Английский для повседневной жизни подростков. Тексты уровня B1–B2 на реальные темы

© Том Сториз, 2026

ISBN 978-5-0070-4269-7

Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero

Введение

Данная книга представляет собой сборник коротких текстов, предназначенных для изучающих английский язык на уровне B1—B2. Основная цель материала заключается в развитии навыков понимания письменной речи, расширении словарного запаса и формировании умения использовать распространённые разговорные выражения в естественных контекстах.

Каждый текст построен вокруг повседневных ситуаций, с которыми регулярно сталкиваются подростки и молодые люди. Темы отобраны таким образом, чтобы отражать типичные элементы ежедневного опыта, включая учебу, общение, бытовые действия, использование цифровых устройств и взаимодействие с окружающей средой.

Структура каждого раздела включает основной текст, список полезных выражений с переводом, языковые конструкции для практического использования, вопросы для самостоятельного осмысления темы и примеры ответов. Такой подход направлен на последовательное закрепление лексики и развитие навыков устной и письменной речи.

Языковой материал подобран с учетом частотности употребления в современном английском языке. Особое внимание уделено сочетаниям слов и устойчивым выражениям, которые характерны для повседневного общения. Это позволяет обучающимся не только запоминать отдельные слова, но и осваивать готовые речевые модели.

Книга может использоваться как для самостоятельного изучения, так и в рамках учебного процесса. Она ориентирована на систематическую работу с текстом и постепенное расширение языковых возможностей обучающегося без усложнения грамматической структуры сверх уровня B1—B2.

Материалы не требуют предварительной подготовки и могут быть использованы в любом порядке в зависимости от образовательных задач и индивидуальных потребностей учащегося.

Waking Up Late Again

The alarm started ringing at 7:00 a.m., just like every weekday. I heard it, of course. I even opened one eye and looked at the screen. «Five more minutes,» I thought, as usual. It felt like the most natural decision in the world. The room was still a bit dark, the blanket was warm, and I didn’t feel ready to leave my bed.

Five minutes turned into ten. Then into twenty.

The next time I opened my eyes, the sunlight was already stronger. I grabbed my phone and suddenly sat up. 7:48.

«Oh no.»

My heart started beating faster because I knew I didn’t have much time. I jumped out of bed and almost tripped over my backpack, which I had left on the floor the night before. I didn’t even remember doing that. Everything felt messy, but there was no time to think about it.

I rushed to the bathroom, brushed my teeth quickly, and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was going in different directions, and I looked half asleep. «Great,» I said quietly, although nothing about the situation was great.

Back in my room, I tried to find something to wear. Of course, I couldn’t find my favorite hoodie. I checked the chair, the bed, even the floor. Nothing. In the end, I just grabbed the first clean thing I saw. It didn’t match, but at least it was comfortable.

There was no time for breakfast, so I took an apple from the kitchen and put it in my bag. My mom said something as I was leaving, but I didn’t catch it. I just said, «Bye!» and closed the door.

Outside, the air was cold, which helped me wake up a little. I started walking fast, then faster, and finally I was almost running. I checked the time again. If I hurried, I might still catch the bus.

I turned the corner and saw it — the bus was already there.

«No, no, no…»

I ran as fast as I could, but the doors closed right in front of me. The driver didn’t even look at me. The bus slowly drove away, and I just stood there, breathing heavily and feeling a mix of anger and disappointment.

For a moment, I thought about going back home. It was so tempting. I could say I wasn’t feeling well, go back to bed, and forget about the whole day. But I knew it wasn’t a good idea. I had a test, and I had already missed too many classes.

So I started walking to school.

At first, I was annoyed. Everything felt unfair, although I knew it was my fault. I kept thinking about the alarm, about those «five more minutes.» Why did I always do that?

But after a few minutes, I started to calm down. The streets were quiet, and there weren’t many people around. I could hear my own steps and the sound of cars passing by. It wasn’t so bad.

I took a bite of my apple while walking. It wasn’t the breakfast I wanted, but at least it was something. I even started to feel a bit more awake.

By the time I got to school, I was still late, but not too late. I walked into the classroom quietly and tried not to draw attention. The teacher looked at me for a second but didn’t say anything.

I sat down, took out my notebook, and finally took a deep breath.

Next time, I told myself, I’ll get up on the first alarm.

But I’ve said that before.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

five more minutes — ещё пять минут

turn into — превращаться в

suddenly sit up — резко сесть

not have much time — не иметь много времени

jump out of bed — вскочить с кровати

in a hurry — в спешке

look half asleep — выглядеть полусонным

grab the first thing — схватить первое попавшееся

there is no time for — нет времени на

catch the bus — успеть на автобус

run as fast as I could — бежать изо всех сил

right in front of me — прямо передо мной

feel a mix of — чувствовать смесь (эмоций)

think about going back — думать вернуться

not a good idea — плохая идея

at first — сначала

my fault — моя вина

calm down — успокоиться

not so bad — не так уж плохо

take a bite — откусить

feel more awake — чувствовать себя бодрее

try not to draw attention — стараться не привлекать внимание

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I didn’t have much time, so I… — У меня было мало времени, поэтому я…

I tried to…, but… — Я пытался…, но…

At first, I felt…, but then… — Сначала я чувствовал…, но потом…

I thought about…, but I decided… — Я подумал о…, но решил…

There was no time for…, so I… — Не было времени на…, поэтому я…

I started to…, and then… — Я начал…, а потом…

By the time I…, I was already… — К тому времени, как я…, я уже…

Now think about your own experience:

Do you often wake up late? Why or why not?

What do you usually do first in the morning?

Have you ever missed something important because you were late?

What helps you wake up faster?

Do you like mornings or evenings more? Why?

What is your perfect morning like?

Here are some possible answers:

I sometimes wake up late because I stay up too late and say «five more minutes» in the morning. For example, I often scroll my phone before sleep, so it’s hard to get up early.

I usually check my phone first, although I know it’s not a good idea. Then I jump out of bed and try to get ready quickly because I don’t have much time.

Yes, I once missed an important class because I overslept. I felt a mix of stress and disappointment, and I knew it was my fault.

Cold water and fresh air help me feel more awake. For example, I open the window and wash my face, and it really helps me calm down and focus.

I like evenings more because I feel more relaxed and productive. In the morning, I usually look half asleep and need time to wake up.

My perfect morning is calm and not in a hurry. I have time for breakfast, listen to music, and don’t need to run as fast as I could to catch the bus.

Complete the sentences:

I didn’t have much time, so I ____________________.

I said «five more minutes,» and it turned into ____________________.

There was no time for breakfast, so I ____________________.

I tried to catch the bus, but ____________________.

At first, I felt annoyed, but then ____________________.

Scrolling Your Phone Before Sleep

I told myself I would go to bed early tonight. No excuses, no «just one more video,» no late-night scrolling. I even put my phone on the table and turned off the lights at 11:00 p.m. It felt like a good start.

For about two minutes.

Then I picked up my phone again.

«I’ll just check one thing,» I thought. Maybe someone sent a message, or something interesting happened online. It didn’t feel like a big decision at the time. Just a quick look.

I opened one app, then another. A few messages, a couple of short videos, some random posts. Nothing special, but somehow I couldn’t stop. Every time I thought about putting my phone down, something new appeared on the screen.

«Okay, this is the last one,» I said.

But it wasn’t.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. I changed my position in bed because my arm started to feel uncomfortable. The room was quiet, and the light from my phone was the only thing I could see clearly.

At some point, I noticed the time.

11:47.

«Seriously?»

I put the phone on my chest and looked at the ceiling. I was tired, but at the same time, my brain felt active. It was like I wasn’t ready to sleep anymore. I kept thinking about random things — something I saw online, something I forgot to do, something I wanted to say to someone.

After a minute, I picked up the phone again.

This time, I didn’t even try to explain it. It just felt automatic.

More videos, more scrolling. Some of them were funny, some were boring, but I kept going anyway. It was like my finger knew what to do without asking me.

When I finally checked the time again, it was already 12:32.

I sat up.

«Why do I always do this?»

I knew I would feel tired in the morning. I knew I would press snooze again and again. I knew the whole day would be harder because of this. But in that moment, it didn’t seem important enough to stop.

I locked my phone and put it away, this time a bit further from the bed. The room suddenly felt darker and quieter. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

But it wasn’t easy.

My mind was still full of noise. Short videos, messages, thoughts — everything mixed together. I turned from one side to another, trying to find a comfortable position, but sleep didn’t come.

After a while, I opened my eyes again and looked at the ceiling. It felt like I had wasted time, although I couldn’t even remember what I watched.

I reached for my phone… and stopped.

«No,» I said quietly. «Not again.»

I put my hand back under the blanket and closed my eyes. This time, I tried to focus on my breathing. Slowly, the thoughts started to disappear, and my body began to relax.

It took some time, but eventually I fell asleep.

Somewhere between «just one more video» and «I really need to sleep,» I realized it’s not about the phone. It’s about that small moment when you decide what to do next — and how easy it is to choose the wrong thing without even thinking.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

go to bed early — лечь спать рано

no excuses — без оправданий

pick up the phone — взять телефон

just check one thing — просто проверить кое-что

at the time — в тот момент

a quick look — быстрый взгляд

couldn’t stop — не мог остановиться

put my phone down — отложить телефон

the last one — последний (раз/видео)

pass (time) — проходить (о времени)

at some point — в какой-то момент

notice the time — заметить время

feel active — чувствовать себя активным

not ready to sleep — не готов спать

pick up again — снова взять

without asking me — без «разрешения»

check the time again — снова проверить время

feel tired in the morning — чувствовать усталость утром

press snooze — нажимать повтор сигнала

put it away — убрать

not easy — нелегко

full of noise — полно шума (мыслей)

turn from one side to another — ворочаться

fall asleep — заснуть

waste time — тратить время

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I told myself I would…, but… — Я сказал себе, что…, но…

I’ll just…, and then… — Я просто…, а потом…

Every time I…, I… — Каждый раз, когда я…, я…

I knew I would…, but… — Я знал, что…, но…

It felt like…, although… — Это было как будто…, хотя…

After a while, I… — Через некоторое время я…

I tried to…, but it wasn’t easy — Я пытался…, но это было нелегко

Now think about your own experience:

Do you use your phone before sleep? What do you usually do?

How much time do you spend on your phone at night?

Is it easy or difficult for you to stop scrolling? Why?

How do you feel the next morning after using your phone late?

Have you ever tried to change this habit? What happened?

What helps you fall asleep faster?

Here are some possible answers:

Yes, I usually use my phone before sleep because I want to relax. I just check one thing, but then I watch videos and couldn’t stop.

I often spend about one hour on my phone, although I plan to go to bed early. Time passes very quickly, and I don’t notice it.

It is difficult to stop because every time I try to put my phone down, I see something new. It feels automatic, and I don’t think about it.

I feel tired in the morning and press snooze many times. It’s not a good idea, but I still do it.

Yes, I tried to put my phone away earlier, and it helped a little. For example, I didn’t pick it up again, and it was easier to fall asleep.

Listening to calm music and not using my phone helps me. After a while, my mind is not full of noise, and I can relax.

Complete the sentences:

I told myself I would go to bed early, but ____________________.

I just wanted to check one thing, and then ____________________.

Every time I tried to put my phone down, ____________________.

I knew I would feel tired in the morning, but ____________________.

After a while, I finally ____________________.

What to Wear Today?

I opened my eyes and immediately knew it was going to be one of those mornings. The alarm had already gone off twice, and the room felt slightly cold. I checked my phone — 7:12. Not too late, but not enough time to relax either.

I sat up slowly and looked at the chair next to my bed. It was already full of clothes. There was a hoodie I wore two days ago, a T-shirt I kind of liked, and jeans that didn’t feel very comfortable anymore. The usual mess.

«Okay… what am I going to wear today?» I asked myself, even though nobody was listening.

I stood there for a minute, just staring. It sounds simple, but it never is. Today I had school, maybe after-school activities, and I knew I would be outside for a while. The weather looked cold, but not freezing. Still, I didn’t fully trust it.

I picked up the hoodie first. Then I put it back. It felt too casual. Then I grabbed a black T-shirt and held it in front of the mirror. Not bad, but a bit boring. I sighed and sat back on the bed.

«Why is this so difficult?»

I opened my wardrobe again, hoping something new would magically appear. Of course, nothing changed. Just the same clothes I always wear, arranged in the same messy way.

I started mixing things in my head: hoodie with jeans, jacket with sneakers, T-shirt with… something. I tried to imagine how I would look, but it didn’t help much. Everything felt either too warm or too light.

After a few minutes, I realized I was running out of time. I still needed to brush my teeth, eat something, and catch the bus.

«Okay, just pick something,» I said to myself.

In the end, I chose something simple — a grey hoodie, black jeans, and my usual sneakers. Nothing special, but at least it worked. I looked at myself in the mirror again. It wasn’t perfect, but it was fine.

«Good enough,» I said, grabbing my backpack.

But then I stopped.

Something felt off.

I went back and added a jacket. Just in case. The weather always changes when I’m not ready for it.

As I was leaving the room, I noticed how much time I had spent just deciding what to wear. It felt a bit funny. Ten minutes, maybe more, for something I forget about five minutes after leaving the house.

Downstairs, my mom looked at me and said, «You’re still thinking about clothes?»

«Not anymore,» I said, although I wasn’t completely sure.

On the way to school, I noticed other people too. Some looked like they spent hours planning their outfits. Others looked like they just threw something on and left. And honestly, no one really seemed to care that much.

I started thinking that maybe it’s not really about clothes. It’s about feeling ready for the day, even if nothing feels perfect. Because most mornings aren’t perfect anyway.

I adjusted my jacket and kept walking.

It was just another ordinary day, after all.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

one of those mornings — одно из тех утр

sit up slowly — медленно сесть

not too late — не слишком поздно

what am I going to wear — что мне надеть

stare at — смотреть, уставиться

pick up / put back — взять / положить обратно

hold in front of the mirror — держать перед зеркалом

a bit boring — немного скучно

run out of time — не хватать времени

just pick something — просто выбрать что-то

in the end — в конце концов

nothing special — ничего особенного

good enough — достаточно хорошо

something felt off — что-то было не так

just in case — на всякий случай

spend time doing something — тратить время на что-то

throw something on — накинуть что-то

not really about — не совсем про

feel ready for the day — чувствовать готовность к дню

after all — в конце концов

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I wasn’t sure what to…, so I… — Я не был уверен, что…, поэтому я…

I tried to…, but it didn’t help — Я пытался…, но это не помогло

In the end, I decided to… — В конце концов я решил…

I spent time doing…, although… — Я тратил время на…, хотя…

It felt like…, but… — Это казалось…, но…

I thought maybe… — Я подумал, что возможно…

Now think about your own experience:

Do you usually plan your clothes in the morning or the night before?

What do you wear when you want to feel comfortable?

Have you ever changed your clothes many times before going out? Why?

Do you care a lot about how you look at school or in public? Why?

What outfit do you wear most often?

Do you think clothes affect your mood? How?

Here are some possible answers:

I usually decide in the morning because I don’t plan ahead. I just check the weather and pick something quickly, although sometimes I spend too much time thinking.

I usually wear something simple like a hoodie and jeans because it feels comfortable. I don’t like to think too much about it in the morning.

Yes, sometimes I change clothes several times before going out. It happens when nothing feels right, and I start to run out of time.

I don’t care too much about it, but I still want to look okay. I think it’s not really about fashion, but about feeling confident.

I wear a hoodie most often because it’s easy and comfortable. It works for almost every situation, so I don’t need to think much.

Yes, clothes affect my mood. When I feel comfortable, I feel more ready for the day, but when something feels off, I think about it too much.

Complete the sentences:

I opened my wardrobe and ____________________.

I wasn’t sure what to wear, so ____________________.

In the end, I decided to ____________________.

I spent too much time choosing clothes, although ____________________.

It felt like something was off, so ____________________.

Running to Catch the Bus

I heard the alarm, but I didn’t really hear it. It was more like background noise while I was still half asleep. I remember turning it off and thinking, «Just a few more minutes.» That was my first mistake.

The next time I opened my eyes, something felt wrong. The room was too bright, too quiet. I grabbed my phone.

8:19.

For a few seconds, I just stared at the screen. My brain wasn’t fully working yet, so I didn’t even react properly. Then it hit me.

The bus leaves at 8:30.

«Oh no.»

I jumped out of bed so fast that I almost fell. My blanket got stuck on my leg, and I had to pull it off while trying to stand up at the same time. Everything suddenly felt like it was moving too slowly, even though I was rushing.

I didn’t have time to think. I just started doing things automatically — brush teeth, clothes, backpack. I don’t even remember what I wore exactly. It was just something I grabbed.

«Why do I always do this?» I said to myself while trying to find my socks.

I could hear my mom in the kitchen, but I didn’t stop. I just shouted something like «I’m late!» and ran past her. She probably said something back, but I didn’t catch it.

I checked the time again. 8:24.

«Okay, I can still make it,» I thought, although I wasn’t completely sure.

I rushed out of the house, and the cold air hit my face immediately. That actually helped a little — it woke me up more. I started walking fast, then faster, and then I was basically running.

My backpack kept bouncing on my back. One of the straps felt loose, but I didn’t stop to fix it. I just held it with one hand and kept moving.