1.

Death Ceremonies in Bali

In Bali, if someone dies, their family and friends will usually not be sad. Because according to
them the dead person is only temporary and will live again in a better life. There are many
different events or ceremonies when someone dies. Some are put into the ground, placed on the
ground, in the tree until the body will be eaten by animals or birds. There is also a fire, because
with that they believe it will be easier to live again. If those people during their lives are bad they
will turn into dogs or snakes, if those people during their good lives they will live better than
before.

When someone dies family or friends will come to bring food or gifts. The body of the person
who dies will be burned. But before the family would pray to the gods when they could burn it.
Before the corpse was put into the ground, the family washed it then the flowers were put into
the nose, iron was placed on the teeth and arms, and the glass was placed in the eyes so that
when people die back to earth for the next life, they would have strong arms and teeth , good
eyes.

The body is placed on a beautiful wooden tower, then the family marches along to take it to the
kiln. After that they throw a few pieces of his body into sungan or sea, then they will go home.

I like the story. Because the story is interesting to me, besides that it also adds new knowledge,
not long-winded and easy to understand.

Sumber : Er - Central
2. Egghead

His name is Michael, but everyone calls him ‘egghead’ in school. He was called so because he
had a big head but a small body. He is often bullied and ostracized at his school. He doesn't have
friends. His classmates are afraid of him. That is very bad for me.
But he is very strong. He has an imaginary friend who can be invited to speak his name is
Andrew. When Michael fell down, only Andrew accompanied and entertained him. Andrew was
the one who gave him the spirit to stay afloat. So often Michael was bullied and ostracized, over
time he got bored and became strong. He became brave against the theme of friends who often
made him bad. But actually the spirit came from Michael himself, not from Andrew, because
Andrew was just an imaginary friend.
I am happy with the story, because the story gives us a lesson that from adversity we must try to
get up again, must encourage ourselves not to give up. Besides that the story is also interesting,
easy to understand, not long-winded and touching.
Sumber : Teen Eli Readers

3. The Case of the Elevator Duck

A child who lives in an apartment finds a duck when he climbs the elevator. He was confused
who left the duck in his apartment. Because he knows in his apartment there are rules for not
carrying pets. Because he was confused the child brought the duck into his apartment, but his
mother forbade him because he was afraid of being hit by raids. The child was given three days
to find the owner, but until the third day he did not get the owner of the duck. Finally on the third
day he took off the duck and let it go, then the duck stopped at apartment number 13. And it
turned out that the duck belonged to someone who lived in the apartment. Because the owner had
just moved and was afraid of being raided, he released the duck. But finally the owner of the
duck and the child brought the duck to the animal care center.
I like the story because it's interesting to read, besides it's easy to understand and makes me
curious.
Pengarang : Polly Berrien Berends

4. King Mongkut of Thailand

Thai means free. So Thailand means the land of free people who are not like countries in Asia
who fight against foreign rulers. They work freely and freely. Prince Maha Mongkut the eldest
son of the king and queen so that everyone thought he would become king. At a young age he
was chosen to become a soldier. He has a half brother who also wants to be king. When Mongkut
was 20 years old, his father died, and his brother was chosen to be king. Mongkut left the palace
to become a monk. He learned many things to become a good king. Finally his brother died and
he stopped being a monk to replace his brother to become king. He became a good and different
king with other kings. He not only saw his country but also saw other things in the outside world.
Mongkut has 39 wives and 82 children. He taught about many things to his children. Finally at
the age of 64 he died and when his son Chulalongkorn, when he was adopted, became the king of
successor to Mongkut.
I don't like the story, because I prefer fiction rather than stories about kings as in the story.
Besides that it is also difficult to understand.
Sumber : Er - Central
 5. Grace and Max Learn a Lesson
His name is Grace and Max, brother and sister who feel bored and don't want to do anything.
they don't want to swim, play with friends, and go anywhere. They decided to lie in their room.
Moments later their mother came and saw the sad faces of her children. They told him what
made him sad. Their mother said that she knew what they had to do to get rid of boredom. They
followed his mother to the kitchen, hir mother asked them to help make lots of sandwiches. After
being made hir mother asked them to put somewhere to be taken to a place they had never
visited. Arriving there they saw many people waiting in line to get food. After they distributed
sandwiches and people left they returned to their homes. And her mother reminded them to be
grateful that they could still sleep in a comfortable place, unlike most disadvantaged people out
there. Finally they pondered at his mother's words.
It's nice to read it, because the story has a moral message in it that adds to the attraction for
people to read it. His words are easy to understand.
Sumber : Er - Central

6. For Lisa
There is a small child named Lisa, she has a sister who loves her very much. They are very close
even though their age is far apart. Lisa's sister is 20 years old when Lisa was born. They often do
many things together. Until one day Lisa got cancer. Her sister was very sad but she tried hard
and comforted Lisa. They spend time together. Until finally Lisa died. Her sister went to school
to become a doctor to cure cancer-affected children like Lisa. But one morning Lisa's sister
found a small child like Lisa on the side of the road. Lisa's sister stopped and questioned the
child, apparently she had a place to live. Finally the child was invited home by Lisa's older sister.
The child then went on to finish school and aspired to become a doctor like Lisa's sister.
I was interested in the story, because when I read it, I got carried away by the atmosphere. the
story is really sad.
Sumber : Er - Central

7. Hannah's First Day of School

Hannah is six years old, today is her first day at school. She was very excited and was waiting
for that day to come. She eats quickly, then prepares to leave for her new school. She left for her
mother. Her mother invited him to meet her teacher named Mrs. Rogers. Hannah and her mother
were the first people to come. After Hannah's mother left she waited for other friends. After the
other children come they begin to introduce themselves and their interests and preferences. After
that they are divided into several groups and do various things together. Hannah likes to meet
many new friends, but there are also some friends she already knows because their parents are
friends. Hannah met a friend named Olivia, she thought Olivia was the most beautiful person she
had ever seen. They talked about their favorite game, and Hannah knew that they would be good
friends.
I like the story, because the story is funny and easy to understand.
Sumber : Er – Central

8. Noah's Birthday
A twenty-five-year-old woman married a man named Nathan. From that marriage they had one
son named Noah. Now he is ten years old. The woman wanted to celebrate Noah's birthday on a
large scale, because it was the first time he was more than one number. The woman thought she
wanted to make Noah's birthday unforgettable. So she looked for what she could do to enliven
the event. After a long time of thinking, the woman got the idea to use the things Noah liked on
hir birthday program. Finally Noah's birthday went smoothly and perfectly. Noah seemed to
laugh a lot and was happy. Not to forget the woman prepared a special gift for Noah, a beautiful
dog.
I don't like the story, because the story is too boring and hard to understand.
Sumber : Er - Central

9. Daphne and Micah

There are lovers named Micah and Daphne. They love each other for a long time. They have
been together for a long time. One time Daphne's grandmother was admitted to the hospital, he
was very sad and tried to contact Micah but Micah never raised her. Finally Daphne went to the
gym to entertain herself. Daphne feels Micah has changed not like before. One time they met
after a few weeks did not meet. They sat face to face but no one started talking, because they
were confused where to start. Finally Daphne started talking and said she was unhappy and felt
Micah had changed. Micah was just silent and could not say anything. Finally after they talked a
lot and Daphne decided to go and finish their relationship.
I don't like the story, because the story is too complicated and the words are difficult to
understand and confusing.
Sumber : Er - Central

10. The Pink Rabbit

There is an eight-year-old girl, named Grace. One day Grace had to go to the hospital because
she fell and suffered a broken bone while playing basketball with her sister. Grace hates
hospitals, but she has to go there to treat her legs. Grace thought she would only wait a few hours
there but the doctor said she had to stay in the hospital two or three days to do the surgery. After
the operation Grace felt bored being in the hospital because parents had to go to work and her
sister had to go to school, she was alone. But in the afternoon when Grace woke up from her
sleep, she saw a girl her age approaching her and asking her name and telling her that she had
come with another girl to give presents to every sick child. The girl gives a pink rabbit doll.
Grace really liked the doll and she gave the name Floopy. Grace takes her wherever she goes and
she promises to give the doll to her daughter later.
I like the story, because the story is interesting, easy to understand, and not long-winded.
Sumber : Er - Central

11. School + Gadgets = Lazy Children?

The last few years new gadgets and devices are on the market almost every day. Many people
like gadgets and devices because they have many benefits. People can easily read anywhere and
anytime without bothering to bring books, besides also offering applications for fun and certain
things, and children can also use to play. But whether the use of gadgets and devices in schools
makes children lazy?
1. With gadgets children become aware of a lot of information, knowledge, no need to bother
coming to the library and writing. So do children benefit? Yes. And does it make it even? Not
too.
2. Access. The use of gadgets needs parental attention. because not all children can control how
to use it. Sometimes they escape security. So it is important for parents to always control the use
of gadgets in children. Is it useful? Yes. Is it lazy? Not.
3. First hand learning. Must know how to use gadgets with skills.
Is it useful? Yes. Is it lazy? Not
4. The use of gadgets is very pleasant especially in learning. Is it useful? Yes. Is it lazy? Not.
5. Gadgets make learning less intimidating. Those who are less able to group because they feel
intimidated become free to learn on their own. Is it useful? Yes. Is it lazy? Yes, maybe.
6. Technology can take the attention of children who learn from where they should be. Do you
benefit? Not. Is it lazy? Yes, maybe.
7. No longer talking. Usually there will be two children who don't talk to each other because
their attention is focused on each gadget. This is the worst thing about this technology toy. Will
children benefit from this? Not . Does this make them lazy? Yes, or more unfriendly.
I do not like the story, because it is very long and difficult to understand. Besides that, the story
isn't interesting.
Sumber : Er – Central
 12. Freeing the Birds
One day a man named Lin walked on the market. He saw an old man selling birds. Lin bought
the bird, brought it home and left it free. The next day he did the same thing, bought then let him
free. He did that for ten days. When his wife asked why he only bought birds then let them go
free, Lin explained that it was a fortune to free the birds. But his wife said that every Lin bought
the old man's bird would catch more birds. Finally Lin realized that his actions were bad luck for
the birds.
I like the story, because the story is short, interesting, funny, and easy to understand.
Sumber : Er - Central

13. Joshua's School Year

A child named Joshua got a big problem. He had received a warning from his school because he
had never listened to, worked on a task, and talked a lot. His parents were also called to his
school because of Joshua. They were angry with Joshua and explained that if Joshua did not
change better he would not be allowed to meet his friend Mark, who lives in another country.
Joshua and Mark once promised that summer vacation would be a holiday together. So Joshua
knew he had to change. Finally he became a diligent child. He followed all the activities in his
school well. And when the summer vacation starts, he knows everything he does brings good
results. His parents were very happy and allowed him to visit his best friend. He realized what he
had been doing all this time was wrong. It was the most pleasant thing in his life.
I am happy with the story, because the story is good, short, interesting, and easy to understand.
Sumber : Er - Central

14.Asoka
Asoka is the king of India who lived more than 2000 years ago. Until now he was still famous
because he was kind and followed Buddhist teachings. Asoka was once an evil king, often
fighting with other countries to expand his territory. He doesn't care about his people. But since
the war with the country in Kalingga and many of his troops killed he finally realized and
changed. He became a good king, wanted to reconcile his country and not do war. In addition, he
also follows all the teachings of the Buddha and wants his people as well.
I like the story, because the story is exciting and the story is about history.
Sumber : Er - central

15.Giving Money
There are many poor countries in the world. There are many business entities that try to help.
Some provide money, water, food, build schools and homes.
A charity called GiveDirectly has a very simple new idea of going to the poorest regions then
giving them money and being free to buy anything.
Bernard Omondi, who lives in the poorest village in Kenya, got the money and used it to build
the roof of his house so that his family was protected from heat and rain, besides that he used to
buy motorbikes and used them for small taxi services. Since then his income has increased to
buy food and save it to buy medicine or the health of his family.
Michael Faye who created the charity believes that the poor can help themselves, depending on
how they manage the money.
I like the story, because it makes you passionate and easy to understand.
Sumber : Er - Central

16.The Leaning Tree

Life is the one who thinks the richest. One day the person saw the poor and approached him. The
rich man said that he was smarter than the poor man because he was rich. But the poor said there
was still someone richer than that person, finally the rich man asked the poor man to pick him up
because the rich man wanted to meet but the poor man did not return, and the rich man realized
the poor man was more than him.
I like the story because the story is short, easy to understand and also the story is funny.
Sumber : Er - Central

17.Talking to People from Other Countries

Sometimes people speak the same language but don't understand each other. Especially if
different countries must have made many mistakes. Sometimes people also misinterpret
something because of different meanings in one area and another. Not only language but also
using sign language must be careful because it can mean different things.
I don't really like the story, because the story isn't interesting.
Sumber : Er - Central

18.Let's Speak English

It was his first day in his new ESL class. His name is Tara from Iraq. He came to the school to
learn another language, not his own language. But his new friends there always use their
respective languages. That made Tara not want her friends to know her home country. Because
he doesn't want to use his language to talk there. Finally he told his friends and they agreed with
what Tara said. But at that time they will speak English.
I like the story, because it's interesting and the story is short and it's easy to understand.
Sumber : Er - Central