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"Oxford Bookworms" offer students at all levels the opportunity to extend their reading and appreciation of English. There are six stages, taking students from elementary to advanced level. At the lower stages, many of the texts have been specially written for the series, to provide elementary and lower-intermediate students with an introduction to real reading in English. At the higher stages, most of the books have been adapted from works originally published for native speakers. The language controls used in "Oxford Bookworms" are based on a syllabus specially created for the series by Tricia Hedge. This takes account of the more traditional approaches to grading and recent research into the nature of reading difficulty. The approximate vocabulary count for each stage Stage 1 - 400 words; Stage 2 - 700 words; Stage 3 - 1000 words; Stage 4 - 1400 words; Stage 5 - 1800 words; Stage 6 - 2500 words. All stages have exercises for classroom or private use, plus a supporting glossary to help students with vocabulary. Illustrations are used, especially at the lower stages, to help comprehension.
A reclusive weaver finds his solitary existence transformed when a young child appears on his doorstep, forcing him to confront his past and re-enter society. Silas Marner, a man betrayed by his former community and his closest friend, lives in isolation in the village of Raveloe, dedicating his life to the accumulation of gold. His world is shattered when his hoard is stolen, leaving him vulnerable and adrift. The narrative, adapted for language learners, follows his slow reclamation of humanity through the unexpected arrival of Eppie, a golden-haired foundling who becomes the catalyst for his redemption.
Readers frequently highlight this adaptation as an effective tool for those seeking to engage with classic literature while managing language difficulty. Discussion often centers on how the simplified prose maintains the core emotional weight of George Eliot's original narrative without sacrificing the thematic depth of the story. Critics note that the inclusion of exercises and a glossary makes the text particularly useful for students transitioning toward more complex reading materials. The balance between the bleakness of Marner's initial isolation and the warmth of his eventual redemption remains a focal point for many readers.
Page Count:
75
Publication Date:
1995-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press España, S.A.
ISBN-10:
0194227081
ISBN-13:
9780194227087