A change of train platform
Follow a passenger who reads a station notice and finds the correct platform.
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A little English. A bigger world.
Short English
reading practice
For A2 and B1 learners.
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42 reads
A first day on a new team
Read how a new colleague helps her team by asking one practical question.
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A note for a neighbour
Read a short note and follow how two neighbours arrange to return a baking dish.
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Why leaves change colour
Learn why some leaves change colour in autumn through a short, simple explanation.
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Correcting a booking date
Read a hotel email exchange about a wrong booking date. Practise checking arrival and departure details with B1 vocabulary and five questions.
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Choosing an object for a display
Read about choosing an object for a local history display. Practise matching objects to a theme and finding reasons for a choice, with five questions.
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A building maintenance notice
Practise B1 reading with a fictional building maintenance notice about shared spaces and flat repairs, six vocabulary words and five questions with answers.
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Borrowing a classroom projector
Read a fictional equipment-loan message in this A2 lesson. Check what to bring and return, with vocabulary and five questions with answers.
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A quiet hour at the exhibition
Practise B1 reading with a fictional exhibition notice about a quiet hour, six vocabulary words and five questions with answers.
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Why some seeds wait to grow
Learn why some seeds wait to grow in this B1 English reading, with six vocabulary words and five comprehension questions with answers.
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A reply from lost property
Read a fictional lost-property email in this A2 lesson. Practise finding the details needed to identify a bag, with vocabulary and five questions with answers.
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Collecting a parcel
Read a fictional parcel collection card in this A2 lesson. Practise finding dates, places and instructions with vocabulary and five questions with answers.
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Singapore’s Circle Line signs
Practise B1 reading with a report on Singapore’s Circle Line signs, six useful words and five questions with answers.
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Comparing nature notes
Compare two nature notes in this fictional A2 reading, with six vocabulary words and five comprehension questions with answers.
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Clarifying a project deadline
Practise B1 reading with a fictional project email about two deadlines, six vocabulary words and five questions with answers.
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Introducing a club guest
Practise A2 reading with a story about introducing a club guest, six vocabulary words and five questions with answers.
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A new neighbour at the book club
Follow Ada as she joins a book discussion even though she has not finished the story.
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A plan for the weekend
Read a group’s messages and find out how they change their Saturday plans.
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A quiet morning without a phone
Follow a woman’s morning while her phone charges at home. An original everyday story.
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A study plan for a busy week
Follow Omar as he fits a short reading task around work and changes one part of his plan.
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A weekend in an unfamiliar town
Follow a visitor who changes her plans and discovers stories behind old buildings.
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An email about a new shift
Read a work email and find the new shift time, meeting place and reply deadline.
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The Coast to Coast becomes a National Trail
Read about the Coast to Coast Path receiving National Trail status in March 2026.
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Comparing two day trips
Compare two fictional day trips by activities, times and what the price includes.
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Comparing two training courses
Compare two fictional course notices and understand why two learners make different choices.
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Emersons Green prepares for its first repair café
Read a dated announcement about a planned repair event and practise finding its key details.
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Glasgow tries returnable coffee cups
Explore how a returnable cup trial worked and why returning cups matters for reuse.
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How a weather station works
Explore weather measurements, checks and the difference between observations and forecasts.
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How people share family stories
Explore recording family memories, asking permission and keeping track of uncertain details.
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Comparing human and animal sound preferences
Read about a study of sound preferences and understand the limits of its findings.
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An exhibition about ancient oceans
Read about a museum’s advertised ocean exhibition and how it differs from a permanent gallery.
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A new bus link to Norwich
Read an April 2026 report about a bus connection and distinguish news from journey information.
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Native trees in North Hykeham
Read a council’s report about native tree planting and distinguish actions from future results.
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Reading a guesthouse message
Read an owner’s message and find arrival, breakfast and departure information.
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Reading a market price list
Use a fictional market price list to follow a shopper’s choices and check the total.
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Reading a work schedule
Practise reading an invented hotel work schedule, including shifts, breaks and a day off.
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A new home for Reading Central Library
Read the June 2026 announcement about Reading Central Library’s planned new home.
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Sharing a community garden
Explore how a shared garden can work, with an example of neighbours planning tasks together.
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New community courses in Staffordshire
Read about an April 2026 community learning announcement and the details learners still need to check.
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The photograph in the old shop
Read how an old shop photograph finds a new place with help from its former owner.
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A small change at the café
Follow Maya as she tries a new café and learns that a small change can lead to a friendly conversation.
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The neighbourhood swap table
Read how a simple idea helps neighbours share useful things and meet each other.
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