Vantage by J. A. van Ek, Trim J. L. M. was published in December 2000. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 052156705X.

Author : J. A. van Ek, Trim J. L. M.

Date Published : December 2000

ISBN :052156705X

Vantage (paperback Or Softback)

Vantage (paperback Or Softback) by Ek, J. A. Van was published in 2000. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press 12/14/2000 and has the ISBN: 052156705x.

Author : Ek, J. A. Van

Date Published : 2000

Publisher : Cambridge University Press 12/14/2000

ISBN :052156705x

Russian Reader : Pre-intermediate. Anna Karenina By L. Tolstoy (adapted Graded Russian Reader, Annotated)

Russian Reader : Pre-intermediate. Anna Karenina By L. Tolstoy (adapted Graded Russian Reader, Annotated) by Kristina Malidovskaya was published in 2016. It was officially published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform and has the ISBN: 1533518777.

Author : Kristina Malidovskaya

Date Published : 2016

Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN :1533518777

Professional English In Use Law

Professional English In Use Law by Gillian D. Brown, Sally Rice was published in 2007-05-21. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 0521685427.

Author : Gillian D. Brown, Sally Rice

Date Published : 2007-05-21

ISBN :0521685427

English Vocabulary In Use Upper-intermediate Book With Answers: Vocabulary Reference And Practice

English Vocabulary In Use Upper-intermediate Book With Answers: Vocabulary Reference And Practice by Mccarthy, Michael, O’dell, Felicity was published in 2017. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 1316631753.

Author : Mccarthy, Michael, O’dell, Felicity

Date Published : 2017

ISBN :1316631753

Death On The Nile: B1 (collins Agatha Christie Elt Readers)

Death On The Nile: B1 (collins Agatha Christie Elt Readers) by Agatha Christie was published in 2017. It was officially published by Harpercollins Uk and has the ISBN: 0008249687.

Author : Agatha Christie

Publisher : Harpercollins Uk

ISBN :0008249687

Communicator 1

Communicator 1 by Molinsky, Steven, Bliss, Bill was published in 1994-10-13T00:00:01Z. It was officially published by Pearson Education ESL and has the ISBN: 0133016498.

Author : Molinsky, Steven, Bliss, Bill

Date Published : 1994-10-13T00:00:01Z

Publisher : Pearson Education ESL

ISBN :0133016498

Intermediate Activities For English Language Learners

Intermediate Activities For English Language Learners by Lee Colman was published in 2000. It was officially published by Natl Textbook Co and has the ISBN: 0844274054.

Author : Lee Colman

Publisher : Natl Textbook Co

ISBN :0844274054

Cambridge English For Job-hunting

Cambridge English For Job-hunting by Colm Downes was published in 2009. It was officially published by India Book Mart and has the ISBN: 0521144701.

Author : Colm Downes

Date Published : 2009

Publisher : India Book Mart

ISBN :0521144701

Longman Collocations Dictionary And Thesaurus Cased With Online

Longman Collocations Dictionary And Thesaurus Cased With Online by Michael Mayor, Pearson Education was published in 2013. It was officially published by Pearson Longman and has the ISBN: 1408252252.

Author : Michael Mayor, Pearson Education

Date Published : 2013

Publisher : Pearson Longman

ISBN :1408252252

Infotech: English For Computer Users

Infotech: English For Computer Users by Santiago Remacha Esteras was published in 2003. It was officially published by Cambridge University Press and has the ISBN: 0521754291.

Author : Santiago Remacha Esteras

Date Published : 2003

ISBN :0521754291

20 Best upper intermediate Books to Read in 2021 | Book List

20 best for upper intermediate learners books to read in 2021 | book list.

© 2020 by Fupping Media

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Privacy policy.

To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website.

Add to Collection

Public collection title

Private collection title

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.

Your browser is not supported

Sorry but it looks as if your browser is out of date. To get the best experience using our site we recommend that you upgrade or switch browsers.

Find a solution

• Skip to main content
• Skip to navigation
• Macmillan English
• Onestopenglish
• Digital Shop

• Back to parent navigation item
• Sample material
• Amazing World of Animals
• Amazing World of Food
• Arts and Crafts
• Mathematics
• Transport and Communication
• Teaching Tools
• Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
• Support for Teaching Children
• Vocabulary & Phonics
• Spelling Bee Games
• Phonics & Sounds
• The Alphabet
• Onestop Phonics: The Alphabet
• Alphabet Booklet
• Interactive Flashcards
• Warmers & Fillers
• Young Learner Games
• Stories and Poems
• Fillers & Pastimes
• Fun Fillers
• Ready for School!
• Topics & Themes
• Young Learner Topics
• Young Learner Festivals
• Festival Worksheets
• Art and Architecture
• Business and Tourism
• Geography and the Environment
• Information Technology
• Science and Nature
• Topic-based Listening Lessons
• Cambridge English
• Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET)
• Cambridge English: First (FCE)
• Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
• General English
• News Lessons
• Topics and Themes
• Beyond (BrE)
• Beyond: Arts and Media
• Beyond: Knowledge
• Go Beyond (AmE)
• Go Beyond: Arts & Media
• Go Beyond: Knowledge
• Impressions
• Macmillan Readers
• A Time to Travel
• Life & School
• Skills for Problem Solving
• Digital Skills for Teens
• Support for Teaching Teenagers
• Games Teaching Materials
• Business and ESP
• Business Lesson Plans
• Business Skills Bank
• Business Top Trumps
• Elementary Business Lessons
• HR Management
• Business News Lessons
• ESP Lesson Plans
• Career Readiness
• Professional Communication Skills
• Cambridge English: Business (BEC)
• Everyday Life
• Celebrations
• Live from...
• Live from London
• Discussion Cards
• Writing Lesson Plans
• Life Skills
• Support for Teaching Adults
• Vocabulary Lesson Plans
• Language for...
• Vocabulary Teaching Materials
• Macmillan Dictionary Blog
• Vocabulary Infographics
• Kahoot! Quizzes
• Blog Articles
• Professional Development
• Lesson Share
• Methodology: Projects and Activities
• Methodology: Tips for Teachers
• Methodology: The World of ELT
• Advancing Learning
• Online Teaching
• More from navigation items

All Intermediate articles

Interactive Flashcards: Moving Around Town

Introduce your students to the vocabulary they need to talk about different locations with this set of Interactive Flashcards.

Business News Lessons: Forever Young: when is it time to step down?

Is it appropriate to take age into account when hiring a new CEO?

Will other cities copy Paris decision to hike parking charges for SUVs?

SUVs have become a trend in cities around the world. Should they be banned from crowded city centres?

‘I was thrilled and shocked’: images raise hopes of return of wild jaguars to the US

Jaguars were believed to be extinct, but recent sightings in the US have given hope to animal conservationists.

Business News Lessons: EV batteries: the green option that could be greener

Are Electric Vehicles, and the batteries that power them, as green as they claim to be?

Can motivational speeches pump up your gym performance?

Can motivational speeches boost your performance at the gym, work, or school?

$2bn woman: how Sheryl Sandberg became one of tech’s most successful bosses

Meet Sheryl Sandberg and learn about her legacy in one of the largest companies in the world.

Why I quit complaining about cyclists, scrapped my car and chose public transport

Should cities invest in better infrastructure to promote alternative transportation options?

I’m only seeing bands I loved when I was 14. Am I in a musical rut – or is this growing up?

Does the music we listen to in our teenage years become our favourite for the rest of our lives?

Business News Lessons: Active listening? We’re all ears.

Discuss with your students the importance of active listening in business and how to practise it.

Does an unhappy partner make you less happy?

Discuss with your students how our good or bad mood may affect our significant other.

Professional Communication Skills: Timing Yourself During Presentations

Use these materials to deliver an online or face-to-face lesson on timing oneself during a presentation.

French miss: is the future of movie kissing in jeopardy?

Have you ever wondered if two actors kissing in a movie are actually kissing?

A moment that changed me: I had a heart attack at 37 – so I went to live in a cave

How can a near-death experience alter drastically the way we live?

Business News Lessons: Employers wake up to the power of a staff nap

Discuss with your students the power of napping and other well-being trends during work hours.

Schools in England using Airbnb-style strategy to raise funds

Read about the innovative approach being taken by schools in England to address the issue of underfunding.

The best apps for nature lovers – from identifying birdsong to tracking lions

Can our mobile phones enhance the experience of being outdoors?

Business News Lessons: How would you describe yourself … honestly?

How accurate are psychological tests when used for recruiting?

Shouting at children can be as damaging as physical abuse, study says

Discuss with your students the adverse effects of verbal abuse on children’s well-being and development.

Onestopenglish Quizzes: Christmas & Winter

Have fun with your students throughout the holiday season with this jolly Christmas quiz.

• Previous Page

Join onestopenglish today

With more than 700,000 registered users in over 100 countries around the world, Onestopenglish is the number one resource site for English language teachers, providing access to thousands of resources, including lesson plans, worksheets, audio, video and flashcards.

• Connect with us on Facebook
• Connect with us on Twitter
• Connect with us on Youtube

Onestopenglish is a teacher resource site, part of Macmillan Education, one of the world’s leading publishers of English language teaching materials.

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie policy
• Manage cookies

©Macmillan Education Limited 2023. Company number: 1755588 VAT number: 199440621

Site powered by Webvision Cloud