The following articles cover a variety of topics and range from basic beginner English to advanced. You can and should read articles of several different levels. Read articles that you find easy because this will boost your self-confidence. Read articles that are approximately your current English reading level because, well, just because. And, read articles that are above your level to stretch your English reading skills. Use a dictionary sparingly. If you don't understand every word, don't worry. Just try to grasp the meaning of the sentence, paragraph and overall article. Each article has a brief list of questions`for you to test your reading comprehension.
THE PATH TO SUCCESSFUL ENGLISH WRITING: "What you put in is what comes out." Excellent English writing is the result of reading a lot of good English material. The more time you spend reading English, the better your English writing will become. This is the natural path to excellent English writing!
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Articles for English Reading Practice
Judging Cultures, Alan Trefzger: Is it right to judge other cultures, and if it is, what circumstances make it alright? To find out, click here to read this article.
Growing up in a Water Culture, Michael Knapp: Enjoy this short article about growing up in a state that flows abundantly with water, and then try to answer the questions at the end of the article. Click here to read this article. What Scientists Say About Evolution: Not only is this very enlightening, but it is also a great opportunity to read an enlightening piece of English writing with a Chinese translation. To view it in both languages, click on both of these links: For the PDF English version, click here. For the Chinese version, click here. Wayne Braswell of CWB Foundation is an expert on the topic of leadership. You can enjoy his concise outline on leadership while you improve your English and learn about leadership. To read this outline click here. Wali: An Alternative Place to Take International Friends: There's nothing unusual or unique about taking your international friends to the Great Wall or other tourist sites, but Wali offers a genuine rural Chinese experience. This article offers plenty of pictures of Wali and gives the reader some questions for English practice. To enjoy this article, click here. Negative Beliefs: The Obstacles on Your Path to Growth: World-famous author, speaker, and authority on leadership, shows us the keys to overcoming obstacles to our personal growth. |
MORE ARTICLES BY MICHAEL KNAPP
Family Success Can be Found at Home; Not Work: click here to read this Global Times newspaper article.
Bad Parking at the Root of China's Crammed Roads: You may be surprised to discover the writer's theory on what really causes some of the country's traffic jams. To read this article, click here.
Read English articles in Michael's blog on the eBeijing website. Click here to begin reading.
COMMON SENSE FOR ANIMAL LOVERS
Michael Knapp
People think I’m a hypocrite when I tell them I love animals and grew up hunting deer and rabbits. But even Beijing pet owners eat chicken and wear leather shoes. So, where’s the balance between animal cruelty and treating them like royalty?
American friends derogatorily joke, “You live in China. Don’t touch my pet!” They assume, since Chinese eat dog meat, pets aren’t safe in China. Guangzhou meat markets sell dogs and cats. Many westerners don’t realize restaurant dog meat doesn’t come from family pets. I hope!
Animal cruelty makes my blood boil, but balance is necessary. Animals weren’t domesticated for their benefit, but for human enjoyment. A Norway prison even gives pets to inmates, not because the animals commit crimes, but to rehabilitate prisoners. We put animals, not humans, in zoos to entertain ourselves, not because they’re happier there than in the wild.
I like veggies and respect vegetarians, but even they wear leather belts and kill bugs, especially pests in their vegetable gardens. Animal lovers kill fleas in their pet’s fur. Some animal rights activists even eat fish or other meats. No matter how hard we try, we cannot make animals into humans.
All over Beijing, I see dogs and cats wearing shoes and sweaters. It’s evidence that pets exist for the purpose of making humans happy, not vice versa. How many poodles do you know who get to choose their favorite outfits, or their own “hair styles?” Pet owners groom and dress pets to make themselves feel good. We care for animals, not because they really need humans, but because we need them for sentimental reasons.
If it’s not about sentimentalism, why do we eat beef but protect dolphins? People cruelly catch fish with sharp hooks but cuddle kittens. Pork eaters denounce deer hunters? Dolphins, cats and deer are precious, but in all honesty, it’s about our gushy emotions.
Last week my daughter and I were nearly in tears when we saw a mangled Beijing cat with leaves stuck in its fur, dirty and terrified. What cruelty! If cats were human I would have called 911. It’s so sadistic!
I once saw a man in Xinjiang whipping his donkey. Sometimes they need it, but what sickened me was the whip slapping down on an already wounded spot on the donkey’s back, splattering blood. It took all the self-control I have to refrain from whipping the owner’s back.
I’ve witnessed Beijing owners kicking dogs and zoo patrons throwing things into animals’ cages. Like whipping a donkey’s open wound, it’s nothing short of barbaric!
Animal ownership carries responsibility to care and, as well as obligation to society. Train your dog not to bark in in residential neighborhoods. I actually wept when we sold our adorable puppy after only two days, because his whining disturbed the neighbors: responsibility. Finally, keep your pet on a leash when going for a walk in the city, and please, take a bag and a poop scoop!
Hunting, when I was a kid, was a great pleasure, because it was a special bonding time with my beloved beagle. For a while, my family raised rabbits to eat, but we finally “fell in love” with them, opened their cages and let them join the other pets in our huge back yard.
Michael Knapp
People think I’m a hypocrite when I tell them I love animals and grew up hunting deer and rabbits. But even Beijing pet owners eat chicken and wear leather shoes. So, where’s the balance between animal cruelty and treating them like royalty?
American friends derogatorily joke, “You live in China. Don’t touch my pet!” They assume, since Chinese eat dog meat, pets aren’t safe in China. Guangzhou meat markets sell dogs and cats. Many westerners don’t realize restaurant dog meat doesn’t come from family pets. I hope!
Animal cruelty makes my blood boil, but balance is necessary. Animals weren’t domesticated for their benefit, but for human enjoyment. A Norway prison even gives pets to inmates, not because the animals commit crimes, but to rehabilitate prisoners. We put animals, not humans, in zoos to entertain ourselves, not because they’re happier there than in the wild.
I like veggies and respect vegetarians, but even they wear leather belts and kill bugs, especially pests in their vegetable gardens. Animal lovers kill fleas in their pet’s fur. Some animal rights activists even eat fish or other meats. No matter how hard we try, we cannot make animals into humans.
All over Beijing, I see dogs and cats wearing shoes and sweaters. It’s evidence that pets exist for the purpose of making humans happy, not vice versa. How many poodles do you know who get to choose their favorite outfits, or their own “hair styles?” Pet owners groom and dress pets to make themselves feel good. We care for animals, not because they really need humans, but because we need them for sentimental reasons.
If it’s not about sentimentalism, why do we eat beef but protect dolphins? People cruelly catch fish with sharp hooks but cuddle kittens. Pork eaters denounce deer hunters? Dolphins, cats and deer are precious, but in all honesty, it’s about our gushy emotions.
Last week my daughter and I were nearly in tears when we saw a mangled Beijing cat with leaves stuck in its fur, dirty and terrified. What cruelty! If cats were human I would have called 911. It’s so sadistic!
I once saw a man in Xinjiang whipping his donkey. Sometimes they need it, but what sickened me was the whip slapping down on an already wounded spot on the donkey’s back, splattering blood. It took all the self-control I have to refrain from whipping the owner’s back.
I’ve witnessed Beijing owners kicking dogs and zoo patrons throwing things into animals’ cages. Like whipping a donkey’s open wound, it’s nothing short of barbaric!
Animal ownership carries responsibility to care and, as well as obligation to society. Train your dog not to bark in in residential neighborhoods. I actually wept when we sold our adorable puppy after only two days, because his whining disturbed the neighbors: responsibility. Finally, keep your pet on a leash when going for a walk in the city, and please, take a bag and a poop scoop!
Hunting, when I was a kid, was a great pleasure, because it was a special bonding time with my beloved beagle. For a while, my family raised rabbits to eat, but we finally “fell in love” with them, opened their cages and let them join the other pets in our huge back yard.
