TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction and Teaching Tips

ESL Stories – Subject Categories

Buying a Used Car – (transportation, consumer skills)…….. 4

Community College – (education, communities)…………... 5

Crimes Around Town – (crime, communities)……………... 6

Dream Vacation – (recreation, travel)………………………. 7

Edna’s On a Diet – (health, nutrition)………………………. 8

Good Neighbors – (communities)………………………...… 9

Everyone Needs a Hobby – (recreation, family)…………… 10

Messy Teenagers – (family, parenting)…………………….. 11 Miguel is a Runner – (health, recreation)…………………... 12

Office with a View – (employment)………………………... 13

Problems at Work – (employment)…………………………. 14 Recycling for Cash – (environment)……………………….. 15

Robots Can Help Us – (technology)…………………….….. 16

Shipwrecked – (travel, recreation)……………………….…. 17

Volunteers – (communities, civics)………………………… 18

Voting is a Civic Duty – (civics, communities)……….……. 19

Walking the Dog – (recreation, health)………………….….. 20

Molly is a Widow – (family, finances, health)…………….... 21

Working in New York City – (employment, family)…..…… 22

Young and In Love – (feelings)…………………………..…. 23

BUYING A USED CAR

A.  Reading

Jeff is trying to buy a used car. He is at a dealership and is negotiating with a car salesman. He can afford to put $1,200 down on a car and pay up to $275 per month. The car salesman said Jeff needs to put more money down on the car if he wants the payments under $300. The asking price for the car is $8,500. This includes a ninety-day warranty. Jeff told the salesman that he can’t afford to put more money down and he can’t afford higher payments. He needs to keep some money to cover the cost of car insurance. A friend at work is selling a similar car, but it doesn’t come with a warranty.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ It’s better to buy a new car than a used car.

2.       ________ Jeff should tell the car salesman he doesn’t want the car.

D. Writing – Describe your car. If you don’t have one, describe a friend’s car.

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COMMUNITY COLLEGE

A.  Reading

Anita saved $975 for community college tuition and other expenses, but now she is confused. Her older sister is going to Hawaii next month, and she wants Anita to go with her. They can get a discount on a hotel room and share the costs of renting a car. Anita knowscollege is important, but she wants to visit Hawaii. The problem is she can’t afford both. If she goes Hawaii, she won’t have enough money for college. It will take her a year to save enough money for tuition. Anita wants to be a nurse someday and work in a hospital. She doesn’t know what to do. She has to make a difficult decision.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Anita should use her money for college instead of vacation.

2.       ________ Anita’s sister is a “bad influence”.

D. Writing – Describe a difficult decision you made.

CRIMES AROUND TOWN

A.  Reading

Frank was in a good mood when he woke up this morning. He showered, shaved, got dressed for work, and ate breakfast. When he opened his front door to go to work, he was surprised. His car was on concrete blocks and all four tires were missing. A neighbor saw his car and came out to talk to him. Frank asked his neighbor if he saw anything suspicious. The neighbor said no. Frank went back into the house and called the police. They sent an officer to take a report and investigate the crime. Frank’s neighbor gave him a ride to work.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Does the city you live in have a lot of crime?

2.       ________ You should report all crimes to the police.

D. Writing – Where do you park your car at night? Is it a safe place?

DREAM VACATION  ¹

A.  Reading

It’s 3:00 in the morning and Irma is sound asleep. She is dreaming about a vacation. In her dreams she is on a beach in Acapulco, Mexico. She is staying at a resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The water is blue and warm and the sand is white. A gentle breeze cools the heat of the Mexican sun. Irma can hear mariachis in a nearby restaurant. They are playing traditional music. Tropical plants are everywhere. The blooms of their flowers are yellow, pink, red, and blue. Everything there is slower and more relaxed. Irma is happy. She stretches and smiles. She continues to sleep and dream.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Mexico is a great place for vacation.

2.       ________ Most people feel happier when the weather is warm. D. Writing – Where do you want to go on vacation?

EDNA’S ON A DIET

A.  Reading

Edna is on a diet. She lost five pounds, but she wants to lose ten more pounds before her trip to Italy next month. She is going with a group of friends, and she wants to look her best. Everyone tells her she looks great, but she doesn’t agree. She bought new clothes for her vacation, but she can’t fit into them. Edna got a diet book that lists the calories of foods. She writes down everything she eats and adds up the calories. She tries to eat no more than a thousand calories per day. Right now she is thinking about eating a slice of cherry pie. Dieting is not easy!

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Edna is not fat. She shouldn’t be on a diet.

2.       ________ Exercise is more important then dieting.

D. Writing – Why did Edna buy new clothes that don’t fit?

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GOOD NEIGHBORS

A.  Reading

Mr. and Mrs. Russo live in a small house in a small town. Their neighbors are very friendly and helpful. When they go on vacation, their neighbors watch their house to make sure it is safe. They also water the grass and get their mail. Mrs. Russo wants to do something nice for her neighbors. She wants to invite them to her house for dinner on Saturday. She plans to serve roast beef, baked potatoes, asparagus, and a green salad. For dessert, she will bake a pecan pie. After dinner, Mr. Russo will play a few songs on his new guitar.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ The best part of dinner is dessert.

2.       ________ People in small towns are friendlier than people in large cities.

D. Writing – What would you make for your guests for dinner?

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EVERYONE NEEDS A HOBBY

A.  Reading

Janice and her sister, Hilda, like arts and crafts. Janice likes to embroider and Hilda likes to paint. The sisters get together once a week. One week they meet at Janice’s house and the next week they meet at Hilda’s house. The sisters work on craft projects all year. When someone they know has a birthday, they give them a homemade gift. Friends and family members appreciate the gifts. Many of them have suggested that the sisters rent a booth at the swap meet and sell their crafts. But Janice and Hilda prefer to make things for friends. They don’t want to turn their hobbies into a business.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Janice and Hilda should sell their crafts at the swap meet.

2.       ________ You can tell a lot about a person by knowing their hobby.

D. Writing – What is your favorite hobby? How much time do you spend on it?

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9

MESSY TEENAGERS

A.  Reading

Mr. Johnson and his wife have a teenage son named Kyle. Kyle is fifteen years old. He is a good kid, but he is messy. His hair is messy, his handwriting is messy, and his bedroom is messy. The Johnsons want to change Kyle’s bad habits. They want him to comb his hair, write neatly, and keep his room clean. Mr. Johnson gets angry when Kyle’s room is a mess. He scolds him, but it doesn’t do any good. Mrs. Johnson tries to reason with Kyle. She explains why he should be neater. Neither parent is able to change Kyle’s bad habits. Kyle is just a messy teenager.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Most teenagers are messy.

2.       ________ Kyle will be neater when he gets older.

D. Writing – Are you a neat person or a messy person?

MIGUEL IS A RUNNER

A.  Reading

Miguel is training for a marathon. A marathon is a race. It is a little more than twenty-six miles long. Miguel has been practicing for five months. Every morning he wakes up at 4:45 to take a practice run. He owns four pairs of running shoes, and he rotates them. This allows them to dry out between runs. It also extends the life of the shoes. This morning Miguel’s right foot is sore. He has a blister on the sole of his foot. He is going to limp home and soak his foot in warm water. He may take a day off from running tomorrow and allow his foot to heal.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Running long distances is bad for your feet.

2.       ________ Five months is not long enough to prepare for a marathon. D. Writing – How do you feel after you exercise?

OFFICE WITH A VIEW

A.  Reading

Brenda is a newspaper reporter in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her office is on the fourth floor. It has a desk, a bookcase, two file cabinets, two chairs, and a large window. Brenda can see the mountains and sky from her office window. When she is interviewing people on the phone, she often stares out the window. Looking at the mountains helps her relax. Brenda enjoys her job. She likes talking to people and finding out what is happening in her city. The only thing she doesn’t like about her job is the deadlines. A deadline is a due date. Reporters have to complete their stories by a deadline.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ It’s relaxing to look at mountains.

2.       ________ Writing is stressful.

D. Writing – What do you do to relax?

PROBLEMS AT WORK

A.  Reading

Ernesto works in a toy factory to support his wife and two children. He works the night shift from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. He usually arrives fifteen minutes early and hangs out with his co-workers Sam, Joaquin, Billy, and Antonio. The guys like to play around and have fun before their shift starts. They throw things at each other and take each other’s hats. Last Friday, their supervisor told them to stop playing around. He told them that someone might get hurt. Ernesto likes hanging out with his co-workers, but he doesn’t want to have problems at work.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Ernesto is a responsible person.

2.       ________ Ernesto should relax and stop worrying so much. D. Writing – What should Ernesto say to his co-workers?

RECYCLING FOR CASH

A.  Reading

Oscar has a wife and four children, so he always needs a little extra money. One way he makes extra money is by recycling the family’s cans, bottles, and other containers. He earns about eighteen dollars a month by recycling. It isn’t much money, but he’s happy to have the cash. Sometimes he uses the money to buy pizza for dinner. His wife is happy because she doesn’t have to cook dinner. His children are happy because they like pizza. Oscar’s dad taught him to be careful with his money. His mom taught him to protect the environment by recycling.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Oscar’s parents gave him good advice.

2.       ________ Recycling is a lot of work for a little money.

D. Writing – Would you go through a stranger’s trash can to get recyclables?

ROBOTS CAN HELP US

A.  Reading

Robots are machines that look and work like people. Robot servants for homes will be available within the next ten years. They are called “house-bots”. House-bots can sing a song to wake you up in the morning, walk around the house to guard it, and instruct other robots to vacuum the carpet. House-bots recognize voice commands.

Some robots teach English. The South Korean government is spending $45,000,000 to put 500 English teaching robots in preschools by 2011 and 8,000 in preschools and kindergartens by 2013. The robots will tell stories and conduct sing-a-longs.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Children will become bored with the robot teachers after a few weeks.

2.       ________ Robots should be used to cook burgers and fries at fast food restaurants. D. Writing – Would you like to own a house-bot? Why or why not?

SHIPWRECKED

A.  Reading

Ricardo, Norma, and Hank were sailing on a small wooden boat. The boat crashed into an island and broke apart. The only thing the friends were able to save was one wooden box. The box contains emergency supplies: a blanket, a rope, a flashlight, bandages, a radio, matches, a box of granola bars, and a few bottles of water. Ricardo had a cell phone, but it fell into the water and sank. Ricardo and Hank didn’t tell anyone about their trip. Luckily, Norma told her mother. How will the friends survive? Will anyone search for them?

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ The most important item the friends have is the box of granola bars.

2.       ________ They should tear the blanket into thirds and each get one piece. D. Writing – What should the shipwrecked friends do?

VOLUNTEERS

A.  Reading

Henderson is a small town with only 1,250 residents. The people are friendly and many of them know each other. Henderson is a nice place to live because it has many parks, a low crime rate, and good schools. Unfortunately, there aren’t many jobs in Henderson. Residents have to travel to larger cities to find work. This wasn’t a problem in the past when the economy was good. But this year, one-fourth of the adults in Henderson are unemployed. The mayor is asking residents to volunteer to collect cans of food and used clothes for the poor and to deliver hot meals to the elderly.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ It’s better to live in a large city because there are more jobs.

2.       ________ Crime will probably increase in Henderson.

D. Writing – Why should people volunteer to help their community?

VOTING IS A CIVIC DUTY

A.  Reading

Raymond is at a polling place near his home. He is voting for his favorite political candidates. His city is electing a mayor and three city council members. When Raymond arrived at the polling place, there were ten people waiting in line. The line moved quickly and now it is his turn to vote. He has already decided which candidates to vote for. He got most of his election information from the local newspaper, but he also accessed his city’s Web site to learn more about the candidates. Raymond thinks it’s important for citizens to vote in elections. It is a civic duty.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ It is important to vote in elections.

2.       ________ In recent years, the quality of newspaper articles has declined.

D. Writing – How do you get your news? (newspapers, radio, TV, Web sites)

WALKING THE DOG

A.  Reading

After Jared eats dinner, he takes his dog for a walk. They walk north on Alondra Boulevard and then turn right on Central Avenue. They walk four more blocks to a large park on the corner of Central Avenue and Hall Street. Jared takes the leash off his dog and lets it run and play. Sometimes he throws a stick for his dog to fetch. Jared’s dog is friendly. It likes people and other dogs. When children ask Jared if they can pet his dog, he always tells them yes. He gives the children a dog bone from his pocket. The children give the bone to the dog. It always begs for another.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Dogs are easier to take care of than cats.

2.       ________ Jared should not take the leash off his dog when they are at the park.

D. Writing – Why should children ask for permission before they pet an animal?

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MOLLY IS A WIDOW

A.  Reading

Molly’ husband, Jake, died from cancer in 1991. He was sick for three years and was unable to work. Jake’s employer provided health insurance, but they still had financial problems. Without Jake’s income there was no way to pay all the bills, so they lost their house. Jake got a little money from disability insurance, and Molly worked part-time at a fast food restaurant for minimum wage. After Jake died, she was able to collect social security. It isn’t much money, so she collects things and has garage sales. She makes enough to pay the rent. She doesn’t have any children to help her.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Married women should have careers.

2.       ________ Molly should get married again.

D. Writing – What can Molly do to earn more money?

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WORKING IN NEW YORK CITY

A.  Reading

Mai lives with her parents in New York City. Her parents own a Vietnamese restaurant called Flavors of Saigon. Mai helps her parents on the weekend. She serves food to the customers and orders supplies for the restaurant. During the week, she works as a teacher at an elementary school near her house. She usually grades papers in the evening. Mai works seven days a week. She doesn’t own a car because parking is expensive. When she wants to go someplace far, she takes a taxicab. Mai is saving money so she can buy a house. She has already saved $18,000.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Mai should buy a car instead of a house.

2.       ________ It’s difficult to save money in the United States.

D. Writing – Would you work seven days a week to buy a house?

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YOUNG AND IN LOVE

Craig and Jennifer are boyfriend and girlfriend. They spend all their free time together. They go to parks, museums, movies, and dinner. Sometimes they just hang out at Jennifer’s house and play pool or listen to music. When they can’t be together, they call each other on their cell phones. They talk for hours and hours. They always have something to say. Whenever Craig tells a joke, Jennifer always giggles. Whenever Jennifer says something, Craig listens and agrees. Craig and Jennifer are young and in love, but their parents think they are too young to be so serious about each other.

B.  True or False

C.  Yes or No – Share Your Opinion

1.       ________ Young people should date many people before getting serious.

2.       ________ Craig and Jennifer are in love.

D. Writing – Who was your first love? Describe him or her.

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Answer Key – True/False