Home reading English translation. Download books in English. Mr Bean in the City - Mr. Bean Bean In Town

"Harry Potter" in English is read not only very easily, but much more interesting than in Russian. There is nothing to say about Alice in Wonderland: no matter how many talented translations there are, all puns can only be fully appreciated in the original. In general, reading in English is correct and useful. And we will help you choose a book for your level, so that it is also pleasant.

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Dr. Seuss

Any English-speaking child will confirm: Dr. Seuss will not advise bad. If you love to read, but are afraid to start with a voluminous and full-bodied English novel, don't worry. Especially for educational purposes, publishing houses produce adapted books in English: for beginners, for the intermediate level, and so on. Yes, you will get a complete picture of the work of art a little later, but congratulate yourself on the first read English book You can already from the Elementary level!

1. Reading in English increases vocabulary

Reading in a foreign language enriches vocabulary, even if we ourselves do not realize it. Of course, in order to learn new vocabulary more effectively, it is better to read a book, writing out unfamiliar words and memorizing their translation. When choosing books to read, be guided by your learning goals: if you need colloquial speech, pay attention to modern “light” prose, but if you want to master special vocabulary, the most obvious advice is to read literature from your professional interests.

2. Reading improves spelling

English spelling is full of mysteries and surprises. The spelling of many words defies logic: you just have to memorize. And the best way to do this is to read more English-language literature so that the images of words are stored in memory.

3. Reading expands your horizons

E-books and blogs, news sites and feeds social networks: reading in the twenty-first century has reached a new level. A single information space makes it possible to learn about what is happening in the most remote corners of the world, to join the world's cultural and scientific heritage.

4. Reading in the original language boosts self-esteem

Listen to how you feel when you finish the last page of your first English novel: the sweetest feeling. “She reads Orwell in the original” sounds proud! Any psychologist will tell you that motivation is important when performing any task. So do not miss the opportunity to praise yourself once again, this one is not at all superfluous! :)

How to choose a book to read

• Choose adapted books in English for your level (see the list of recommended books for levels A2-C1 later in the article).
• Choose works according to your ability: start with short stories, gradually moving to larger literary forms.
• The more exciting the learning, the more effective it is: try to find books that are interesting for you. Detectives, thrillers, mysticism are suitable - or any other topic that awakens your imagination and makes you read the book to the end.

Children's books in English

If you know only a few hundred words in English, pay attention to children's literature: many children's books are also interesting for adults. In addition, children's literature, as a rule, is generously provided with illustrations, which helps to understand the plot.

Interesting fact: the famous children's writer Dr. Seuss, who was discussed earlier in our article, wrote his best book. The Cat in the Hat("The Cat in the Hat"), using only 220 words. This list of the first children's words was compiled by the publisher, obliging the author to use them in his work: everything to earn the love of the target audience!

Free English-language children's books can be found on the Internet. For example, on the KidsWorldFun resource.

Comics in English

Like children's literature, comics are a great way to start reading in a new language. There are a great many genres of comics: there are comics for children, for adults, entertaining and educational.

Film scripts in English

One of the tested and effective methods learning a new language, recommended by many polyglots - to read books in the target language that are already familiar in translation. The same applies to film adaptations: it is useful to read the scripts of the films you have watched. Advantages: the context is known, the plot is clear, you can guess the meaning of new words in the course of the story.

Books in English about personal development and professional literature

Reading them, you kill two birds with one stone: you study the vocabulary that is relevant to you on English language and learn new things on a topic that is important to you. If you are keenly interested in something, why not read about it in English? Another advantage of such literature is that it is easier to read than fiction novels. The style is simpler, the vocabulary is limited to the topic under consideration.

3 "life hacks" for novice readers of English literature

It is not necessary to understand every word

Context is king(context - king)! If you have grasped the main idea of ​​the story, that is enough. Moreover, if you understand everything you read, most likely you have taken a book of a too low level for yourself. Try to find such books where about 70% of the vocabulary will be familiar (the rest will have to be written out and learned).

Read English aloud

It may seem strange, but reading has proven itself to improve pronunciation and listening - if it is reading aloud. By reading aloud, you tune in to the sound range of the language being studied. However, it is important to work on pronunciation and in addition to reading, otherwise the incorrectly “guessed” pronunciation of a particular word may annoy you for years afterwards.

Listen to audiobooks while reading in English

When learning English, in which the same combination of letters can be pronounced in a dozen different ways, it is very important to pay attention to the correct pronunciation of new words. We have already written about the format. When reading an English-language book, you listen to its audio version, voiced by native English speakers. Very handy for learning pronunciation!

Books adapted for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of English (A2-C1)

Level A2 - pre-threshold level (waystage level, elementary level)

	The Fisherman and His Soul - The Fisherman and His Soul Oscar Wilde Level: initial (elementary) Genre: romantic fairy tale Volume: OK. 30000 characters English variant: British A poignant romantic tale about the crazy love of a fisherman dolphin and a mermaid. Download audiobook: mp3 (8 files, 52 minutes, 48 ​​Mb)
	Dracula Bram Stoker Level: initial (elementary) Genre: mysticism, horror Volume: OK. 50000 characters English variant: British A chilling story of eternal love and eternal damnation: this is where all the vampire sagas of our time came from.
	Million Pound Bank Note - The Million Pound Bank Note Mark Twain Level: initial (elementary) Genre: adventure, humor Volume: OK. 25000 characters English variant: American A witty and instructive story about the adventures of a poor man with a million pound note in his pocket. Download audiobook: mp3 (8 files, 30 minutes, 28 Mb)
	Mr Bean in the city Bean In Town Level: initial (elementary) Genre: humor Volume: OK. 20000 characters English variant: British Mr. Bean will always find adventure for his wild little head! The eccentric eccentric continues to amaze and amuse the reader. Download audiobook: mp3 (2 files, 31 minutes, 30 Mb)

Level B1 - threshold or intermediate level (threshold or intermediate)

	The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde Level: medium (intermediate) Genre: fiction Volume: OK. 80000 characters English variant: British What is more important, the beauty of the face or the beauty of the soul? An incredible story about a beautiful mask and the terrible essence of a person. Mr. Grey, are you not the prototype of the hero of "Fifty Shades of Grey"? ..
	Appointment With Death Agatha Christie (Agatha Christie) Level: medium (intermediate) Genre: detective Volume: OK. 125000 characters English variant: British Christie, Poirot, detective. A must read!
	Forrest Gump - Forrest Gump John Escott Level: medium (intermediate) Genre: drama Volume: OK. 45000 characters English variant: American The book is about a man whose fate makes you believe in the impossible.
	Three Men in a Boat Jerome K. Jerome Level: medium (intermediate) Genre: humor Volume: OK. 50000 characters English variant: British Three cheerful friends decided to go on a trip. What came of it - read in the original.

Intermediate level of English (intermediate, B1-B2)

COLLECTION OF TEXTS FOR HOME READING Compiled by: SOLOVIEVA T.I. Students of TSE 222 groups: KSPU PETROZAVODSK 2002 The manual is intended for home reading of students of non-linguistic faculties. The manual includes stories by famous American and English writers. The purpose of this manual is to help students gain knowledge of the English language. In the most interesting and accessible form. After each story, there is a post-text dictionary with translation of words, preparatory exercises are given to activate vocabulary, speech conditions and speech exercises (question-answer discussion of stories, expressions of agreement or disagreement, retelling the content of stories on behalf of actors ), provides the development of reading and speaking skills. The manual uses stories of well-known American and English authors that are interesting in content and accessible in form. The exercises offered after the texts allow organizing consistent work on vocabulary, ensuring control over the understanding of the text and further development of speaking skills based on texts. The manual can be used for 1-2 courses of non-linguistic faculties. 2 dogs and three dollars (after Mark Twain). I have always believed that a man must be honest. “Never ask for money you haven’t earned”, I always said. Now I shall tell you a story which will show you how honest I have always been all my life. A few days ago at my friend's I met General Miles. General Miles was a nice man and we became great friends very quickly. “Did you live in Washington in 1867?”, the General asked me. “Yes, I did”, I answered. “How could so happen that we didn’t meet then?” said General Miles. “General”, said I, “we could meet then, you forget that you were a great general then, and I was a poor young writer whom nobody knew and whose books nobody read”. “You do not remember me”, I thought, “but we met in Washington at that time. I remember it very well. I was poor then and very often I did not have money even for my bread. I had a friend. He was a poor writer too. We lived together. We did everything together: worked, read books, went for walks together. And then we were hungry, we were both hungry. Once we were in need of three dollars. I don't remember why we needed these dollars so much, but I remember that we had to have three dollars by the evening. “We must get these three dollars”, said my friend, “I shall try to get the money, but you must also try”. I went out of the house, but I did not know where to go and how to get the three dollars. For one hour I was walking along the streets of Washington and was very tired. At last I came to a big hotel. “I shall go in and have a rest”, I thought. I went into the hall of the hotel and sat down on a sofa. I was sitting there when a beautiful small dog ran into the hall. It was looking for somebody. The dog was nice and I had nothing to do, so I called it and began to play with it. I was playing with the dog when a man came into the hall. He wore a beautiful uniform and I knew at once that he was General Miles. I knew him by the pictures in the newspapers. “What a beautiful dog,” he said. “Is it your dog?” I did not have time to answer him when he said: “Do you want to sell it? ” When I heard these words I thought about my friend and the three dollars which I had to get. “Well, I… I think…” “Good,” said the General. “How much do you want for it?” “Three dollars” I answered at once. “Three dollars?” he asked. “But it is very little. I can give fifty dollars for it.” “No, no. I only want three dollars.” “Well, it's your dog. If you want three dollars for it, I shall be glad to by your dog.” General Miles paid me three dollars, took the dog, and went up to his room. Ten minutes later an old man came into the hall. He looked round the hall. I could see that he was looking for something. “Are you looking for a dog, sir?” I asked. “Oh yes. Have you seen it? Said the man. “Your dog was here a few minutes ago and I saw how it went away with a man”, I said. “If you want, I shall try to find it for you.” The man was very happy and asked me to help him. “I shall be glad to help you, but it will take some of my time and…” “I am ready to pay you for you time”, cried the man. “How much do you want for it?” “Three dollars.”, I answered. “Three dollars?”, said the man, “but it is a very good dog. I shall pay you ten dollars if you find it for me.” 3 “No, sir. I want three dollars and not a dollar more”, I said. Then I went to General Mile's room. The General was playing with his new book. “I came here to take the dog back”, said I. “But it is not your dog now. I have bought it. I have paid you three dollars for it,” said the General. “I shall give you back your three dollars, but I must take the dog.” “But you have sold it to me, it is my dog ​​now.” “I could not sell it to you, sir, because it was not my dog.” “Do you want to tell me that you took three dollars for a dog that was not yours,” cried the General. “I took the money, but I never said that it was my dog. You asked me how much I wanted for the dog, and I said that I wanted three dollars. But I never told you it was my dog.” General Miles was very angry now. “Give me back my three dollars and take the dog back”, he shouted. When I brought the dog back to his master, he was very happy and paid me three dollars with joy. I was happy too because I had the money, and I felt that I earned it. Now you can see why I say that honesty is the best policy and that a man must never take anything that a man must never take anything that he has not earned. Vocabulary honest honest poor poor enough enough together try try along along be tired be tired at last finally look round ready to bring (brought, brought) bring feel (felt, felt) feel honestly honesty policy Policy Exercises I.Find in text and write out the English equivalents of the following words and phrases: honest; ask; earn; all life; some days ago; make friends; happen; forget; meet once; have enough money; need; try to get (money); relax; sit on the sofa; understand immediately; By photo; sell; buy; (pay; old man; be ready; not a dollar more; pick up (take back); get angry; with joy; best policy. II. Complete the following sentences from the text: 1. I have always believed that… 2. Never ask for money… 3. General Miles was a nice man and we… 4. How could it happen that… 5. I went out of the house … 4 6. I was sitting where when… 7. When we were hungry… 8. I knew at once that… 9. If you want three dollars for it… 10. I could not sell it to you, because… 11. When I brought the dog back to its master… 12. I was happy too because… III. Translate the following sentences into English. Check the translated sentences with the text: 1. A few days ago, at my friend's house, I met General Miles. 2. General Miles was a pleasant person and we soon became great friends. 3. How could it happen that we did not meet then? 4. I was a poor young writer whom no one knew and whose books no one read. 5. We did everything together: worked, read books, walked together. 6. When we were hungry, we were both hungry. 7. I don't remember why we needed these dollars, but I remember that we had to get them by the evening. 8. I left the house, but I did not know where to go and how to get these three dollars. 9. I was playing with a dog when a man entered the hall. 10. “What a beautiful dog,” he said. 11. When I brought the dog to its owner, he was very happy and gladly paid me three dollars. IV.Reproduce parts of the text (situations) in which the following words and phrases are used as key ones. Go beyond these words: 1. a few days ago, a nice man, became grate friends, how could it happen, you forget, a great general, a poor young writer, we met once in Washington. 2. poor, did not have enough money, a friend, lived together, we were both hungry, in need of three dollars, I don’t remember, by the evening, you must also try, I did not know where to go. 3. for an hour, I came to a big hotel, A sofa, a beautiful small dog, I had nothing to do, I was paying, wore a beautiful uniform, by the pictures, is it your dog, I did not have tome , I heard these words, how much do you want, very little, fifty dollars, I shall be glad. 4. an old man, he looked round the hall, are you looking for a dog, a few minutes ago, it went away, to find it, happy, I shall be glad, some of my time, to pay you for you time , ten dollars, not a dollar more. 5. the General was playing, to take the dog back, not your dog, I have paid, I shall give you back, not my dog, I never told you, very angry, give me back, happy, he paid me, I was happy too. V. Please agree or disagree with the following statements. 1. General miles was a nice man. 5 2. General Miles and the author did not meet in Washington. 3. The author was a poor young writer whom nobody knew. 4. The author and his friends were in need of a large sum of money. 5. They knew there to get the money. 6. The dog was nice, and the author called it and began to play with it. 7. General Miles wore in beautiful uniform and the author knew him at once. 8. General Miles paid three dollars, took the dog and went, up to his room. 9. The author took the money, but he never told General Miles that it was his dog. 10. General Miles was not angry at all when the author came to take the dog back. 11. The author was happy because he had the money, and he felt that he had earned it. VI. Answer the questions. Try not to look at the text: 1. Did the author live in Washington in 1867? 2. Why did General Miles forget that they met in Washington? 3. Did the author meet General Miles in Washington/ 4. How did the author and his friend live in Washington? 5. How much money did they need? 6. Did the author know where and how to get the money? 7. Where did the author see the dog? 8. Why did the author know General Miles? 9. Why did General Miles want to buy the dog? 10. Did he pay fifty dollars for a dog? 11. Did he want to give the dog back? 12. Why was the author happy when he got the 3 dollars? VII. Retell the text: 1. on behalf of the author (using exercise III) 2. on behalf of General Miles; 3. on behalf of the owner of the dog. 6 Too well (after O'Henry) Miss Rouse Carrington was a famous actress. She began her life in a little village named Cranberry. But that was long ago. Now she was at the height of her fame, and in the coming season was to perform the leading part in a newly-written comedy. But was to perform the male character in the play? One day a capable young actor by the name of Highsmith called on Mr. Timothy Goldstein, the manager. Highsmith dreamed of being Miss Carrington's partner in the new play. “My boy”, said the Goldstein, “take the part if you con get it. Miss Carrington does not want to listen to any of my suggestions. She say's that all our best actors won't do. You know it is the part of a young farmer. She wants something genuine, a real imitation of county manners. If you want to play the part, you must convince Miss Carrington. I wish you luck, my boy.” Next day Highsmith took the train for Cranberry. He remained there for three days. He found Miss Carrington's family and collected many facts concerning life and people at Cranberry. Then he returned to the city. That same night a small party was sitting at a table in one of the restaurants where actors used to gather when performance was over. The star of that small party was Miss Carrington - gay, happy, at the height of her fame. At half past twelve a plain-dressed flaxen-haired youth entered the restaurant. He seemed very shy and awkward. The moment he entered he upset a chair, and sat awkwardly in another one. He looked shyly around, and then suddenly saw Miss Carrington. He rose and went to her table with a shining smile on his face. “How are you, Miss Rose?”, he said. “Don’t you remember me-Bill Summers-the Summers that lived near the blacksmith’s shop? I think I have grown a little since you left Cranberry. Eliza Perry told me I might see you in the city while I was here”, he went on, “You know, Eliza married Benny, and she says…” “You don’t say so!” interrupted Miss Carrington. Eliza Perry is married! “She married in June”, Grinned the young man, “and the youngest of the Walton girls ran away with a music teacher last arch. Matilda Hockins died from pricking her finger with a needle, and Tom is courting Sally.” “You don't say so!”, exclaimed by Miss Carrington. “Excuse me a while, gentlemen, this is an old friend of mine. Come here, Mr.… What is your name? Oh, yes, Mr. Summers-I shall call you Billy, may I? Come here Billy, and tell me some more.” She led him to an isolated table in a corner. She sat down in front of him and laid her chin upon her hands. “I don’t recollect any Bill Summers”, she said thoughtfully, gazing straight into the innocent blue eyes of the rustic young man. “Miss Rouse”, he said “I called on your family just two or three days ago”. “How is ma?” asked Miss Carrington. Highsmith understood that a bit of pathos was necessary. “She is older than she was, Miss Rose. When I saw her last she was sitting at the door and looking at the road. “Billy,” she said, “I’m waiting for Rosie. She went away down that road and something tells me that she will come back that way again.” When I was leaving”, the young man 7 went on, “I took this rose from a bush by the front door, I thought I might see you in the city and I knew that you would like to have something from Cranberry”. Miss Carrington took the rose with a smile, and got up. “Come to the hotel and see me before you leave the city”, she said. “I'm awfully glad to see you. Well, good night. I'm a little tired. It's tune to go to bed." When she had left the restaurant, Highsmith approached Goldstein, the manager. “It was a brilliant idea”, said the smiling actor, “I’m sure I shall get the part in that play. Miss Carrington will have to confess that my performance was genuine, and that I was a good actor.” “I didn’t hear your conversation,” said Goldstein, “but your make up and acting were O.K. Here's to your success! Call on Miss Carrington early tomorrow, tell her all, and I hope that she will agree to take you as her partner in the play.” Next morning Highsmith, handsome, dressed in the latest fashion, called on Miss Carrington at the hotel. “Is Miss Carrington at home?” he asked the maid. “Miss Carrington has left,” the maid answered, “and will not come back. She has cancelled all her engagements on the stage, and has returned to live in that-what do you call that village? Oh, yes, Cranberry.” Highsmith understood that he had acted too well. Vocabulary Village village at the height leading part main role male male character, role capable capable suggestion offer genuine sincere real real imitation country manners black smith's shop since marry grin grin needle needle court court isolated separate, isolated innocent innocent, naive brilliant brilliant maid maid cancel cancel engagement engagement stage scene 8 Exercises I. Find in the text and write down the English equivalents for these words and phrases: Famous actress; in the heyday of glory; upcoming season; the main role; male character; by name; dreamed of becoming a partner; real imitation; rustic manners; usually met; simply dressed; he seemed shy and awkward; rustic; "can't be"; three days ago; leave the city. II.Check yourself if you remember the story correctly. Complete these sentences according to the text (in a group lesson - orally): 1. She began her life… 2. One day a capable young actor… 3. She wants something… 4. Next day Highsmith… 5. The same night a small party… 6. The moment he entered… 7. Eliza Perry told me… 8. She led him to an isolated table… 9. When I saw her last she… 10. When I was leaving, I… 11. Come to the hotel and… 12. It was a brilliant idea… III. Retell parts of the text using these words and phrases as key words: 1. a famous actress; to perform the leading part; dreamed of being Miss Carrington partner; must convince; collected many facts; returned to the city. 2. Used to gather; the star of that small party; a plain-dressed flaxen-hair youth; upset a chair; “how are you?”; I have grown a little; "you don't say so"; an old friend of mine; an isolated table. 3. Recollect’ I called on your family; ma; was sitting at the door; I am waiting for; I took this rose from a bush; a little tired; a brilliant idea; she will have to confess; she didn't guess; he called on Miss Carrington; she will agree; handsome; canceled all her engagements; Highsmith understood. IV. Express your agreement or disagreement with the following statements. Correct the incorrect options if necessary. Use expressions: I'm afraid that's wrong. I'm afraid this is not true. That's not quite true to the fact. This is not entirely true. That's (quite) right. Quite right. According to the story… According to the story… 1. Miss Carrington lived in a small town named Cranberry. 2. She was a good actress, and she wanted to play a leading part in a newly written comedy. 9 3. Highsmith, the young actor, was to perform the male character in the play. 4. Highsmith collected many facts concerning life and the people at the village where he lived. 5. At half past twelve a young handsome man entered the restaurant. 6. “I'm Mr. Highsmith,” the plain-dressed youth said to Miss Rosie. 7. “When I was leaving,” the young man went on, “your mother took tills rose from a bush by the front door.” 8. Next morning Highsmith called on Miss Carrington at her hotel. V. Answer the questions. Try not to look at the text: 1. What was Miss Carrington by profession? 2. Where did she begin her life? 3. Was she a good or a bad actress? 4. What part did she perform in the coming season? 5. Who called on Mr. Goldstein one day? 6. What did Mr. Highsmith dream of? 7. To whose suggestions didn't Miss Carrington want to listen? 8. What sort of part was it? 9. What did Miss Carrington want? 10. Where did Mr. Highsmith go next day? 11. How long did he remain at Cranberry? 12. What facts did he collect where? 13. Where was a small party of actors sitting when the performance was over? 14. Was Miss Carrington among them? 15. Who entered the restaurant at half past twelve? 16. What was the youth like? 17. What did he do as sat down in a chair? 18. Whom did he “suddenly” see? 19. By what name did he introduce himself? 20. Was Miss Carrington interested in the news from Cranberry? 21. Did she recollect Bill Summers? 22. Whom Miss Carrington asks about? 23. What did Mr. Highsmith understand at that moment? 24. What did he say about her mother? 25. Why did a young man take the rose? 26. Did Miss Carrington ask a young man to come and see her? 27. Whom did Highsmith approach when Miss Carrington had left the restaurant? 28. What did Mr. Goldstein say about his acting? 29. Was Miss Carrington at the hotel next morning? 30. Where had she gone? 31. What did Highsmith understand then? VI. Retell the text: 1. on behalf of the author; 2. on behalf of Highsmith; 3. on behalf of Rosie Carrington, actress. 10

Reading is to our mind what the gym is to our body. In this article, we will give you links to 7 sites with texts to read in English. Try to "pump" your brain!

1. English as a Second Language

This site is suitable for beginners with a level and. All texts are short, they use simple words and elementary grammar - the three tenses of the Simple group. Try to read at least 2-3 texts daily, it will only take 5-10 minutes.

The topics of the texts are different, often they are small jokes. All words are chosen in such a way that the student not only reads texts in English, but also expands his vocabulary. So, you can learn the first phrasal verbs, frequently used words and expressions.

Feature of this resource: Each text is accompanied by an audio recording. The speaker speaks clearly and slowly, which is exactly what beginners need to learn to understand English by ear.

2. English Online

This resource was created specifically for learners of English with a level and above. The texts are not very long, but are full of useful expressions and words.

Articles on various topics are adapted specifically for students: the most frequently used vocabulary and simple grammatical constructions are used. On this moment Several hundred texts on various topics are available for reading on the site. All of them are quite interesting, so this resource contains the optimal proportion of education and entertainment.

Feature of this resource: In all articles, you will see words in bold. This is the vocabulary that you are offered to study. After the text of the article, you will find an English-English dictionary with these words. Thus, the site performs an important function - you can learn new vocabulary on it in context.

3. Short Stories

And this site is suitable for all lovers fiction. There are no adapted texts or dictionaries here, only the stories of English-speaking authors in their unaltered form.

The site presents 8 popular genres: children's literature, detective story, science fiction, horror, humor, non-fiction, novel, science fiction. If you are at the Pre-Intermediate level, try reading children's stories. In these texts, the characters speak quite in simple terms and at the same time their speech is lively, unadapted. From the level you can try to read any stories, it is better to start with small texts favorite genre.

Feature of this resource: the variety of genres of stories on this site will not let even the most demanding reader get bored. In addition, you can sort stories by length. To do this, select any of the genres you are interested in and click on the All stories button, in the tab that opens, you can select stories from 1-2 to 30+ pages long. This is quite convenient: you can choose the text for yourself depending on the availability of free time.

4. Breaking News English

The site is suitable for students from Elementary to who want to keep up to date latest news and improve English. News are sorted by date - from the most recent to the oldest. Sources are indicated for each - if you are interested, you can read them in the relevant media and compare the presentation of information.

For all news, there are reading, listening, vocabulary and writing exercises.

Feature of this resource: the same news is adapted to several levels - see what words and grammatical structures can convey the same information.

5. Infosquares

This site contains only a few dozen texts, but it is worthy of your attention. The resource is suitable for classes for students with an Intermediate level and above.

The resource differs from previous sites in that your task now is not just to read the text and understand the main idea, but to catch even the smallest details. On the tab with any article, you will find not only a link to the text itself, but also a test to check reading comprehension. Therefore, we advise everyone who is preparing for an English exam to pay attention to this resource, because you can “rehearse” the Reading section on this resource.

Feature of this resource: The main purpose of this site is to check how well you understand the text. Therefore, we recommend that you study on this site about once a month, and read other articles the rest of the time. In this way, you will see how quickly your English reading skill is developing and how attentive you are when reading.

6. Study Zone

This site is similar to the previous one: not a large number of materials are more than compensated by the presence of various exercises that test understanding of the text. Here you can study with the level of Pre-Intermediate and above.

Feature of this resource: Of course, the main advantage of this site is the presence of exercises for understanding and memorizing the text. In addition, we must pay tribute to the authors of the site - they have collected for you interesting stories and presented the information in a convenient way.

7. Dreamreader

This resource will be of interest to those who like to read various informative and entertaining articles on the Internet. The site is suitable for students with an elementary level and above.

Most of the texts on this site are presented in the Fun English and Academic English sections. The beauty of the articles is that they are written, albeit in a simple, but lively language. And the topics discussed in the articles are relevant and cover a variety of aspects of life: from body language to fast food, from UFOs to "cat" idioms. Each of the texts is accompanied by a series of questions to help check how well you understood what you read.

Feature of this resource: the site is a 2 in 1 tool. You can not only read the article, but also listen to it. Moreover, the audio recording is suitable even for those who have difficulty with perception. English speech aurally. The speaker speaks clearly and rather slowly, so you can practice your listening skills, and the text will become your assistant in this matter.

There are many other sites on the Internet with texts in English. However, we have recommended the most informative and useful ones for you to study. Read with pleasure, and let English be your best entertainment, an enjoyable activity.

Sections: Foreign languages

Reading in a foreign language is one of the most important learning elements. It broadens the horizons of students, introduces them to the works of foreign authors, develops thinking and imagination, creates additional motivation for learning the language, and much more. All this can be achieved by introducing regular home reading lessons into the learning process. Such lessons will allow the teacher to diversify the forms of work, ensure the practical application of the foreign language studied in traditional lessons, develop skills oral speech when discussing the text, to form various reading skills, to significantly expand the vocabulary of students. However, for this it is not enough to choose a book that is interesting for children and appropriate for their language level. A well-thought-out system of tasks for each chapter is needed, aimed at developing new vocabulary, developing various skills, as well as generalizing games and creative tasks. Unfortunately, despite the rich assortment of multi-level books for reading, most of them are not intended by the authors to work within the lesson system and contain only a few small tasks, usually aimed at checking the general understanding of the text.

We would like to offer our colleagues the developments we have compiled for two books and some guidelines for working with them. We tested 'The Sunbird Mystery' and 'Swiss Family Robinson' (from Macmillan Publishers Ltd's Way Ahead Reading Series) in 5th grade at an MA school. Although the Way Ahead Reading Books are designed for independent reading outside the classroom, they are also ideal for home reading lessons in English. They are engaging in content, written for children and relevant to their interests. The books are rich in vocabulary but not difficult to understand, so reading them remains a pleasure rather than hard work. Books are divided into small chapters, perfect for portioned reading and discussion. Finally, the abundance of colorful illustrations makes it easier to understand the content and increases the motivation to read.

With reading at home and one lesson a week devoted to working with text and discussion, one book will take six months.

For ease of use and efficiency, we have identified the key vocabulary of each chapter and developed a number of tasks. These materials are divided into 3 parts:

1. Worksheet with words and tasks for each student
2. Additional tasks that the teacher can use in the lessons (see Appendix.doc)
3. A set of tasks for a general lesson (see Appendix.doc)

As a rule, the 5th grade is the first year of classical home reading, and we set ourselves the task of teaching children the basic techniques of working with a book and with a text. Here are some basic principles that guided us:

• Only for the first few chapters, the words are given in finished form - with translation. Subsequently, students themselves translate these new words into Russian, using a dictionary and contextual guess, or find English equivalents of these Russian expressions in the text.
• Assignments to the texts are varied in form. Starting from Chapter 3, students are expected to take part in task preparation, compiling, for example, a list of true and false statements according to the content of the chapter.
• We consider retelling to be one of the important types of tasks. In addition to the classic detailed retelling, we used brief retelling content, retelling with factual errors that should be discovered by the listeners, and retelling from the point of view of one of the characters. To facilitate the work of the children, each chapter is given home for the first time to read and complete tasks according to the text, and only the second time, after it has been analyzed in class and vocabulary has been worked out, for retelling.
• The books contain a large number of color illustrations. As one of the types of work, we used the description of pictures using information about the characters already known to students. Since the events in the book are described in the past tense, work at home reading lessons is carried out mainly in Past Simple, and descriptions of pictures in the present tense (Present Continuous, Present Perfect, be going to) are very useful for students and allow you to diversify the forms of work.
• It is extremely useful for children to read aloud, including by roles, for which the live dialogues of ‘The sunbird mystery’ are suitable.
• A general lesson based on the book may include not only a quiz game (in the form of a personal or team competition), but also creative tasks. For example, we invited students to add their own chapter about the adventures of the Robinson family to the book.

Swiss Family Robinson (Part I - Student Worksheet)

Chapter 1 Shipwreck (p.3 - 5)

Answer these questions

1. Find the names of the four boys. What do we know about their age?
2. Find all the names of the animals in this chapter. Are they wild or domestic?
3. Describe the storm: How long was it? How did the people feel? What happened to the ship near land? What did the sailors do?
4. Describe the morning after the storm: What was the weather like? What idea did Fritz have? Why was Jack's idea better? What useful things did the family find? Who found what? Why did the family sleep on the ship?

Chapter 2 Safe on land (p.6 – 9)

1. The family put all their domestic animals on the raft.
2. It was hard to find a safe place to land.
3. Jack took his microscope and looked at the shore.
4. There were a lot of dogs on the island.
5. The family cooked soup over a fire.
6. A small crab caught Jack's leg.
7. At night they slept on the ground.

Chapter 3 Happy to be alive (p.10 – 11)

to plan -
find out (where we are) -
(go) explore
notice (many fruits) -
run ahead -
throwing (coconuts) at … –
island -
On the one side -
on the other side -
rest and go back to the camp -
carry (monkey) -

Write 5 sentences about this chapter – some of them true and some false.

Chapter 4 A new home (p.12–15)

1. Because they wanted to take all useful things before another storm.
2. White.
3. Clothes, furniture, food and seeds.
4. No, it wasn't.
5. First they made a bridge over the stream.
6. They used a rope ladder.
7. mother.

Chapter 5 Daily life (p.16 – 19)

Complete these sentences

1. They were not homesick because …
2. They had beds so…
3. Mother made butter and cheese. She also…
4. The children swam a lot because …
5. Franz wanted a pony but …

Chapter 6 Thanksgiving (p.20–23)

make a mark (notch) with a knife -
at lunch time -
be surprised -
time passed very quickly
win prizes -
set the table -
give (telescope) to someone -
head up) -
in danger -
shaking (Our legs were shaking) -
disappear (in the grass) -
shoot (a snake) to death

Ask questions to match these answers

Chapter 7 Rescue (p.24–28)

The sunbird mystery (Part I - student paper)

Introduction (p.2 – 3)

Chapter 1 Steven's accident (p.4 – 7)

Answer these questions about Chapter 1:

• What do we learn about these people, birds, things or places from the first chapter:

a) Laura, b) Steven, c) the old man, d) a kingfisher, e) a sunbird, f) the blue notebook, g) Kenya

• Why did Laura learn about birds at the university?
• How did Steven start to like birdwatching?
• Where was Steven going one evening?
• Why did Steven crash into an old man?
• What happened when they crashed?
• Whose notebook did Steven bring home? What was in it?
• What did Laura tell Steven about Dr Clarke?
• What did Laura and Steven learn about the sunbird?
• What is Steven going to do with the notebook?

Chapter 2 The house in Cairndale Avenue (p.8-9)

enter the garden
walk the path -
in the pocket -
ring the bell -
touch the door -
to look like an eagle, to look like an eagle
empty -
the room was in disarray
be frightened -
call an ambulance -
dial the number) -
break into the house

true or false? Correct false statements

1. Dr Clarke lived a long way from Steven's house.
2. When Steven rang the bell, Dr Clarke opened the door.
3. Steven was frightened when an enormous eagle flew towards him.
4. Dr Clarke was in his study.
5. Steven saw Dr Clarke first and then he took his notebook from the table.
6. Steven called the police.
7. When the police took Steven home, his father was happy.

Chapter 2 The house in Cairndale Avenue (p.10 – 13)

Ask questions to match these answers

Chapter 4 The secret visit (p.18 – 21)

Chapter 5 Karidian (p.22–23)

Chapter 6 Airport rescue (p.24 – 26)

Ask questions to match these answers

• At the airport.
• No, it was alive.
• Because he wanted to sell it to a rich collector.
• He was giving them instructions.
• The box slipped and fell.
• It flew away.
• The airport police.

Was Karidian really a journalist or was he a criminal? Explain your answer.

Chapter 7

There is a myth that only English speakers can read original books. But today you will be convinced that even a beginner is able to master literary work and understand its meaning (especially if these are adapted books in English for beginners). In addition, you can always click on an unfamiliar word and see its translation.

Why is it so important to read books at an elementary level?

• First, reading books guarantees a deeper immersion in the language than texts from textbooks.
• Secondly, this is a huge plus for self-esteem and motivation, which is very important for further language learning.
• And finally, it is one of the easiest and interesting activities if the appropriate literature is selected.

That's why we found for you the best adapted versions of foreign works(just follow the links). All books have been rewritten by professional linguists and significantly reduced: the average volume of a simplified version is about 10-20 pages, which is quite realistic to read in one evening.

A story about the friendship of two smart mice from France and Great Britain, who are concerned about the fate of Shakespeare's cultural heritage. This book uses direct speech a lot, which means you won't have problems speaking English in the future.

by Mark Twain (beginner - 7 pages) It's hard to find someone who hasn't heard about the thrilling adventures of Tom Sawyer. And reading about them in the original is even more fun. The vocabulary of the story is suitable even for those who "yesterday" began to learn English.

by Sally M. Stockton (elementary - 6 pages) An ageless tale of a brave archer who fights for justice. After reading the book, you can watch one of the many film adaptations.

by Andrew Mathews (elementary - 6 pages) A beautiful story about a teenage girl, Susie, living in the shadow of her more attractive friend Donna. Susie hates her freckles and thinks they make her look ugly. Find out how the story ends and whether Susie's attitude towards herself will change.

by John Escott (elementary - 8 pages) In our selection there was a place for a story about ghosts. The author has a very bright style of narration, so it is difficult to break away from the story. So, you can easily master 8 pages in one go.

by Mark Twain (elementary - 9 pages) Another work of Mark Twain in our selection will delight you with the story of Huckleberry Finn. A great chance to remember your childhood. The adapted version of this children's book is a real boon for the beginner!

More than ten pages - success! Simple books in English for beginners

by Peter Benchley (elementary - 12 pages) An adapted version of the famous "Jaws" - a novel about a great white shark attacking vacationers in a resort town (brrr, horror!). The long, common sentences may make the book difficult for the elementary level, but we believe that 12 pages is no problem for you.

Hercules Serpents Shadows by Timothy Boggs (elementary - 13 pages) If you like myths Ancient Greece and stories about exploits, then the story of Hercules was included in our list especially for you. Get ready to replenish your vocabulary with a couple of dozen epic words.

by Lewis Carroll (elementary - 13 pages) A wonderful opportunity to once again be in Wonderland and learn the names of the characters in English. The book is read very quickly and easily - tested on my own experience in elementary school.

by Jack London (elementary - 15 pages) A heartbreaking story about the life of a dog during the gold rush. The book focuses on the relationship between man and animals. In my opinion, this work is one of the best in our selection in terms of plot and style of writing.

by Roger Lancelyn Green (elementary - 16 pages) A great opportunity to get acquainted with the exploits of King Arthur and the famous knights round table. Welcome to the era of the English Middle Ages.

For those who are serious. Reading books in English for beginners

The second story by Arthur Conan Doyle, dedicated to the investigations of Sherlock Holmes. In the simplified version of the work, the beauty of the story and the mystery of this detective story are perfectly preserved.

by Elizabeth Gaskell (pre-intermediate - 51 pages) The novel "North and South" describes the confrontation between manufacturers and aristocrats during the industrial revolution in England. The book will appeal not only to fans of the romantic classics performed by Jane Austen, but also to those who like historical works.

Books in English with translation for beginners