Bus Stop – English Reading – Level 1

How I Went to Work by Bus

I got up at five o’clock this morning. It was very early for me. I usually get up at seven o’clock, but today I had to be at work early in the morning. And I have a problem – my car is broken. The repair station will give me back my car in two days, and so this morning, I had to take a bus.

I don’t like buses. There are always so many people, and sometimes when a bus is late, you have to wait in the rain. I hate it. I like my car. I like driving it every day.

So I got up early and had two eggs and bacon for breakfast. And coffee, of course! I always have some coffee in the morning. I can’t live without coffee. I have one cup at home and then one cup in my office. I always start my day like this.

I brushed my teeth, put on my shoes and coat and went to the bus stop. I did not want to miss the bus, so I walked quickly. I arrived at the bus stop ten minutes early, but that’s OK. It’s better to be ten minutes early than one minute late!

Two minutes later, someone said to me: “Hello, Richard. Is that really you?” It was my old friend Peter.

“Peter! Nice to see you!” I was surprised. “When did we meet last? Can you remember?”

“No, not exactly,” he smiled. “I think it was about a year ago, in the shopping centre…” he said and then he asked: “So, what are you doing here? I didn’t know that you go to work by bus!”

“I don’t go to work by bus,” I answered. “I usually drive to work, but my car is broken and it is with the repair station for two days. So I am going to work by bus today and also tomorrow,” I said. “But what are you doing here? I thought that you go to work by car, as well!”

“No, not anymore. I drove to work for many years, but last year, my car broke down, too. And I had to take a bus, like you today,” he said.

“But your car is good now, I hope?”

“Yes, it is,” he said.

“So why do you go to work by bus, and not by car? I don’t understand,” I said.

“I’ll tell you what happened,” he smiled. “One morning, when my car was broken, I went to this bus stop. Just like you today. And after few minutes, I met our old friend, Harry. Can you remember Harry?” he asked.

“Yes, of course, I can remember Harry. But I did not see him for a very long time. When did you meet him last?” I asked.

“I met Harry yesterday,” he laughed, “and you can meet him now!”

“Richard!” someone said behind my back.

“Harry! It is not possible! We just talked about you!” I said. I was very happy. I met my two old friends in the same morning.

“See?” Peter said to me. “Last year, I met Harry, and now we both go to work by bus and we meet every morning. Sometimes, we also go for a beer in the evening. That is the reason why I do not drive to work any more. When you drive, you are alone. Harry lives near here, like you. But you did not meet him for a long time. I meet him every day,” he laughed. “And now I met you, too!”

“My bus is coming, guys. I have to go now, but I will see you tomorrow morning, OK?”

“Yes, sure. See you tomorrow!” Peter and Harry said together.

On my way to work, I thought about my friends. They were very happy, and I was happy, too. In two days, I will have my car back and I will drive to work again. “And maybe not. Maybe I will go by bus like my friends,” I thought. “I have to think about it.”

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English Reading, Level 1 / © Sparrow’s English Reader

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Which Language Will She Learn?

Laura was at the bus stop. Her bus was late and there were many people at the bus stop now. They all waited for the bus. Laura thought ‘When all these people get on the bus, there will be more place for me at the bus stop.’ And then she thought: ‘But I don’t want to stand here and wait for the next bus.’

And so she went closer to the road. Now she will get on the bus first!

The people around her talked together about various things. But some of these people talked in German. Laura couldn’t understand anything. She couldn’t speak German. But she liked the sound of the German language.

She thought: ‘I can understand English a little bit. I cannot understand everything, but I can understand something. And I can talk a little bit in English, too. Now it’s time to learn something new. I will learn German!’

And so Laura decided to learn German. Suddenly she saw a bus. When the bus came closer, Laura found out that it was not her bus. She made a few steps back because she didn’t want to get on this bus.

When the bus stopped, many people got off the bus. They got off and went away. Most of the people at the bus stop got on this bus. The people who talked in German got on this bus, too. Now Laura couldn’t listen to the German language.

A few minutes later, Laura’s bus arrived. ‘Finally!’ she thought and got on. She took a seat at the window. The driver closed the door and the bus started to move. On the next bus stop, there was a group of small children with two teachers. She saw them through the window.

When the door opened, the children and their teachers got on the bus. They were very noisy. They talked a lot and they talked very loudly. And…. they talked in French.

‘How is this possible?’ Laura thought. ‘These children are so little and they can speak French.’ She looked at the teachers. They both wore the same T-shirts. On their T-shirts there was written: International French School.

Now Laura understood. They were students of a French school. So they had French teachers and they talked in French every day. Laura listened to the children and she listened to the teachers. The French language was so beautiful.

Laura thought: ‘I know what I will do. I will learn French!’

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English Reading, Level 1 / © Sparrow’s English Reader

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Dark Blue Glove

There was an elderly woman sitting on a bus. The bus was crowded and all the seats were taken. Many people stood next to the seats and also next to the door.

Peter stood next to the seat, where the elderly woman sat. He stood there and looked out of the window. There were many people on his left and on his right side.

On the next bus stop, the woman got up and started to push other people because she wanted to get off the bus. Some other people got off the bus, too. But it was not easy because there were many people next to the seats and they didn’t want to move.

The seat was empty and Peter wanted to sit down. But when he looked at the seat, he saw that there was something on it. It was a dark blue glove. The woman forgot it on the seat.

Peter looked around. The woman was at the door. She was almost out of the bus. He took the glove and he quickly went to the door. But there were many people in his way and they slowed him down.

Finally, he got to the door. He heard the bell over the door. The bus driver wanted to close it. He quickly pushed forward and got off the bus. The door closed and the bus left.

He looked at the bus. Now he had to wait for another full bus. ‘The next bus will come in 45 minutes,’ he thought. It was not good, but at least he had the glove.

He looked around. He saw the elderly woman. She walked away from the bus stop. He ran after her and came to her after few seconds. He showed her the dark blue glove and said: ‘Excuse me, you forgot this on the seat of the bus.’

She looked at the dark blue glove, then she looked at Peter and she said: ‘I don’t want it. It’s not mine.’

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English Reading, Level 1 / © Sparrow’s English Reader

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