Listen English | Learn English by Short Stories - 223 | Intermediate - Short Story: The Lost City [English Listening Practice]

223 | Intermediate - Short Story: The Lost City [English Listening Practice]

02/14/25 • 7 min

Listen English | Learn English by Short Stories

Title: The Lost City Beneath the Ocean

Level: Intermediate (B1)

Story :

Isabella grows up in a coastal village, hearing stories of Atlantis, the lost city beneath the ocean. Unlike others, she believes it is real and feels a deep connection to the sea. One evening, after seeing a mysterious flash of light in the water, she ventures out and is pulled into the depths by a powerful whirlpool. When she awakens, she finds herself in Atlantis, a magnificent underwater city. There, she meets Kaelen, the last guardian of Atlantis, who tells her that the city's magic is fading, and only she can restore it by retrieving the Heart of Atlantis, a powerful gem. With determination, Isabella embarks on a dangerous journey to the temple where the Heart is hidden. She faces eerie creatures and a magical barrier but ultimately succeeds in saving the city. Though Atlantis remains hidden beneath the sea, Isabella returns to the surface, knowing she has restored the ancient city's magic.

Vocabulary :

Whirlpool – a rapidly rotating mass of water that pulls objects into its center.
Cavern – a large cave or chamber underground or underwater.
Guardian – a protector or someone who watches over something.
Barrier – something that blocks or separates, especially a magical one.
Retrieve – to find and bring something back.

Grammar Focus:

Modal Verbs of Possibility
Used to talk about what might happen. For example: “It could be real, but no one knows for sure.”
Past Perfect Tense
Used to describe actions that happened before another past event. For example: “By the time she reached the temple, Isabella had already faced many challenges.”
Relative Clauses
Used to add more information. For example: “The Heart of Atlantis, which held the city’s magic, glowed softly.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Title: The Lost City Beneath the Ocean

Level: Intermediate (B1)

Story :

Vocabulary :

Whirlpool – a rapidly rotating mass of water that pulls objects into its center.
Cavern – a large cave or chamber underground or underwater.
Guardian – a protector or someone who watches over something.
Barrier – something that blocks or separates, especially a magical one.
Retrieve – to find and bring something back.

Grammar Focus:

Modal Verbs of Possibility
Used to talk about what might happen. For example: “It could be real, but no one knows for sure.”
Past Perfect Tense
Used to describe actions that happened before another past event. For example: “By the time she reached the temple, Isabella had already faced many challenges.”
Relative Clauses
Used to add more information. For example: “The Heart of Atlantis, which held the city’s magic, glowed softly.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

222 | Intermediate - Short Story: The Enchanted Mirror [English Listening Practice]

Title: The Enchanted Mirror in the Antique Shop

Level: Intermediate (B2)

#Story :

Sophie, a lover of antiques, discovers a mysterious mirror in a hidden shop called Curiosities and Wonders. The mirror shows her a different version of the shop, brighter and magical. When she touches the glass, Sophie is pulled into this enchanted world, where she meets an elderly woman who reveals that the mirror reflects people’s desires and fears. Sophie explores and finds a garden with a glowing fountain, where she encounters a confident version of herself. Realizing this is the version of herself she had been seeking, Sophie returns with a newfound sense of peace. When she looks back, the shop has vanished, leaving only an empty alleyway behind.

#Vocabulary :

Ornate – highly decorated with complex patterns.
Reflection – the image seen in a mirror or other reflective surface.
Manifest – to show or reveal something clearly.
Gateway – an entrance to another place or world, often magical.
Enchanted – made magical or filled with charm and mystery.

#Grammar Focus:

Past Continuous for Scene Setting
Used to describe ongoing actions in the past. Example: “Sophie was browsing the shop when she noticed the mirror.”
Relative Clauses for Extra Information
Adds details using who, which, or that. Example: “The woman, who seemed to know Sophie’s thoughts, explained the mirror’s power.”
Modal Verbs of Ability and Permission
Words like could and may to indicate possibility or permission. Example: “She could explore the shop freely, finding hidden doors and items.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

224 | Advanced - Short Story: The Phantom of Blackwood Manor [English Listening Practice]

Title: The Phantom of Blackwood Manor

Level: Advanced (C1-C2)

#Story :

In the heart of a forgotten village stood Blackwood Manor, a mansion shrouded in mystery and darkness. It was said that the manor was haunted by a figure known only as the Phantom of Blackwood, a being who had once been mortal but had made a pact with an ancient and malevolent force. For centuries, the manor’s legacy had been sealed, but the arrival of a determined historian, Evelyn Forsythe, would stir the ancient curse and bring the Phantom’s tragic story to light.

Evelyn had always been drawn to forgotten stories, to places where history remained hidden. When an anonymous letter invited her to Blackwood Manor, promising secrets that could change history itself, she couldn’t resist. The letter, written in a script that seemed too old to be recent, was signed with a name she didn’t recognize: “The Phantom of Blackwood.”

On a stormy evening, she arrived at the mansion’s imposing gates, a sense of unease crawling up her spine as the heavy wooden doors creaked open. The air around her felt thick with centuries of secrets, and when she stepped inside, the mansion seemed to come alive with whispers from the past. The silence was unsettling, broken only by the occasional crackling of the hearth in the grand hall.

That night, she met the Phantom himself—a tall, imposing figure whose gaunt face was framed by a dark cloak. His golden eyes pierced into her soul as he spoke of the manor's tragic history and his own cursed existence. The Phantom told her of the pact he had made with an ancient sea god, a deal that granted him immortality but trapped him in the manor forever. He warned her that the power of the god still lingered, and anyone who ventured too close would find themselves tangled in the web of fate that bound him....

#Vocabulary :

Shrouded – Covered or concealed.
Malevolent – Having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
Unsettling – Causing discomfort or uneasiness.
Gaunt – Extremely thin, especially because of hunger or disease.
Insatiable – Impossible to satisfy; always wanting more.

#Grammar Focus :

Relative Clauses: Used to provide additional information about a noun.
Example: "The mansion, which had been abandoned for years, seemed to have a life of its own."
Modals of Possibility: Used to express uncertainty or possibility.
Example: "It could be that the Phantom was telling the truth about the curse."
Past Perfect: Used to describe an action that was completed before another past action.
Example: "By the time Evelyn arrived, the Phantom had already made his pact with the sea god."

Website:

https://Readiocast.com

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Readiolingua

-------

Learn English fast and easily with podcasts Conversation, Best Tips For Learning English, Improve Your English Language, Listening and Speaking through Listening, Dictation and Grammar Focus with new words, best practice to learn English online by short stories. (best practice for English Listening skills)

-------

#English #learnenglish #howtospeakenglish #englishforbeginners #englishtutorial #ielts #listening #englishlearning #englishpractice #learnenglish #listeningpractice #englishstory #practice #LearnEnglishfast #grammer #podcast #Englishpodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.