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Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners

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Short Story 563 – A Train Journey (Beg)

The train begins, so slow, so steady,
In West Country, where hills are ready.
Green fields stretch, so wide, so bright,
Morning sun paints gold with light.

Wheels go click, they hum, they sing,
A gentle song that freedom brings.
Through tiny towns with stone-built homes,
Where history lives and wildflowers roam.

Past rivers clear, they twist and flow,
Reflecting skies where soft clouds go.
Sheep graze calm, and cows stand still,
Watching the train climb up the hill.

The journey’s long, but time feels kind,
With every view, it soothes the mind.
Old bridges cross, their arches strong,
The train keeps moving, all day long.

Now London calls, the city wakes,
Its busy heart forever shakes.
Big Ben chimes loud, its voice so clear,
The Thames sparkles, with boats so near.

Red buses rush, their engines roar,
Crowds fill the streets, from shore to shore.
Tall buildings gleam, with glass and steel,
The city’s pulse, so strong, so real.

I walk through markets, smells so sweet,
Of bread and flowers, and food to eat.
In parks, the trees stand old and wise,
While pigeons dance beneath the skies.

But soon it’s time to leave again,
The platform waits, like an old friend.
The train is warm, its seats are wide,
I settle in for the long, soft ride.

Back through the fields, where dusk now falls,
The sky turns pink, as night-time calls.
Stars twinkle soft, above the land,
The train rocks gently, hand in hand.

The West Country greets with open arms,
Its quiet peace, its rural charms.
The journey ends, my heart feels light,
This train, my guide, through day and night.


Vocabulary Notes

Steady: Adjective
Meaning: Moving or happening in a smooth, controlled way; not shaking or unsteady.
Example: “The train begins, so slow, so steady,”
Sample Sentence: The old man walked with a steady hand on his cane.
Similar Words:
Stable (adjective): Firm and not likely to change or move. E.g., The table is stable and won’t fall.
Calm (adjective): Peaceful and steady in behavior or movement. E.g., Her calm voice helped everyone relax.
Even (adjective): Smooth and consistent. E.g., The car drove at an even speed.

Hills: Noun (plural)
Meaning: Raised areas of land, smaller than mountains.
Example: “In West Country, where hills are ready.”
Sample Sentence: We climbed the hills to see the beautiful view.
Similar Words:
Mountains (noun): Larger and higher than hills. E.g., The mountains were covered in snow.
Slopes (noun): Gentle or steep inclines, often part of hills. E.g., The slopes were green with grass.
Ridges (noun): Long, narrow tops of hills or mountains. E.g., The ridge was difficult to walk along.

Bright: Adjective
Meaning: Full of light or color; shining or vivid.
Example: “Green fields stretch, so wide, so bright,”
Sample Sentence: The bright flowers in the garden looked beautiful.
Similar Words:
Shiny (adjective): Reflecting light, often smooth. E.g., Her shiny shoes sparkled in the sun.
Vivid (adjective): Very clear and strong in color or effect. E.g., The painting had vivid colors.
Radiant (adjective): Bright and glowing with light or happiness. E.g., Her radiant smile lit up the room.

Journey: Noun
Meaning: A trip or travel from one place to another.
Example: “The journey’s long, but time feels kind,”
Sample Sentence: Our journey to the beach took three hours.
Similar Words:
Trip (noun): A short journey, often for pleasure. E.g., We took a trip to the zoo.
Travel (noun): The act of going from one place to another. E.g., Travel by plane is very fast.
Voyage (noun): A long journey, often by sea or to a distant place. E.g., The voyage across the ocean was exciting.

Gleam: Verb
Meaning: To shine softly or reflect light.
Example: “Tall buildings gleam, with glass and steel,”
Sample Sentence: The lake gleamed under the moonlight.
Similar Words:
Shine (verb): To give off or reflect light brightly. E.g., The stars shine at night.
Glow (verb): To give off a soft, warm light. E.g., The candle glowed in the dark room.
Sparkle (verb): To shine with small flashes of light. E.g., Her eyes sparkled with joy.

Pulse: Noun
Meaning: The energy or rhythm of something, like the beat of a heart or the liveliness of a place.
Example: “The city’s pulse, so strong, so real.”
Sample Sentence: The pulse of the music made everyone dance.
Similar Words:
Rhythm (noun): A regular, repeated pattern, like music or movement. E.g., The song had a fast rhythm.
Energy (noun): The strength or liveliness of something. E.g., The market was full of energy.
Beat (noun): A regular sound or movement, like a heartbeat. E.g., The drum’s beat was loud.

Dusk: Noun
Meaning: The time of day just before night, when it starts to get dark.
Example: “Back through the fields, where dusk now falls,”
Sample Sentence: We watched the sunset at dusk by the river.
Similar Words:
Twilight (noun): The soft light or time just before night or after dawn. E.g., The sky was beautiful at twilight.
Evening (noun): The time of day after the afternoon, before night. E.g., We eat dinner in the evening.
Sunset (noun): The time when the sun goes below the horizon. E.g., The sunset painted the sky orange.

Story written by Grok 3 AI

Image created by Designer AI

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads

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