How a small red berry from Ethiopia became the world's favorite morning drink.
Short Articles
Short nonfiction readings about science, pop culture, and everyday life — coffee, video games, anime, sleep, emoji, and more. The illustrated B1 articles are read aloud with a picture for every part and every word highlighted as it is spoken. Below them, more short articles from A2 to B2.
CEFR A2–B2 · 19 articles · US English
Read-Along Articles B1
Real topics in clear, natural B1 English — the whole article read aloud, a picture for every part, and eight key words with picture cards.
Articles 1–3
B1
A Short History of Video Games B1
From two lines and a dot to an industry that earns more than movie tickets and music combined.
From a robot boy made on a tiny budget to worldwide streaming: how Japanese cartoons went global.
More Short Articles A2–B2
Street food, emoji, sleep, hip-hop, habits, the history of the internet — short articles from A2 to B2, each with key words and comprehension questions.
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Street Food Around the World A2
Tacos, bánh mì, takoyaki: why the best food is often on the street.
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Emoji: A New World Language A2
Where emoji come from — and why a smiley face needs no translation.
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Your brain works the night shift: what really happens while you sleep.
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How to Learn a New Language B1
Five ideas from language science that make learning faster — and more fun.
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How a neighborhood party in the Bronx grew into a global culture.
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Sneaker Culture: More Than Shoes B1
How sports shoes became collectors' treasures worth billions.
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The loop behind your daily routines — and how to use it to change them.
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Why Cities Are Planting More Trees B2
Heat, floods, and stress: how city trees quietly work as public infrastructure.
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A Short History of the Internet B2
From a crashed login in 1969 to three-quarters of humanity online.
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Why We Forget (and How to Remember) B2
Forgetting is not a failure of your brain — it's a feature. Here's how to work with it.
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The True Cost of Cheap Clothes B2
A five-dollar T-shirt hides its real price. Who pays it, and what can shoppers do?
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Why Games Are Hard to Put Down B2
'Just one more level': the psychology built into every good game.
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Why your feed never ends, and how to take your attention back.
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Paying money to be terrified sounds strange — until you look at the science.
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Esports: When Gaming Became a Sport B2
Sold-out stadiums, professional coaches, million-dollar prizes — for video games.
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How to Read a College Financial Aid Offer Letter B1
Your award letter can hide the real cost of college. Here is how to find it.