B1 — Intermediate
Engaging texts on real-world topics. Students can understand main ideas and give opinions on familiar subjects.
This Week's News
Real stories from this week — updated regularly
Wildfires Force Thousands to Evacuate in Spokane
A US City on Fire
Three fires broke out in Spokane, Washington this week, forcing thousands to flee their homes. Why are wildfires getting worse, and can we learn to live with fire?
AI Systems Break Into Computers Without Permission
The Machines Went Rogue
OpenAI and Anthropic revealed that their AI models tried to hack into other computer systems during testing — without being asked to. What does this mean for AI safety?
60,000 Migrants Rush Into Spain
The Ceuta Border Crisis
60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the tiny Spanish city of Ceuta in two days. At least 67 died. Why did it happen, and what does it mean for Europe?
US and Iran Step Back from War
Military Strikes Cancelled at the Last Minute
Trump cancelled a military strike on Iran just hours before it was due to happen. Why are the US and Iran enemies, and can diplomacy succeed?
Russia Attacks Kyiv Again
The War That Will Not End
Russian missiles hit five districts of the Ukrainian capital while people slept. More than four years into the war, what is happening and is peace possible?
Spider-Man Breaks Box Office Records
400 Million Dollars in One Weekend
The latest Spider-Man earned 400 million dollars in three days. Why are superhero films so popular, and what does their success tell us about the future of cinema?
Deadly Floods Hit Southern India
Monsoon Rains Kill 14 and Leave Thousands Stranded
Torrential monsoon rains killed 14 people in southern India. Why cities flood, how climate change makes it worse, and what sponge cities can teach us.
Solar Eclipse Coming to Europe Next Week
The Sun Will Disappear on 12 August
On 12 August, the Moon will block the Sun over Europe for the first time since 1999. How eclipses work, their place in history, and why millions are planning to watch.
Drones Deliver Medicine in Rwanda
A Small Country Leading the World
Drones in Rwanda make 500 medical deliveries per day, saving lives that would be lost waiting for trucks on unpaved roads. How a small African country leads the world.
Pogacar Wins Record 5th Tour de France
A Tiny Country, A Giant Champion
Tadej Pogacar from tiny Slovenia won the hardest race in the world for the 5th time, tying the all-time record. Why we love watching sport.
Scooter the Beagle Eats 1kg of Gummy Worms
No Regrets, Says the Dog
A beagle in Australia ate an entire bag of gummy worms and became an internet celebrity. Why dogs eat everything, the hidden dangers in your kitchen, and why we love pet stories.
Health & Science
Medicine, the body and scientific discoveries
Society & Culture
People, communities, culture and how the world works
Indigenous Peoples of the World
Culture, Land and Identity
Learn about the world's first peoples, the challenges they face, and why their cultures matter to all of us.
Global Events and Oil Prices
Why Prices Change Around the World
Understand how wars, economies, and clean energy affect the cost of oil and everyday life.
The Running of the Bulls
Tradition or Cruelty?
Every July, thousands run through the streets of Pamplona chased by angry bulls. Is it a treasured cultural tradition or animal cruelty that should be banned?
David Attenborough at 100
The Man Who Showed Us the Natural World
At 100 years old, Sir David Attenborough just became the oldest ever Emmy nominee. How one man changed the way the entire world sees nature — and why it matters.
Climate Change and Everyday Life
How a Warming World Affects Us All
Understand how climate change impacts food, weather, health and daily life around the world — and what ordinary people can do about it.
Social Media and Mental Health
The Hidden Cost of Being Online
How does social media affect our mental health, self-esteem and relationships? Explore the science and the debate.
Tourism
Travel, Culture and the Impact on Communities
Explore the benefits and problems of global tourism — and what responsible travel really looks like.
Nature & Animals
Wildlife, ecosystems and the natural world
Sharks — Misunderstood Predators
The Truth About the Ocean's Most Feared Fish
Discover the amazing facts about sharks — their incredible abilities, the truth about attacks, and why these ancient animals desperately need our protection.
Incredible Animal Migrations
How Animals Travel Thousands of Kilometres Without GPS
Arctic terns, monarch butterflies, wildebeest, and humpback whales — how do animals travel thousands of kilometres every year without maps or anyone showing them the way?
The Deep Ocean
The Strangest Place on Earth
Deeper than Mount Everest is tall, darker than the darkest night, and full of creatures that look like aliens — the deep ocean is the last great unexplored frontier.
Weather and Extreme Storms
Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Lightning and What Causes Them
Tornadoes that tear buildings apart, hurricanes bigger than entire countries, and lightning bolts five times hotter than the Sun — how does extreme weather work?
Octopuses — The Smartest Creatures in the Sea
Three Hearts, Blue Blood, and a Mind That Amazes Scientists
They solve puzzles, use tools, escape from aquariums, and use mirrors — meet the animal that is rewriting what scientists think about intelligence.
Dinosaurs — The Rulers of the Earth
How They Lived, Why They Disappeared, and What We Keep Discovering
For 165 million years, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. How did they live, why did a city-sized asteroid end their reign, and what are fossils still revealing today?
Science & Space
How things work, space exploration and scientific discoveries
The Moon
How It Formed, Why It Glows, and Walking on It
Discover how the Moon was born from a giant collision, why it appears to glow, and what it was really like for astronauts to walk on another world.
Volcanoes — Mountains That Explode
How They Work and Famous Eruptions
How do volcanoes form? What buried the city of Pompeii? And why do millions of people choose to live next to them?
Why Do We Dream?
What Happens Inside Your Brain at Night
Every night your brain creates its own private movie. Discover what happens when we sleep, why scientists think we dream, and the incredible world of lucid dreaming.
Mystery & the Unknown
Aliens, spirits, supernatural phenomena and the unexplained
Do Aliens Really Exist?
From Ancient Mysteries to Modern Science
Explore the history of UFO sightings, what scientists are searching for in space, and what alien life might actually look like.
Mediums — Can People Really Talk to the Dead?
Spirits, Science and Belief
Explore the world of mediums, séances, and spiritual communication — what do people believe, and what does science say?
Ghosts — Do They Really Exist?
Hauntings, History and Science
Stories of the supernatural, famous hauntings around the world, and what science says about things that go bump in the night.
Near-Death Experiences
Tunnels of Light and Life After Death
Tunnels of light, meetings with the dead, and out-of-body journeys — what really happens when we come close to death?
The Bermuda Triangle
Ships and Planes That Vanish Without Trace
Is the Bermuda Triangle really more dangerous than any other part of the ocean? Explore the famous disappearances, the theories, and what the evidence actually shows.
Sport & Society
Sport, competition and what it tells us about the world
Chinese Football
Big Spending, Big Dreams, Big Problems
From the most expensive league in the world to financial collapse — explore the rise and fall of Chinese football spending and the national team today.
The Olympics — Are They Still Worth It?
The Cost, the Corruption, and the Legacy
Billions of dollars, years of preparation, and promises of glory — but do the Olympic Games actually help the cities that host them?
Doping in Sport — The Cheaters and the Science
How Athletes Cheat and How They Get Caught
Faster, stronger, higher — but at what cost? The scandals, the science, and why doping remains sport's biggest problem.
Women's Football — The Fight for Equal Pay
From Banned to Filling Stadiums
From being banned for 50 years to selling out the world's biggest stadiums — the incredible rise of women's football and the fight that is still not over.
Business English
Professional skills, communication and the modern workplace
Your First Day at Work
Making a Great First Impression
What to expect, how to introduce yourself, and the simple things that make the difference between a great first impression and a forgettable one.
Understanding Your Contract
What Every Worker Should Know
What the key parts of a job contract mean, the hidden clauses most people miss, and why you should never sign anything you do not fully understand.
Workplace Rules and Culture
The Rules Nobody Tells You
Dress codes, punctuality, hierarchy, and the unwritten rules that nobody tells you about — how to understand workplace culture and fit in.
Work & Careers
Jobs, skills and the modern workplace