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Stranger than Fiction: Urban Myths
[Penguin Readers Level 2]
What happened to the man who fell from the Empire State Building? What about the family who went to sleep in the wrong house? Can cows fly? These and many more questions are answered in this book of strange, funny and sometimes unbelievable stories.
"Penguin Readers" is a series of simplified novels, film novelizations and original titles that introduce students at all levels to the pleasures of reading in English. Originally designed for teaching English as a foreign language, the series' combination of high interest level and low reading age makes it suitable for both English-speaking teenagers with limited reading skills and students of English as a second language. Many titles in the series also provide access to the pre-20th century literature strands of the National Curriculum English Orders. "Penguin Readers" are graded at seven levels of difficulty, from "Easystarts" with a 200-word vocabulary, to Level 6 (Advanced) with a 3000-word vocabulary. In addition, titles fall into one of three sub-categories: "Contemporary", "Classics" or "Originals". At the end of each book there is a section of enjoyable exercises focusing on vocabulary building, comprehension, discussion and writing. Some titles in the series are available with an accompanying audio cassette, or in a book and cassette pack. Additionally, selected titles have free accompanying "Penguin Readers Factsheets" which provide stimulating exercise material for students, as well as suggestions for teachers on how to exploit the Readers in class.
What happened to the man who fell from the Empire State Building? What about the family who went to sleep in the wrong house? Can cows fly? These and many more questions are answered in this book of strange, funny and sometimes unbelievable stories.
"Penguin Readers" is a series of simplified novels, film novelizations and original titles that introduce students at all levels to the pleasures of reading in English. Originally designed for teaching English as a foreign language, the series' combination of high interest level and low reading age makes it suitable for both English-speaking teenagers with limited reading skills and students of English as a second language. Many titles in the series also provide access to the pre-20th century literature strands of the National Curriculum English Orders. "Penguin Readers" are graded at seven levels of difficulty, from "Easystarts" with a 200-word vocabulary, to Level 6 (Advanced) with a 3000-word vocabulary. In addition, titles fall into one of three sub-categories: "Contemporary", "Classics" or "Originals". At the end of each book there is a section of enjoyable exercises focusing on vocabulary building, comprehension, discussion and writing. Some titles in the series are available with an accompanying audio cassette, or in a book and cassette pack. Additionally, selected titles have free accompanying "Penguin Readers Factsheets" which provide stimulating exercise material for students, as well as suggestions for teachers on how to exploit the Readers in class.
38 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 14, 2020
Shrawan 30, 2077, Friday
Stranger Than Fiction: Urban Myths - Phil Healey, Rick Glanvill (2000)
[Penguin Readers Elementary (Level 2)]
Genre: EnglishGradedReaders/ Fiction/ Short Stories
Pages: 40
Rating: 5/10
Theme: Unknown origins/ The human experience/ People’s secret feelings/ Preparing for danger/ Looking on the bright side of life
Opener:
“Billy, a young man from London, had no job. He lived with his mother, Mrs Harris. One day he asked her, 'How can I get a job?' 'Look in the newspaper,' she answered. So he bought a paper and looked for jobs.”
Summary:
Stranger than Fiction: Urban Myths contains twenty-three short stories outlining strange or interesting happenings that were collected by the authors, Phil Healey and Rick Glanvill, during the 1980s. The authors didn’t invent the stories – instead, they wrote down interesting tales that they had been told by other people. The stories are grouped into four themes: the nature of the human condition, accidents, crime, and death. The tales are very varied — some are funny, some are frightening, and some are sad. The stories mainly take place in the present day, and the characters featured in them aren’t famous or heroic — they are just ordinary people. Although the characters have names and the stories take place in specific locations, alternative names and locations could easily be introduced without affecting the impact of the stories. In fact, some of the stories may seem strangely familiar to readers — this is because many of the tales are based on spoken anecdotes detailing strange experiences that readers may have heard about at some point in their lives.
Final review:
Hardly any of these ultra-short stories really caught my fancy.
Stranger Than Fiction: Urban Myths - Phil Healey, Rick Glanvill (2000)
[Penguin Readers Elementary (Level 2)]
Genre: EnglishGradedReaders/ Fiction/ Short Stories
Pages: 40
Rating: 5/10
Theme: Unknown origins/ The human experience/ People’s secret feelings/ Preparing for danger/ Looking on the bright side of life
Opener:
“Billy, a young man from London, had no job. He lived with his mother, Mrs Harris. One day he asked her, 'How can I get a job?' 'Look in the newspaper,' she answered. So he bought a paper and looked for jobs.”
Summary:
Stranger than Fiction: Urban Myths contains twenty-three short stories outlining strange or interesting happenings that were collected by the authors, Phil Healey and Rick Glanvill, during the 1980s. The authors didn’t invent the stories – instead, they wrote down interesting tales that they had been told by other people. The stories are grouped into four themes: the nature of the human condition, accidents, crime, and death. The tales are very varied — some are funny, some are frightening, and some are sad. The stories mainly take place in the present day, and the characters featured in them aren’t famous or heroic — they are just ordinary people. Although the characters have names and the stories take place in specific locations, alternative names and locations could easily be introduced without affecting the impact of the stories. In fact, some of the stories may seem strangely familiar to readers — this is because many of the tales are based on spoken anecdotes detailing strange experiences that readers may have heard about at some point in their lives.
Final review:
Hardly any of these ultra-short stories really caught my fancy.
September 4, 2025
Worse than fiction!!
June 4, 2015
1. level2 Penguin
2. 5/28=10minutes 5/29=15minutes 5/31=30minutes 6/1=30minutes 6/3=10minutes
3. interesting, strange, happy, sad, laugh, cry, different
4.a)"I couldn't hear with my left ear because that bus ticket was in my ear all that time!!"
b) It is interesting and laugh!! Charlie, a man about 75 years old , couldn't hear with his left ear. However one evening Charlie was with his friend and they told a good story. Charlie laughed and laughed and something fell out of his left ear. That is old ticket!! Therefore he could hear!!
5. In this book there are different stories about some of these strange and interesting. These stories are very short. I could read many short stories. Their are interesting!!
2. 5/28=10minutes 5/29=15minutes 5/31=30minutes 6/1=30minutes 6/3=10minutes
3. interesting, strange, happy, sad, laugh, cry, different
4.a)"I couldn't hear with my left ear because that bus ticket was in my ear all that time!!"
b) It is interesting and laugh!! Charlie, a man about 75 years old , couldn't hear with his left ear. However one evening Charlie was with his friend and they told a good story. Charlie laughed and laughed and something fell out of his left ear. That is old ticket!! Therefore he could hear!!
5. In this book there are different stories about some of these strange and interesting. These stories are very short. I could read many short stories. Their are interesting!!
June 10, 2015
1.Penguin level 2
2.06/09=80 minutes
3.England, fun, accidents, laugh, strange, people, mistake
4a."It was quite easy because they had only a small number of books to move there."
4b.The staff of libraly is very clever! This story is funny! I was surprised that the plan succeeded. I think it is important to make ideas.
5.There are many short stories and interesting sotries in this book. I can read easily. I like comedy stories and I laughted many times! I was happy while I was reading this book!
2.06/09=80 minutes
3.England, fun, accidents, laugh, strange, people, mistake
4a."It was quite easy because they had only a small number of books to move there."
4b.The staff of libraly is very clever! This story is funny! I was surprised that the plan succeeded. I think it is important to make ideas.
5.There are many short stories and interesting sotries in this book. I can read easily. I like comedy stories and I laughted many times! I was happy while I was reading this book!
April 22, 2014
1.Penguin readers level 2
2.4/17 20minutes 4/19 35minutes
4/21 25minutes
3.strange, fall, bed, wind, jump, accidents, die
4.When he fell off the building, I was surprised.
5.There are many stories. That's are very strange and funny. Especially, I recomend you ”Falling into Bed”. The story's main character is a man who travel to the United States for a month. When he walked up the Empire State Building, he fell off the building. But he hit the bed, so he didn't die. He was so lucky.
2.4/17 20minutes 4/19 35minutes
4/21 25minutes
3.strange, fall, bed, wind, jump, accidents, die
4.When he fell off the building, I was surprised.
5.There are many stories. That's are very strange and funny. Especially, I recomend you ”Falling into Bed”. The story's main character is a man who travel to the United States for a month. When he walked up the Empire State Building, he fell off the building. But he hit the bed, so he didn't die. He was so lucky.
May 29, 2013
1 Phil Healey and Rick Glanvill/Penguin Readers/Level2
2 5/29=80min
3 short/interesting/funny/stranger/unbelievable/accident/wrong
4 do you have any strange experiences?-No,I live ordinary.
5 There are a lot of intresting stories in this book, so I can read it without getting tired. All stories are funny! I was laughing while I read it.
2 5/29=80min
3 short/interesting/funny/stranger/unbelievable/accident/wrong
4 do you have any strange experiences?-No,I live ordinary.
5 There are a lot of intresting stories in this book, so I can read it without getting tired. All stories are funny! I was laughing while I read it.
May 12, 2014
Maybe the fact I'm not familiar with British culture hindered me from seeing the 'stranger than fiction' factor. Or perhaps it's just the fact that this series is tailored to teach people how to read more than entertain. There are 3 stories that stood out to me and I enjoyed them more than the others.
June 8, 2016
1, penguin level2
2, 130 minutes
3, funny, crazy, British, joke, bus, ear, ticket
4, There are a lot of sections and each stories per a page.
5, This book is almost British joke but I think that when I should I laugh?
But there are a lot of stories in this book, so it was easy to read more and more.
2, 130 minutes
3, funny, crazy, British, joke, bus, ear, ticket
4, There are a lot of sections and each stories per a page.
5, This book is almost British joke but I think that when I should I laugh?
But there are a lot of stories in this book, so it was easy to read more and more.
June 15, 2016
1. Penguin L2
2. 6/14=80min.
3. strange, interesting, life, accidents, wrong, living, dying
4. a) I couldn't hear with my left ear because that bus ticket was in my ear all that time!
b) I laughed it! It was a strange story.
5. I enjoyed this book. There were a lot of funny stories in this book. Some stories are possible to happen in daily life.
2. 6/14=80min.
3. strange, interesting, life, accidents, wrong, living, dying
4. a) I couldn't hear with my left ear because that bus ticket was in my ear all that time!
b) I laughed it! It was a strange story.
5. I enjoyed this book. There were a lot of funny stories in this book. Some stories are possible to happen in daily life.
July 13, 2013
PENGUIN Level2
80min
strange/funny/cow/people/life/interesting/story
Q.Have you ever experenced strange life?
A.No I haven't. Ordinary life is the best.
There are many stories in the book. This stories are very interesting. Especially, "Hit and Hear" is the most interesting.
80min
strange/funny/cow/people/life/interesting/story
Q.Have you ever experenced strange life?
A.No I haven't. Ordinary life is the best.
There are many stories in the book. This stories are very interesting. Especially, "Hit and Hear" is the most interesting.
December 5, 2013
1, Stranger Than Fiction; Penguin; level 2
2, 85 minutes
3, strange funny interesting story fiction mistake family
4, Do you have any funny stories?
No, I don't. However, I spend interesting time every day.
5, There were many stories in the book. The stories were very interested!
2, 85 minutes
3, strange funny interesting story fiction mistake family
4, Do you have any funny stories?
No, I don't. However, I spend interesting time every day.
5, There were many stories in the book. The stories were very interested!
February 4, 2020
Fun read- not sensationalist- more to prompt students on what might be outlandish in the storyor how a problem could have been more appropriately dealt with. it even has student exercises in the back
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews