Category: Level 2

In this story, a six-year-old boy explains why dogs live shorter lives than humans. This story has been taken from the Internet where it is in wide circulation.  Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish …

Around October each year, millions of monarch butterflies leave their summer breeding grounds in North-Eastern USA and Canada and travel up to 5,000 kilometres to reach the South-Western part of Mexico. The butterflies arrive at their roosting sites in November. …

At the heart of every good poem is language. You can use simple, ordinary language in inventive ways. When the right words combine, they frequently make meanings beyond the words themselves. When you sit down to write a poem, you …

Poetry is about structure, meaning and rhythm, but SOUND is probably the single most important element in a poem. The sound of individual words is important, but also the sounds the words make when they are together on a page. …

As you fill your notebook with things that are important and fascinating to you, you’re that much closer to writing some poems. The writing process usually involves the following steps: Brainstorming, when you write down ideas, thoughts, feelings, and images. …

Have you always wanted to express yourself in poetry and didn’t know where to start? Well, you can start by writing down your ideas in a notebook. Your notebook is the heart of your writing. Here you can record dreams, …

MOTHER NATURE  Please listen to the poem and read the script. Afterwards please try to answer the questions. Attachments area Preview YouTube video Nature Is Speaking – Julia Roberts is Mother Nature | Conservation International (CI) Preview YouTube video Nature …

Hygienic practices keep us healthy and prevent the spread of disease. Personal hygiene refers to maintaining the body’s cleanliness. What exactly does one have to do to keep oneself clean? Washing hands with soap and water can reduce disease. If …

Elephants are mammals and the largest existing land animals. All elephants have big bodies and swinging trunks. There are two different kinds of elephants. The Asian elephant is smaller than the African elephant. An Asian elephant has small ears compared …

Live in the moment, Just take it all in. Pay attention to everything, Right there and right then. Don’t let your mind wander To what’s coming next. Cherish this moment And give it your best. Don’t let tomorrow Make you …

I come with no wrapping or pretty pink bows. I am who I am, from my head to my toes. I tend to get loud when speaking my mind. Even a little crazy some of the time. I’m not a …

When you’re up against a trouble, Meet it squarely, face to face; Lift your chin and set your shoulders, Plant your feet and take a brace. When it’s vain to try to dodge it, Do the best that you can …

Almost three thousand years ago in ancient Greece, athletes tested their skill in sports at games called the Olympics. Every four years athletes would travel to the arena at Olympia to run, jump, box, wrestle, or race their chariots. Enemies would …

Relax, be very still and listen – listen carefully to this tale about a young prince, who lived in a lavish palace in the desert. He loved to play all day with his friends. That is, until one day a stranger appeared and everything …

When I feel sad, I feel like a flower that needs to be watered, a rainbow that has lost its colours, a clown who cannot smile. When I feel sad I lie in bed. I do not want to talk …

BY J. PATRICK LEWIS “The Eagle has landed!” —Apollo II Commander Neil A. Armstrong “A magnificent desolation!” — Air Force Colonel Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. July 20, 1969 That afternoon in mid-July, Two pilgrims watched from distant space The moon …

By Margaret A. Savage The day when the world turned upside down: when a frown became a smile and a smile became a frown. When the mice chased the cats the cats chased the dogs. The dogs laughed out loud …

Aren’t you cold and won’t you freeze, With branches bare, you winter trees? You’ve thrown away your summer shift. Your autumn gold has come adrift. Dearie me, you winter trees, What strange behaviour if you please! In summer, you could …

The letter A is awesome! It simply is the best. Without an A, you could not get an A+ on a test. You’d never see an acrobat or eat an apple pie. You couldn’t be an astronaut or kiss your …

I have a brief confession that I would like to make. If I don’t get it off my chest I’m sure my heart will break. I didn’t do my reading. I watched TV instead— while munching cookies, cakes, and chips …

In a small village in Malawi, in Africa, where people had no money for lights, nightfall came quickly and hurried poor farmers to bed. But for William, the darkness was best for dreaming. He dreamed of building things and taking …

There was once a girl named Amina who lived in a village on the edge of a beautiful valley. Amina’s mama was having a baby and Amina was waiting in the village garden for some news. “You have a baby brother,” said …

Animal babies develop and come into the world in different ways. Some develop inside eggs that protect and nourish them until they are ready to break out of the eggs, or hatch. Others develop inside their mothers’ bodies (in the …

Anju loved the merry little stream Rippling and flowing like a blue-green dream! Fish leapt and danced in its waters clear, To fish for fish, came birds – from far and near… Every day Anju walked this way from school, …

Swami Vivekananda (born January 12, 1863, Calcutta [now Kolkata] – died July 4, 1902, near Calcutta), was a spiritual leader and reformer who attempted to combine Indian spirituality with western material progress. Vivekananda felt that the highest ideal was to …

1. Physical Descriptions and Personality Descriptions –  Describe the physical features of your mother/father/sibling/teacher/best friend. –  Describe their personalities. 2. Talk/write about the similarities or differences between you and your friends. 3. Clothes/Shopping –  Describe the clothes you changed into …

The world’s biggest continent, Asia stretches almost halfway around the globe and covers one- third of earth’s landmass. It has the world’s tallest mountains, the world’s largest lake and the world’s lowest point on land. The tallest mountain is Mount …

They practice gratitude Counting their blessings, rather than their burdens, helps mentally strong people to move forward in life, no matter how tough their circumstances might be. They refuse to blame anyone for holding them back or dragging them down. Their …

The causes of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are many and varied. Some are environmental, including indoor and outdoor air pollution. Some are genetic, such as in some cases of diabetes. Many more are the result of decisions people make and behaviours they engage …

Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals. They belong to the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. They are found worldwide in shallow seas of the continental shelves. They are carnivores and mostly eat fish and squid. Dolphins are generally …

Zika is a virus spread by mosquitoes. For most people it is a very mild infection and is not harmful. However, it may be more serious for pregnant women, as there is evidence that it causes birth defects– in particular, abnormally small heads …

St Gallen is the first Swiss city to introduce a novel banking scheme in which retired care volunteers “deposit” hours worked looking after elderly people. In return they can use any time saved up for their own care provision later in life. …

Laila was sleeping when she heard a soft whimpering sound outside her window. I wonder who is making that sound, she thought. She got out of bed and looked outside. She saw a small brown puppy sitting under the window. “Amma,” Laila called. “There’s …

Vinay Kumar was a taxi driver for many years. Recently, he became a bus driver. He does not regret switching jobs because he finds his new work far more exciting. Last week, Vinay was driving down the Ring Road. He …

Alexander Graham Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 3, 1847. His father was Professor of Elocutionand the Art of Speech at Edinburgh University. Along with his two brothers, Alexander was at first taught at home by their mother, Eliza …

A natural disaster is an adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are all examples of natural disasters. The August 2018 floods in Kerala are an example of a natural …

If life teaches us anything, it may be that it’s necessary to suffer some defeats. Look at a diamond: It is the result of extreme pressure. Less pressure, it is crystal; less than that, it’s coal; and less than that, …

National newspapers on August 28, 2018 carried exciting news. A blend of oil from jatropha seeds and aviation turbine fuel powered an aircraft on Monday between Dehradun and Delhi. The biofuel was extracted from the jatropha plant.  Jatropha is a tropical, drought-resistant, …

The Inca Indians of Peru prized the potato as food. When they first started growing potatoes 10,000 years ago in the high, cold Andes Mountains, they were small, about the size of lemons, and full of lumps and bumps. The potato …

Trees are vital. As the biggest plants on the planet, they give us oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. Each year a mature tree produces enough oxygen for ten people. Trees also help prevent flooding and soil erosion by absorbing thousands of litres …

The sun shone down for nearly a week on the secret garden. The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it. She liked the name, and she liked still more the feeling that when its …

J.R.D.Tata, the man who made Tata Group one of the most prestigious and successful industrial groups in India, was a visionary. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was born in France on January 29, 1904 to an Indian father and a French mother. …

The morning headlines were full of the usual sad stories. “No good news again!” Rajesh’s father said. “Kidnappings! Murders! Earthquakes! Floods!” Rajesh wished he could have been able to cheer up his father. He moved quickly from house to house leaving papers …

If you want to climb a mountain, perhaps the tallest mountain in the world, what do you think you would need to get to the top? What would you need besides equipment, shoes, training and favourable weather? You would certainly need …

Once upon a time a man sold his well to a farmer.  The next day when the farmer went to draw water from that well, the man did not allow him to do so. He said, “I have sold you …

On a hot day in summer, an ant was searching for some water. After walking around for some time, she came near the river. To drink the water, she climbed up on a small rock. While trying to drink water, …

Corruption is the abuse of public resources or public power for personal gain. Corruption is a serious social issue that adversely affects the economy of a nation and impacts society as a whole. For example, if a judge is corrupt, he …

At 10 pm on April 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that Leisang in Manipur had become “powered and empowered.” When the bulbs lit up in Leisang village in Manipur’s Senapati district at 5.30 pm on April 28, it became …

When you are stressed, your body releases many hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Cortisol is the main stress hormone.These hormones increase your heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar.  They also suppressyour bodily systems, such as your digestiveand immune systems. …

(FOR ADULT MENTEES ONLY) On April 18, 2018, seven- year-old Rivyani Rahangdale was hit by a motorcycle near her hometown of Deori, in Maharashtra’s Gondia district. She was with her aunt and uncle. They had stopped by the roadside to …

Arriving in Anand in 1949 as a government employee to manage a dairy, Dr. Verghese Kurien went from helping farmers repair their machinery to revolutionizing the Indian dairy industry. Operation Flood, was a cooperative movement that turned India from an importer of …

Two events were to set Sumit Gunjan on a journey that would not only change his life but that of many tribal children in Banta-Hajam, a village seventy kilometres from Ranchi, Jharkhand. In 2010 Gunjan came across a group of …

  At an age when most of his classmates spend their time watching cartoons, playing video games, and preparing for exams, 11-year-old Anand Krishna Mishra is busy teaching underprivileged kids. Despite being a school student himself, this ‘chota masterji’ has reached out …

Mohan loved his Baba. He loved his mother and father too. But he was happiest when he was with Baba, his paternalgrandfather. Baba told him stories and never ever scolded him. One day Baba got a basketful of mangoes for Mohan. …

Food gives energy to the body to keep you alive, growing, and active. This energy comes from calories found in food. Not everyone needs the same amount of calories each day. A person doing hard manual work needs about 3,700 …

Costa Rica, in Central America, is known for not having an army. In Spanish, costa rica means “rich coast”. With the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean on the east, Costa Rica is a country in which people coexist with nature. It …

Yuvraj Sangle is eight years old, and is the only student at the village school. He lives in a small village called Chandor, in Maharashtra. Little Yuvraj is often reluctant to go to school, because there is nobody there, apart from his …

Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. At the age of 21, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a neuromuscular wasting disease. Ultimately the disease reduced his bodily control to the flexing of …

Why do people keep diaries? How do you decide what to write about? Diaries are not merely books in which to write your daily activities. It is also a place where you can jot down your innermost thoughts and special …

International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural and political successes worldwide. The observance falls on March 8. International Women’s Day events around the world are aimed at supporting women’s causes. A major campaign theme this year is #PressforProgress. A group …

In the various states of India, there are many different languages and dialects, dance forms, music, architecture, food, customs and festivals. The Pushkar Camel Fair in Rajasthan is one such unique festival. Pushkar Lake is a historical and sacred lake in Ajmer. Held in …

Why Is My Mother Sad? My mother used to smile more. Now she has sad days. She said she has depression. Depression is an illness that makes a person sad. People who are depressed have days when they feel very …

A few days ago, I accompanied my friend to a seminar, rather reluctantly. I wasn’t looking forward to sitting on a chair for almost a whole day, and listening to one person talking about ‘Dreams and Goals.’ But at the end of the …

Instead of just going out with friends, fifteen-year-old Amina spent most of her spare time taking care of her father. Javed had been a strong and healthy man who loved outdoor activities. But one day he noticed his right hand was …

She was a very generous sheep. Do you know what it means to be generous? It is to enjoy giving – giving for the pleasure of it. Well, this sheep was very, very generous. She gave wool whenever somebody asked …

“I consider gulli danda the king of all sports. Even now, whenever I see children playing gulli-danda, I have a great desire to join them. You don’t need a lawn, a court, a net, or any other expensive equipment. Just climb …

A colleague whispered to me, “I heard you were in the school race yesterday.” I nodded and smiled. I hadn’t come in first, but I was proud of my efforts. Her mouth twisted into a sneer. “So how did you do? …

The continent of North America extends from just south of the North Pole to just north of the equator. North America is the third largest continent in the world and consists of three large countries and a cluster of smaller …

Though it is a faded memory today, there are times when I remember the dog’s face clearly, especially his unusual eyes. We named him Spotty, because of the yellow spots in his eyes. He was a stray dog until he …

An experienced and wise master grew tired of his apprentice complaining. One morning he sent the apprentice for some salt. The master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and drink …

Idiom: Necessity is the mother of invention Nowadays, everybody likes to do more than one thing at any given time, for instance, talking on the phone while driving. This is not a safe thing to do, is it? But what if you …

Phool Waalon Ki Sair meaning “procession of the florists” is an annual celebration. It is a three-day festival, generally held in the month of September. Hindus and Muslims together offer the floral chaadar and pankha at the dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiar ‘Kaaki’ in Mehrauli, and floral …

Nurses are often the first health care professionals that a sick or injured person sees, whether in hospitals, schools and even in border areas, or military bases. Some even work in the sky or at sea, helping to transport sick …

The river was roaring like an angry cheetah. About a hundred feet below, the water was churning with force as it flowed over huge rocks. Four of my family members who were with me when we started the trek had …

Nature surrounds us wherever we are. Even among all the buildings of a big city like New Delhi, a red flower, a green tree, the golden sun, the orange sunset, the blue sky reminds us of the beauty that surrounds …

I like to visualize things – particularly happy situations, like receiving my very first pay cheque. What a wonderful day it would be…. I place my salary cheque very carefully at the bottom of my backpack, so there is no …

When I take a look around me, I don’t always like what I see and hear. The garbage on the streets. The paan stains on walls. The smell of urine on the roadside. The maddening traffic. The non-stop honking of …

The coyote is a relative of the dog, wolf and jackal. Like its relatives, it is a predator and mostly eats other mammals. It will, however, eat a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruits and vegetables. Coyotes are found throughout most of …

There once was a little boy who had a very bad temper. His father decided to hand him a bag of nails and said that every time the boy lost his temper, he had to hammer a nail into the …

India is the seventh biggest country in the world and the second most populous. It shares its borders with six countries. India surrounds the country of Bangladesh on three sides. India’s landscape is incredibly varied, with dry desert regions, lush …

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Germany. He is known as the “father of modern physics.” Not only was he the most influential physicist of the 20th century, but he is also regarded as the most famous …

 As a group of frogs were travelling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs they would never …

I can say for sure that one business that is flourishing is the beauty business. I seem to come across new beauty parlours every day. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but they definitely are mushrooming all over the place. I …

The Story of Stone Soup Three monks travelled along a mountain road. “What makes one happy?” asked the youngest monk. The wisest monk replied, “Let’s find out.” They stopped at a village. It had gone through hard times. The villagers …

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Where is the highest place in the world? It’s the top of Mount Everest, which stands between Tibet and Nepal, in Asia. But how do we know that Everest is the …

Vasco da Gama (1460 – 1524) was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in a small coastal town in Portugal named Sines. His father was a knight and an explorer. He followed in his father’s footsteps and soon commanded ships …

The continent of Europe is the second smallest in the world. Europe is densely populated and is made up of many countries-forty-six, to be precise. Each one of these countries has its own culture and, in most cases, its own …

Have you ever thought about how many different people there are in the world? Or how many languages are spoken on this planet? What about the differences in rituals, customs and traditions? The most important question we could ask ourselves …

Dengue (pronounced DEN-gay) fever is an infectious disease caused by the dengue virus. People get the dengue virus from female mosquitoes. Dengue fever is also called break-bone fever. Symptoms include high fever, headaches, vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, a rash and pain in the muscles and joints. Even though …

In a village there were three best friends – Sam, Khursheed and Sahil. They studied in the same school. All three were good in their studies. They liked their school because it was the place where they all met. They …

Our country’s army, air force, and navy, all comprise its Armed Forces. I feel a great sense of pride whenever I read or hear about any of them. They are the men and women who have chosen to defend our …

A butterfly lays a tiny green egg on a leaf. The egg sticks to the leaf even in the wind and rain. Inside the egg is a little caterpillar. After a week it begins to move, and splits the shell …

Edmund Hillary was born on July 20, 1919 in Auckland, New Zealand. As a young child, he lived in a tiny village. He described himself as “a small and rather lonely child.” Indeed, he was shy and studious, often buried in books. He …