Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
Helen Keller was born in Alabama in the United States in 1880. When she was only nineteen months old, she became very ill. After the illness, she could no longer see or hear. As a young child, Helen found it extremely difficult to communicate with other people. She often became frustrated because she could not explain what she wanted. Her life began to change when a young teacher named Anne Sullivan arrived. Anne taught Helen words by spelling letters into her hand. One famous breakthrough happened beside a water pump. As cool water ran over one of Helen's hands, Anne spelled the word “water” into the other. Helen suddenly understood that the hand movements represented a word. She wanted to learn the names of everything around her. Helen later learned to read, write and speak. She studied at Radcliffe College and became the first deafblind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She became a writer and travelled widely, speaking about education and opportunities for people with disabilities. Her determination made her famous around the world.
