Magazine zone

Magazine zone

Do you want to practise your reading and learn about global issues, special days and festivals?

In this section, read articles about a wide variety of topics. The articles are written for learners at B1 English level (intermediate) and B2 English level (upper intermediate) .

You will improve your reading comprehension and develop your vocabulary on a diverse range of international events, celebrations and topics. Each article has interactive exercises to help you understand and use the language.

Choose a topic

What do you know about the history and symbols of the Olympic Games? Read the article to find out about this globally renowned sports event.

What do you know about chocolate? Learn about the history of chocolate and the interesting journey from cocoa bean to chocolate bar.

Every summer, music lovers get excited about the UK's biggest music festival! Find out all about it in this article.

World Music Day, on 21 June, is a global celebration of music. Read about how this special day started and how it's celebrated worldwide.

Yoga is becoming more and more popular around the world. What exactly is it, where did it come from and what are the health benefits of doing yoga?

Did you know that every day thousands of people leave their homes to escape war or terror? World Refugee Day is a day to support refugees worldwide and help them rebuild their lives.

World Oceans Day is a day to think about the extremely important role that the oceans play in all our lives, the dangers that are facing our oceans and the actions we can take to protect them.

On World Environment Day people from countries all around the world come together to take action to defend our planet. Find out about some of the things people are doing to celebrate this special day.

Every year, on the first Sunday in May, World Laughter Day celebrates the positive effect that deep laughter can have on us all.

May 1 is International Workers' Day. On this day, people in many countries around the world celebrate workers' achievements and march in the streets demanding fair pay and better working conditions.

English Language Day is celebrated on 23 April. Read about where English came from, how it came to be spoken all over the world and how it is changing.

International Mother Earth Day, on 22 April, promotes harmony with nature and reminds us of the importance of protecting all the different ecosystems and species on our planet.

Tea is the world's second most popular drink (after water!). In the UK, you can even celebrate drinking it on 21 April.

April Fool's Day is a special day for jokes and tricks in many countries. Read this article to find out all about it.

Easter is the most important festival of the year for most Christians and a holiday for many others. Read on to find out more about it.

Every year, millions of people around the world switch off their lights for one hour to draw attention to the environment. Read on to find out more.

Holi is sometimes called the festival of colours. Find out more about this very special springtime festival in this article.

World Water Day, 22 March, draws attention to the essential role of water in our lives, the difficulties people face in getting it and solutions to these problems.

Nowruz is an important festival in Iran, Central Asia and beyond. Read on to find out how people celebrate the Persian New Year.

Get ready for green lights, green hats, even green beer! Saint Patrick's Day is on 17 March. Why is Ireland's national day such a worldwide party?

March 20 is World Rewilding Day. But what is rewilding? And how is wilder nature better for animals, people and the planet? Read the article to find out more.

There's more behind the International Day of Happiness than you might think. Find out more by reading the article and answering the questions.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. What happens during Ramadan and what does it mean to millions of Muslims worldwide?

March 8 is International Women's Day, but the global campaigns for equal rights for women continue all year round. Read more about #IWD in this article.

On World Wildlife Day, 3 March, people all around the world hold events to celebrate the natural world and to raise awareness of the importance of protecting wildlife. Read the article to find out more.