Читаем и говорим по-английски. Тексты и упражнения для устойчивых навыков

© Том Сториз, 2026

ISBN 978-5-0070-4826-2

Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero

Введение

Данное издание предназначено для изучающих английский язык на уровне B1 и ориентировано на развитие навыков чтения, понимания и устной речи в контексте повседневного общения. В книге представлены тексты, отражающие типичные жизненные ситуации, с которыми обучающиеся могут столкнуться в реальной среде использования языка.

Каждая глава построена по единой структуре. В начале предлагается связный текст, написанный в естественном и разговорном стиле. Тексты включают распространённые лексические единицы, устойчивые выражения и модели предложений, характерные для современного английского языка. Особое внимание уделяется доступности материала и постепенному усложнению восприятия.

После текста следуют разделы, направленные на закрепление материала. Лексический блок содержит ключевые слова и выражения с переводом на русский язык. Далее представлены речевые модели, которые могут быть использованы обучающимися в собственной практике. Вопросы способствуют развитию навыков рефлексии и стимулируют использование новой лексики в личном контексте. Завершающий раздел с упражнениями направлен на активизацию изученного материала.

Основной задачей данного пособия является формирование устойчивых навыков использования английского языка в повседневной коммуникации. Материал организован таким образом, чтобы обучающиеся могли не только понимать содержание, но и применять изученные конструкции в собственной речи.

Автор исходит из того, что эффективное изучение языка требует регулярной практики, систематического повторения и постепенного расширения словарного запаса. Настоящее издание может быть использовано как для самостоятельной работы, так и в рамках учебного процесса под руководством преподавателя.

A New Beginning

When Anna stood in front of the glass doors of the office building, she took a deep breath and looked at her reflection. Everything felt new. New city, new job, new people. Even the weather felt different. It was her first morning in a place where nobody knew her name.

She had moved to the city just two weeks before. At first, everything was exciting. She walked around, explored small streets, tried new cafés, and took pictures of everything she saw. But after a few days, the excitement slowly changed into something else. She started to feel a little lonely.

Now she was about to begin her first day at work, and her heart was beating faster than usual. «It’s just a normal day,» she said quietly to herself. But it didn’t feel normal at all.

Inside the building, everything looked modern and clean. People walked quickly, holding coffee cups and talking on their phones. Anna went to the reception desk and smiled.

«Good morning. I’m Anna. It’s my first day,» she said.

The receptionist smiled back. «Welcome! Please take a seat. Someone will come for you.»

Anna sat down and checked the time, although she had only been there for two minutes. She looked around, trying not to feel nervous. After a short wait, a tall woman with dark hair walked toward her.

«Hi, you must be Anna. I’m Laura, your manager,» she said in a friendly voice.

Anna stood up quickly. «Yes, nice to meet you.»

Laura showed her around the office. There was a big open space with desks, a small kitchen area, and a quiet room for meetings. People smiled when they saw her, and some of them said hello.

«This is your desk,» Laura said. «You can put your things here. We’ll start with a short meeting in ten minutes.»

Anna sat down and turned on her computer. She felt a bit more relaxed now. The office didn’t feel as scary as she had imagined.

During the meeting, Anna listened carefully and tried to remember names, but it wasn’t easy. There were so many new faces and so much new information. Still, everyone seemed patient and ready to help.

Later, during lunch, Anna didn’t know where to go. She stood near the kitchen, holding her bag, and looked around. Then she heard a voice.

«Hey, do you want to join us?»

It was a girl from her team. Anna smiled with relief. «Yes, thank you.»

They went to a small café near the office. The conversation was simple, but warm. They talked about work, the city, and their favorite places to eat. Anna started to feel more comfortable. She even laughed a few times.

By the end of the day, Anna was tired but happy. She didn’t remember everything, and she still had a lot to learn, but it felt like a good start.

As she left the building, the city didn’t feel so strange anymore. It was still new, still a little confusing, but also full of small possibilities she hadn’t noticed before. She walked slowly down the street, thinking about the day, and for the first time since she arrived, she felt like she might belong here.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

take a deep breath — глубоко вдохнуть

feel new — чувствоваться новым

move to a new city — переехать в новый город

at first — сначала

slowly change — постепенно меняться

feel lonely — чувствовать себя одиноко

first day at work — первый день на работе

heart is beating faster — сердце бьётся быстрее

take a seat — присесть

after a short wait — после короткого ожидания

show around — провести экскурсию

feel more relaxed — чувствовать себя спокойнее

not as scary as imagined — не так страшно, как казалось

listen carefully — внимательно слушать

remember names — запоминать имена

a lot of information — много информации

during lunch — во время обеда

join someone — присоединиться к кому-то

feel comfortable — чувствовать себя комфортно

by the end of the day — к концу дня

a good start — хорошее начало

feel like you belong — чувствовать, что ты на своём месте

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

At first, everything felt new, but then I started to relax. — Сначала всё казалось новым, но потом я начал расслабляться.

I was nervous because it was my first day. — Я нервничал, потому что это был мой первый день.

Although I felt lonely, I tried to stay positive. — Хотя мне было одиноко, я пытался оставаться позитивным.

After a short time, I felt more comfortable. — Через короткое время я почувствовал себя комфортнее.

I didn’t know anyone, so I was a bit worried. — Я никого не знал, поэтому немного переживал.

It wasn’t as difficult as I expected. — Это было не так сложно, как я ожидал.

By the end of the day, I felt better. — К концу дня мне стало лучше.

Now think about your own experience:

Have you ever started something new in your life? What was it?

How do you usually feel on your first day in a new place?

What helps you feel more comfortable in a new environment?

Do you find it easy to meet new people? Why or why not?

Have you ever felt lonely in a new city or place?

What do you usually do during your first day at work or school?

Here are some possible answers:

I once started a new job in a different city. At first, everything felt new and I felt a bit lonely, but I tried to stay positive. By the end of the day, it was a good start.

I usually feel nervous because I don’t know anyone. But after a short time, I start to feel more relaxed and comfortable.

Talking to people helps me feel more comfortable. For example, if I join someone for lunch, I can relax and enjoy the conversation.

It’s not always easy for me to meet new people because I feel shy. However, I try to listen carefully and start small conversations.

Yes, I felt lonely when I moved to a new city. At first, it was difficult, but then I found new friends and places I liked.

On my first day, I usually try to remember names and understand how everything works. It helps me feel more confident.

Complete the sentences:

At first, everything felt new, but ________

I felt nervous because ________

After a short time, ________

I didn’t know anyone, so ________

By the end of the day, ________

The Bus That Didn’t Come

Tom checked his watch for the third time. The bus should have arrived ten minutes ago. He looked down the street, but there was nothing — just a few cars and a man walking his dog. The bus stop was quiet, and the morning felt unusually slow.

It was an important day. Tom had a job interview at a small company in the city center. He had prepared for it all week, read about the company, and even practiced his answers in front of the mirror. He didn’t want to be late.

At first, he tried to stay calm. «It’s probably just a little late,» he thought. But as the minutes passed, he started to feel nervous. He checked the bus schedule again, although he already knew it by heart.

A woman standing next to him shook her head. «This bus is always late,» she said. «Sometimes it doesn’t come at all.»

Tom looked at her, surprised. «Really?»

She nodded. «Happens more often than you think.»

That didn’t help. Tom took out his phone and checked the time again. If he waited any longer, he would definitely be late. He thought about calling a taxi, but there were no cars available nearby.

«Great,» he said quietly. «Just my luck.»

After a moment, he made a decision. He couldn’t just stand there and wait. He opened a map on his phone and looked for another way. There was a metro station about a fifteen-minute walk away.

«Okay,» he said to himself. «I can do this.»

He started walking quickly. At first, everything felt fine, but after a few minutes, he realized he didn’t know the area very well. The streets looked similar, and he wasn’t sure if he was going the right way.

He stopped and looked at the map again. «Turn left,» he read. But there were two streets on the left.

He hesitated for a second, then chose one and kept going. His heart was beating faster now, not only because he was walking quickly, but also because he was worried.

After a few more minutes, he saw a small café on the corner. Without thinking too much, he went inside.

«Excuse me,» he said to the barista. «Can you help me? I’m looking for the metro station.»

The barista smiled. «Of course. It’s not far. You just need to go straight, then turn right at the traffic lights.»

Tom felt a wave of relief. «Thank you so much.»

He left the café and followed the directions carefully. This time, he found the right street. Soon, he saw the sign for the metro station.

When he finally got on the train, he checked the time again. He was going to be a few minutes late, but at least he was on his way.

At the office, Tom walked in quickly and went to the reception desk. «Hi, I have an interview. I’m sorry I’m late. The bus didn’t come.»

The receptionist smiled. «Don’t worry. It happens. Please take a seat.»

Tom sat down and took a deep breath. He still felt a bit stressed, but also proud. Things didn’t go as planned, but he didn’t give up.

A few minutes later, his name was called. He stood up, fixed his jacket, and walked toward the interview room, thinking that sometimes a bad start can still lead to something good.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

check your watch — проверять часы

should have arrived — должен был приехать

look down the street — смотреть вдоль улицы

feel unusually slow — казаться необычно медленным

job interview — собеседование

prepare for something — готовиться к чему-то

in front of the mirror — перед зеркалом

stay calm — сохранять спокойствие

as the minutes passed — по мере того как проходили минуты

know something by heart — знать наизусть

not at all — совсем нет

take out your phone — достать телефон

just my luck — как всегда мне «везёт»

make a decision — принять решение

look for another way — искать другой способ

feel worried — чувствовать беспокойство

hesitate for a second — колебаться на секунду

without thinking too much — не задумываясь

a wave of relief — волна облегчения

on my way — в пути

be proud — гордиться

not give up — не сдаваться

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

The bus should have arrived, but it didn’t. — Автобус должен был приехать, но не приехал.

At first, I tried to stay calm, but then I got nervous. — Сначала я пытался сохранять спокойствие, но потом занервничал.

I didn’t have time, so I had to find another way. — У меня не было времени, поэтому пришлось найти другой способ.

Although I was worried, I kept going. — Хотя я переживал, я продолжал идти.

I wasn’t sure if I was going the right way. — Я не был уверен, что иду в правильном направлении.

It didn’t go as planned, but I didn’t give up. — Всё пошло не по плану, но я не сдался.

In the end, everything was okay. — В итоге всё было нормально.

Now think about your own experience:

Have you ever been late because of transport problems? What happened?

What do you usually do when something doesn’t go as planned?

Do you often check the time when you are waiting for something?

How do you feel when you are late for something important?

Have you ever asked a stranger for help?

What is the best way to deal with stress in a difficult situation?

Here are some possible answers:

Yes, I was late once because my bus didn’t come. At first, I tried to stay calm, but then I felt worried and had to find another way. In the end, I arrived a bit late, but it was okay.

When something doesn’t go as planned, I try not to panic. I take out my phone, look for another way, and make a decision quickly.

Yes, I often check the time when I am waiting. As the minutes pass, I start to feel nervous, especially if it’s important.

I feel stressed when I am late because I don’t want to make a bad impression. But I try to stay calm and explain the situation.

Yes, I have asked strangers for help before. For example, when I didn’t know the way, someone showed me the right direction.

I think the best way to deal with stress is to stay calm and not give up. Even if things go wrong, you can still find a solution.

Complete the sentences:

The bus should have arrived, but ________

At first, I tried to stay calm, but ________

I didn’t have time, so ________

I wasn’t sure if ________

It didn’t go as planned, but ________

A New Place, New Life

When Alex stepped out of the train station, he stopped for a moment and looked around. Everything felt different. The buildings were taller, the streets were busier, and the sounds of the city were louder than he expected. This was his new home.

He had moved from a small town where everyone knew each other. Life there was quiet and predictable. Every morning looked the same, and every weekend followed a familiar routine. At first, Alex thought he would miss that life a lot. And in some ways, he did.

But he also wanted a change. He wanted to try something new, meet different people, and have more opportunities. So when he got a job offer in the city, he didn’t think too long. He packed his bags, said goodbye to his family, and started a new chapter.

The first few days were exciting. Alex walked everywhere, trying to learn the streets. He visited parks, small shops, and cafés. He even got lost once, but he didn’t mind. It felt like an adventure.

However, after a week, things started to feel more difficult. The city was still interesting, but it was also tiring. There were too many people, too much noise, and too many things to understand. Sometimes, Alex just wanted a quiet place to sit and relax.

At work, everything was new as well. His colleagues were friendly, but they were always busy. They spoke quickly, used new expressions, and moved from one task to another without stopping. Alex tried to keep up, but it wasn’t easy.

One afternoon, during his lunch break, Alex sat alone in a small park near the office. He looked at his phone, then put it away. He didn’t feel like scrolling through social media. He just sat there, watching people walk by.

«Mind if I sit here?» someone asked.

Alex looked up and saw a man with a sandwich in his hand.

«Sure,» Alex said.

They started talking. The man’s name was Daniel, and he worked in a nearby building. He had moved to the city a year ago.

«I remember my first weeks here,» Daniel said. «It wasn’t easy.»

Alex smiled. «Really? It looks like you’re doing fine now.»

Daniel laughed. «It just takes time. You get used to the noise, the speed, everything. And little by little, it starts to feel like home.»

They talked for a while longer. Daniel told him about a few quiet places in the city, a library, a park, and a small café where people often went to relax.

After that day, things didn’t change immediately, but they felt different. Alex started to notice small things. A friendly smile from a colleague. A quiet street near his apartment. A coffee shop where the barista remembered his order.

He still missed his old life sometimes. He missed the silence and the familiar faces. But now, the city didn’t feel so overwhelming.

One evening, as he walked home, he realized he knew exactly where he was going. He didn’t need to check the map. He passed by the same café, the same street, the same corner shop.

It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t easy, but it was starting to feel like his place.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

step out of — выходить из

look around — осматриваться

feel different — чувствоваться иначе

move from a small town — переехать из маленького города

everyone knows each other — все друг друга знают

quiet and predictable — тихий и предсказуемый

want a change — хотеть перемен

try something new — попробовать что-то новое

pack your bags — собрать вещи

start a new chapter — начать новую главу

get lost — потеряться

feel like an adventure — чувствоваться как приключение

too much noise — слишком много шума

keep up — успевать, не отставать

take a break — сделать перерыв

feel overwhelming — казаться перегруженным

get used to — привыкнуть к

little by little — постепенно

feel like home — чувствоваться как дом

notice small things — замечать мелочи

miss something — скучать по чему-то

not perfect, not easy — не идеально, не легко

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

Everything felt different because I was in a new place. — Всё казалось другим, потому что я был в новом месте.

At first, I was excited, but then it became difficult. — Сначала я был взволнован, но потом стало сложно.

I wanted a change, so I decided to move. — Я хотел перемен, поэтому решил переехать.

Although it wasn’t easy, I kept going. — Хотя было непросто, я продолжал.

It takes time to get used to something new. — Требуется время, чтобы привыкнуть к чему-то новому.

Little by little, things started to feel better. — Постепенно всё стало лучше.

It didn’t feel like home at first, but now it does. — Сначала это не казалось домом, но теперь кажется.

Now think about your own experience:

Have you ever moved to a new place? How did you feel?

Do you prefer living in a big city or a small town? Why?

What helps you get used to a new environment?

Do you find it easy to meet new people in a new place?

What do you miss when you leave your home?

How long does it take you to feel comfortable in a new place?

Here are some possible answers:

Yes, I moved to a new place once. At first, everything felt different and I felt a bit overwhelmed, but little by little I got used to it.

I prefer living in a big city because there are more opportunities. Although it is noisy, I like to try something new and meet different people.

Talking to people and exploring the area helps me get used to a new place. For example, I like to walk around and notice small things.

It is not always easy for me to meet new people, but I try to be open. Sometimes a simple conversation can help a lot.

I usually miss my family and the quiet life. I also miss the places where everyone knows each other.

It takes me a few weeks to feel comfortable. At first, it feels strange, but then it starts to feel like home.

Complete the sentences:

Everything felt different because ________

At first, I was excited, but ________

I wanted a change, so ________

It takes time to ________

Little by little, ________

New Faces Everywhere

Lena stood near the entrance of the university building and looked around. There were people everywhere. Some were talking in small groups, some were checking their phones, and others were walking quickly from one place to another. She didn’t recognize a single face.

It was her first day at university, and everything felt bigger than she expected. The building was huge, the corridors were long, and the noise never seemed to stop. Lena held her bag tightly and tried to remember where she needed to go.

«At least I’m not late,» she thought, checking the time.

She walked slowly down the corridor, looking for her classroom. The numbers on the doors didn’t make much sense to her at first, and she had to stop more than once to check the map on her phone.

After a few minutes, she finally found the right room. The door was open, and a few students were already inside. Lena hesitated for a second, then walked in quietly.

She chose a seat near the window and sat down. For a moment, she just looked outside, watching people walk across the campus. It helped her feel a little calmer.