Improve, Learn, Practice, and Master English Through Stories
One breezy evening during the festive season, four friends—Wei Ling, Ravi, Nadia, and Jian Hao—gathered at their favorite rooftop bar overlooking the Singapore skyline. While Wei Ling, Ravi, and Nadia sipped colorful drinks, Jian Hao stared at his glass of soda, looking curious. “Why are you all so obsessed with cocktails?” Jian Hao asked, raising…
One sunny afternoon, Maya, Rohan, and Priya sat in a cozy cafe. They were talking about how to improve their daily conversations and make stronger connections with people around them. Maya began, “Smart words create a smart impact. Last week, when I told my neighbor, ‘You always have the best suggestions,’ it made her light…
One afternoon, three coworkers—Sam, Lily, and Arjun—sat in the office break room. They were talking about how to improve their conversations. “Good communication makes a big impact,” said Sam. “For example, when we thanked the marketing team last week, it motivated them to work harder. We need to choose our words carefully.” “Agreed,” replied Lily.…
It was a breezy afternoon, and Maya, Sara, and Jasmine sat on a park bench, enjoying the sunshine. Children played on swings nearby as the three women exchanged their usual lighthearted gossip. Maya leaned forward. “Did you see Mrs. Sharma’s new car? It’s massive! Must have cost a fortune (a lot of money).” Sara chuckled.…
Anna, Jasmine, and Nick gathered around the coffee machine during their mid-morning break. Anna stirred her tea thoughtfully. Anna: “Have you noticed how quiet the team’s been lately? Feels like we’re all just going through the motions (routine activities).” Jasmine nodded. “Yeah, we only talk about tasks or deadlines (time limits). It’s like we’re robots,…
Aditi, an experienced marketing professional, walked into the sleek (elegantly designed) conference room of a multinational company. The room was filled with natural light streaming through large windows, and motivational posters lined the walls. She had prepared meticulously for this interview, knowing that the position of Marketing Manager could be a turning point in her…
Ravi, a fresh graduate, stepped into the small office nervously for his first-ever job interview. He clutched (held tightly) his neatly prepared resume and silently rehearsed (practiced) his introduction. The interviewer, Ms. Kapoor, greeted him with a warm smile. “Tell me about yourself, Ravi,” she began. Ravi took a calming breath and responded, “I recently…
Joe: Hey Jenifer, did you finish the homework on abbreviations and acronyms? Jenifer: Yeah, it was interesting. Did you know the difference between them? Joe: Sort of. Abbreviations are shortened forms of words, right? Jenifer: Exactly. Like “Dr.” for Doctor or “St.” for Street. Joe: Oh, I see. And acronyms are a type of abbreviation?…
In The bustling (occupied with continuous activity) heart of Sydney, somewhere in north Sydney where it is surrounded by Big high rises and big corporate businesses. Ethan and Lara work in separate high-rises, very close to each other. Their lunchtime routine unexpectedly collides at a trendy (fashionable), healthy-ish quick-service restaurant popular with office workers with…
In the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, under the sprawling (spread out) shadow of the Santa Cruz mountains, the story of Steve Jobs began—an epic tale of vision, failure, redemption (recovery), and legacy that unfolded like a modern-day odyssey (long journey). Steve was born into uncertainty, adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, who provided the…
The story of OpenAI is one of ambition, collaboration, and a desire to steer the course of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. It began in 2015 when Ilya Sutskever, a prominent AI researcher, along with Elon Musk and Sam Altman, envisioned (imagined) an organization dedicated to the safe and beneficial development of artificial…
[Paul is sitting on the couch, engrossed in a documentary on Formula 1 racing. The sound of roaring engines and excited commentators fills the room. Ira and Sambhav enter, intrigued by the noise.] Ira: Hey Paul! What are you watching? It sounds exhilarating. Sambhav: Yeah, is that Formula 1 racing? Paul: Hey guys! Yes, it’s…
This is a story about how Television went from clunky (awkwardly heavy and outdated) boxes to windows into another world. It all started way back, almost a century ago, with a curious German scientist named Karl. The year was 1897. In a German laboratory (a room or building for scientific experiments), physicist (a scientist who…
Finn and Ivan learned the discovery of electron by JJ Thomson and the conversation covers this topic of science. Here is what they learned. J.J. Thomson discovered electrons by experimenting with a cathode ray tube, a special glass tube with gas and two metal electrodes. When he applied electricity, a beam of light, called a…
Maya: sighs, tossing her test paper onto the growing pile Ugh, these career aptitude tests are so generic (commonplace). It’s like, “Do you like animals? Be a vet!” or “Good with numbers? Be an accountant!” Chloe: chuckles, closing her laptop Tell me about it. Mine suggested everything from baker to astronaut. Not exactly helpful, right?…
In today’s world, the topic of global warming is on everyone’s mind. The issue is serious, and it’s essential to understand its impact and what we can do about it. Let’s read a conversation between Alex and Jamie as they discuss this important topic. Alex: Hey Jamie, have you read the latest report on global…
Captain Maeve slammed her fist on the sub’s metal table. “Weeks stuck in this tin can, patrolling nothing!” The Sargasso Sea stretched before them, an endless blue desert. Maeve, a woman known for bold moves, hated this dull mission. Suddenly, Liam, the new cryptographer (someone who decodes messages), rushed in. “Captain, trouble!” His voice shook.…
Aiden lived in a quaint (charming) village. He was brave and kind. Villagers loved him. He explored the mysterious forest nearby. One sunny morning, Aiden found a hidden glade (clearing). There, he saw a girl with shimmering (shining) golden hair. She hummed a melody. Aiden approached her cautiously (carefully). “Hello, I’m Aiden. Who are you?”…
Long ago, people dreamt of using steam for power. In the 1st century AD, Hero of Alexandria invented the aeolipile (an ancient steam-powered device). It fascinated many, but remained a curiosity (an interesting but impractical object). The Industrial Age: Seeking Efficiency In the early 18th century, coal miners faced a big problem. Mines filled with…
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution changed work patterns. Factories sprang up everywhere. People moved from rural areas to cities for jobs. They worked long hours, often seven days a week. Life was grueling (extremely tiring). Workers began to feel exhausted and oppressed (treated unfairly). They wanted a day of rest. Labor…
Stella, a witty wordsmith (someone good with words), worked at Buzz Advertising. She loved creating catchy (attractive) slogans. Alex, a visionary (able to see the future) artist, had a mind full of creative ideas. They seemed different but had to work together one night. Stella struggled with writer’s block (unable to write), and Alex felt…
