Reading in English at level A1

You understand very common words and phrases about yourself, your family and the things around you. You read very short, simple texts one sentence at a time, with pictures to help.

• A1
• A2
• B1
• B2
• C1

This is how each text begins at level A1:

• Short story · Oscar WildeThe Canterville Ghost

  Mr Hiram Otis is an American. He works for his country. He buys an old English house, Canterville Chase. Everyone says the house has a ghost.

• CustomConkers: a string, a nut and a long October

  In autumn, a big tree drops its seeds. It is the horse chestnut. The seeds are called conkers. A conker is brown and very shiny.

• CustomDogger, Fisher, German Bight: the Shipping Forecast

  Turn on BBC Radio 4 late at night. A calm voice reads a list. It says strange names: Dogger, Fisher, German Bight. Then it says numbers and short words.

• ScienceWhy is the sky blue and the sunset red?

  In the day, the sky is blue. In the evening, the sunset is red. But there is one sun. Why two colours?

• ScienceWhy does the sea go in and out?

  The Moon is very far away. But it moves the sea twice a day. Near Bristol, the sea goes up and down more than 12 metres. The sea moves. In the afternoon, the sea is far from the beach. Two hours later, the sea is near your towel. Then it goes away again.