Interesting Facts
Weekly listening practice based on fun and interesting facts in easy English. Try the gap-fill exercises and comprehension quizzes.
Preferred Gender Pronouns
Please introduce yourself and state your preferred gender pronouns.
Please introduce yourself and state your preferred gender pronouns.
The Suffix –stan Means Land
Why do so many nations have the suffix?
Why do so many nations have the suffix?
Pollyanna the Russian Reindeer
Why would a reindeer travel by submarine?
Why would a reindeer travel by submarine?
Black Friday is Also Buy Nothing Day
What’s wrong with the old TV?
What’s wrong with the old TV?
International Pilots Require English Proficiency
Did she say fourteen or forty kilometres west?
Did she say fourteen or forty kilometres west?
All Roads Lead To Rome
Which directions should I follow, Mom’s or Dad’s?
Which directions should I follow, Mom’s or Dad’s?
An American Football Game Has 11 Minutes of Action
Did anything happen while I was grabbing a drink?
Did anything happen while I was grabbing a drink?
A Day on Venus is Longer Than a Year on Venus
Which planet spins the wrong way?
Which planet spins the wrong way?
Alexander Graham Bell Preferred “Ahoy” To “Hello”
Are you ready to talk?
Are you ready to talk?
Tortoises And Turtles
What’s the difference between these reptiles?
What’s the difference between these reptiles?
Accessible Currency for the Blind
Is this a one dollar bill or a one-hundred dollar bill?
Is this a one dollar bill or a one-hundred dollar bill?
Pumpkin is a Term of Endearment
Why did that man call me a deer?
Why did that man call me a deer?
Timbuktu is a Real City
Did you really look all the way from here to Timbuktu?
Did you really look all the way from here to Timbuktu?
Spelling Errors in the US Constitution
Would spell check have come in handy in 1787?
Would spell check have come in handy in 1787?
Luxury Cars Abandoned at Dubai Airport
Why would someone abandon a Ferrari?
Why would someone abandon a Ferrari?
Lamborghini Started as a Tractor Company
What inspired Lamborghini to switch to sports cars?
What inspired Lamborghini to switch to sports cars?
Gaudy Does Not Come from Gaudí
It’s a bit gaudy, isn’t it?
It’s a bit gaudy, isn’t it?
The Diomede Islands: Tomorrow Island & Yesterday Isle
How can they be so close, yet so far away?
How can they be so close, yet so far away?
Ramparts Are Protective Barriers
What are the ramparts in The Star Spangled Banner?
What are the ramparts in The Star Spangled Banner?
Frogs Were Used In Pregnancy Tests
Am I pregnant? Let’s ask the frog.
Am I pregnant? Let’s ask the frog.
Beer Power
Will Homer Simpson’s dream come true?
Will Homer Simpson’s dream come true?
Allspice is a Single Spice
What makes this chicken taste so good?
What makes this chicken taste so good?
English is Jamaica’s Official Language
Why can’t I understand the locals in Jamaica?
Why can’t I understand the locals in Jamaica?
How To Name An Octopus
What should we call this adorable creature?
What should we call this adorable creature?
Canada is Twice the Size of the European Union
What’s the second biggest country?
What’s the second biggest country?
Canadian Police Hand Out Positive Tickets
Why is she getting a ticket for using a crosswalk?
Why is she getting a ticket for using a crosswalk?
The First Ambulance Wheels Were Feet
What do ambulances have to do with ambling?
What do ambulances have to do with ambling?
Photographers Line Up For Manhattanhenge
What are all of those people taking pictures of?
What are all of those people taking pictures of?
New York City Was Once New Amsterdam
Why wasn’t it called the Big Orange?
Why wasn’t it called the Big Orange?
The Limit of the Human Memory
Why can’t I remember all of that?
Why can’t I remember all of that?
Six Feet Under Means Departed
Why did they dig so far down?
Why did they dig so far down?
Da Vinci’s Rule of the Trees
How did that tree survive that windstorm?
How did that tree survive that windstorm?
“Q” is the Second Least Common Letter
What can I spell with the letter Q?
What can I spell with the letter Q?
Habitat Loss is the Leading Cause of Extinction
Why are there armed men near that rhino?
Why are there armed men near that rhino?
Spring Fever is a Real Condition
Why does she have a spring in her step?
Why does she have a spring in her step?
The Difference Between White and Brown Eggs
Why pay more for brown eggs?
Why pay more for brown eggs?
Sarcasm Means To Tear Flesh
What did he really mean when he said I had nice hair?
What did he really mean when he said I had nice hair?
The Birthmark Theory
Where did that red spot go?
Where did that red spot go?
Shrink Is Slang for Psychiatrist
Why are psychiatrists called shrinks?
Why are psychiatrists called shrinks?
The Cover That Came Before the Book
What does this cover have to do with the book?
What does this cover have to do with the book?
Pica Means Magpie
Why is he eating sand?
Why is he eating sand?
Owls Fly Silently
Why didn’t I hear that owl fly by?
Why didn’t I hear that owl fly by?
Juliet Receives Heartbroken Letters
Dear Juliet…
Dear Juliet…
Twitter Was Born from a Hackathon
Is this why we always saw the “fail whale”?
Is this why we always saw the “fail whale”?
Dolphins Get High on Puffer Fish
Can you pass the puffer fish?
Can you pass the puffer fish?
Air Rage Is Common in China
The flight is delayed again!
The flight is delayed again!
Fingernails Grow Faster Than Toenails
Why do my nails take so long to grow?
Why do my nails take so long to grow?
A Disaster Was a Bad Star
What caused that flood?
What caused that flood?
Santa’s Reindeer Must Be Female
When do reindeer lose their antlers?
When do reindeer lose their antlers?
Shortbread Means Crumbly Bread
What’s so short about shortbread?
What’s so short about shortbread?
Boy’s Kite Helps Build Niagara Bridge
Who wants to go out and fly a kite?
Who wants to go out and fly a kite?
Ben Franklin and the Turkey
What’s so American about a bald eagle?
What’s so American about a bald eagle?
Airplane Mode Saves Your Battery
Is your battery about to die?
Is your battery about to die?
Feathers Were More Valuable Than Gold
Would you kindly remove your hat?
Would you kindly remove your hat?
Windowless Airplanes
Are we there yet?
Are we there yet?
The Word “Scissors” is a Defective Noun
By “scissors” do you mean one pair or more?
By “scissors” do you mean one pair or more?
Keep Calm And Carry On
Who can use this slogan?
Who can use this slogan?
How the Ampersand Got its Name
Is it true that there used to be 27 letters in the alphabet?
Is it true that there used to be 27 letters in the alphabet?
Trailers Used To Come After the Film
What is the origin of the word “trailer”?
What is the origin of the word “trailer”?
Wisdom Teeth Don’t Make You Smarter
Why don’t I have those teeth?
Why don’t I have those teeth?
An English Breakfast Is A Full Breakfast
What’s the difference between a continental breakfast and an English breakfast?
What’s the difference between a continental breakfast and an English breakfast?
One World Trade Center Stands 1,776 Feet High
Is it really the tallest building in North America?
Is it really the tallest building in North America?
Switzerland Has A Square Flag
Why is the nurse wearing the Swiss flag on her armband?
Why is the nurse wearing the Swiss flag on her armband?
Caffeine Is A Natural Pesticide
Is coffee really a drug?
Is coffee really a drug?
“Spaghetti” Means Little Strings
What does “vermicelli” mean in English?
What does “vermicelli” mean in English?
Bangkok Is Sinking
How much longer do we have?
How much longer do we have?
“Hen” Is A Swedish Gender-Neutral Pronoun
Does this word belong in Swedish reference books?
Does this word belong in Swedish reference books?
A Novel Without The Letter “E”
There is something missing in this book.
There is something missing in this book.
Bees Are Neat Freaks
It’s too sticky in here!
It’s too sticky in here!
Goody Two-Shoes Was A Goody-Goody
Does she ever do anything wrong?
Does she ever do anything wrong?
Cat Cafés Are On The Rise
Which kitty will you be having tea with today?
Which kitty will you be having tea with today?
Finnish Babies Sleep In Boxes
Don’t put the lid on.
Don’t put the lid on.
The Birthday Paradox
What are the chances?
What are the chances?
New Technology Prevents Ghost Goals at World Cup
Was that a goal?
Was that a goal?
The Recycling Symbol Is In The Public Domain
Who invented this Mobius loop?
Who invented this Mobius loop?
The King Of Fruit Is Stinky
What is that smell in the market?
What is that smell in the market?
Crocodiles Tear Up While Eating
Are crocodiles capable of feeling remorse?
Are crocodiles capable of feeling remorse?
Vultures Aren’t Just Ugly Birds
Why don’t vultures have feathers on their necks?
Why don’t vultures have feathers on their necks?
A Pretzel Is A Little Reward
Who thought of tying dough into a knot?
Who thought of tying dough into a knot?
“Nice” Hasn’t Always Been Nice
What do you mean by “nice”?
What do you mean by “nice”?
Squirrels Don’t Like Daffodils
Why are there tulip bulbs all over the yard?
Why are there tulip bulbs all over the yard?
Egg Decorating Is Serious Business In Ukraine
What is inside Ukraine’s big egg?
What is inside Ukraine’s big egg?
A Black Box Is Actually Orange
What exactly are investigators looking for?
What exactly are investigators looking for?
The Great Fire Of London Had Few Recorded Casualties
How many people died in the Great Fire of London?
How many people died in the Great Fire of London?
Einstein Was Born On Pi Day
How do you celebrate mathematics?
How do you celebrate mathematics?
The Word ‘Verb’ Is A Noun
What part of speech is the word “verbing”?
What part of speech is the word “verbing”?
Dr. Seuss Was Not a Doctor
Who was Theo Lesieg?
Who was Theo Lesieg?
A Road Built From Unsold Books
Is it worth the money to take the toll road?
Is it worth the money to take the toll road?
Humans Share 99% Of The Same DNA
What do humans, chimpanzees, and bananas have in common?
What do humans, chimpanzees, and bananas have in common?
Olympic Gold Medals Are Made Of Silver
Why does a gold medalist win a silver medal?
Why does a gold medalist win a silver medal?
Valentine Comes From The Word Valour
What does the word “valour” have to do with love?
What does the word “valour” have to do with love?
A Caruncle Helps You See
No, a caruncle is not a relative with wheels!
No, a caruncle is not a relative with wheels!
Figure Skaters Do Get Dizzy
Why didn’t she fall down after 30 rotations?
Why didn’t she fall down after 30 rotations?
The Army That Saved The Olympics
What did Winter Olympic host nations do before snow machines?
What did Winter Olympic host nations do before snow machines?
Red is The First Colour A Baby Sees
Why does Tiger Woods always wear red?
Why does Tiger Woods always wear red?
Martha Was The Last Passenger Pigeon
How could such a massive species go extinct?
How could such a massive species go extinct?
Engaging The 5 Senses With Wine
You can see, smell, taste, and touch your wine. Can you also hear it?
You can see, smell, taste, and touch your wine. Can you also hear it?
Tiny Tim Was Originally Little Fred
Would it still be A Christmas Carol without Tiny Tim?
Would it still be A Christmas Carol without Tiny Tim?
“Serendipity” Is Difficult To Translate
Have you experienced a happy accident lately?
Have you experienced a happy accident lately?
The Verb “Run” Has The Most Definitions
Has your memory run out of space for English definitions?
Has your memory run out of space for English definitions?