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Little Women is one of the best-known novels by American writer Louisa May Alcott. The story was first published in two parts, with the first part appearing in 1868 and the second in 1869. It became popular with readers and has remained an important work of American literature. The novel follows the lives of four sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March—as they grow from childhood into adulthood.
The story takes place in New England during the American Civil War. Their father is away from home, serving as a chaplain with the army, while their mother, Marmee, looks after the four girls. The family does not have much money, but the sisters have a strong relationship and learn to support one another through difficult times.
Each sister has a different personality and different dreams. Meg wants a comfortable and respectable life. Jo is independent, energetic, and passionate about writing. Beth is quiet, kind, and deeply devoted to her family. Amy is artistic, ambitious, and interested in beauty and social life. Their differences often lead to arguments, but they also help the sisters understand themselves and each other.
During the story, the girls experience many important events. They meet their wealthy neighbor, Mr. Laurence, and become friends with his grandson, Laurie. They deal with poverty, family problems, illness, disappointment, love, and loss. As they grow older, their dreams begin to change. Some marry, some follow careers, and all of them learn important lessons about responsibility, friendship, sacrifice, and family.
One of the most important ideas in Little Women is that growing up is not simply about becoming older. It is also about learning from mistakes, controlling one’s weaknesses, understanding other people, and discovering what truly matters in life. The four sisters follow different paths, but their love for one another remains an important part of their lives.
This edition has been rewritten especially for English learners. The original story is written in nineteenth-century English and contains vocabulary, expressions, sentence structures, and cultural references that may be difficult for modern learners. In this adaptation, the language has been simplified while the main characters, important events, relationships, conflicts, emotions, and overall storyline have been preserved.
The purpose of this version is not only to make Little Women easier to read, but also to help learners develop their English naturally. Readers can improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar awareness, and understanding of natural English expressions while enjoying a famous literary story.
The language is designed for approximately B2-level English learners. Most sentences are clear and manageable, but the story still contains useful intermediate and upper-intermediate vocabulary and grammar. Reading the story regularly can help learners become more comfortable with longer texts and develop the confidence to read English literature.
We hope that this adaptation allows you to enjoy the world of the March family while improving your English at the same time.
Enjoy reading Little Women and discovering the journey of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.
This story has been carefully adapted and rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. The original work Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is in the public domain. This learner-friendly adaptation uses clear and simplified language while preserving the main characters, important events, relationships, and themes of the original story. Enjoy reading Little Women and improve your English skills!
Little Women
By Louisa May Alcott
Contents
Chapter Two: The Boy Next Door
Chapter Three: School and Trouble
Chapter Five: A Difficult Winter
Chapter Nine: Amy and a New Life
Chapter Ten: Happiness at Last
Chapter Eleven: The Family Changes
Chapter One
Four Sisters
It was a cold December evening, and the four March sisters were sitting together in their comfortable but simple home.
“Christmas will not feel like Christmas this year,” Jo said sadly. “We have no money for presents.”
Meg looked at her old dress and sighed. “It is hard to be poor.”
Amy, the youngest, was sitting near the fire. “I wish we had beautiful things like some other girls.”
Beth smiled quietly. “We have Mother, each other, and Father.”
At the mention of their father, the room became silent. Mr. March was far away with the army. He was serving as a chaplain during the war, and the girls did not know when he would return.
The four sisters were very different.
Meg, the oldest, was sixteen. She was pretty and cared a little too much about clothes and appearance. She worked as a teacher for a rich family.
Jo was fifteen. She was tall, energetic, and independent. She loved books and writing. She also disliked behaving like a traditional young lady.
Beth, thirteen, was shy and gentle. She loved music and spent much of her time helping at home.
Amy was twelve. She was beautiful, proud, and interested in art. She wanted to become a refined young lady.
Although they often argued, they loved one another deeply.
That evening, they decided not to spend their Christmas money on themselves. Instead, they would buy presents for their mother.
“I will buy Mother some gloves,” Meg said.
“I will buy her good shoes,” Jo replied.
“I will make her some handkerchiefs,” said Beth.
“And I will buy perfume,” Amy added.
Their mother, Mrs. March, soon came home. The girls called her Marmee, and they loved her dearly.
After supper, Marmee gave them a letter from their father.
They gathered around her while she read it.
Their father told them that he missed them. He asked them to be good, work hard, and fight their own weaknesses. He hoped that when he returned, they would have become stronger and kinder.
The letter touched every girl.
Jo cried openly. Amy hid her face against her mother’s shoulder. Meg promised to think less about her appearance. Beth quietly returned to her sewing.
Marmee then reminded them of a game they had played as children. They had once pretended to travel like pilgrims, carrying imaginary burdens on their backs.
“Life is also a journey,” she told them. “Each of you has a burden. You must learn to carry it.”
The girls decided to begin the journey again, this time seriously.
On Christmas morning, each girl found a small book under her pillow. Their mother had chosen the books carefully.
Later, Marmee told them about a poor family living nearby. The family had no food or fire, and the children were hungry.
The girls immediately agreed to give their Christmas breakfast to the poor family.
They carried the food to the small house and saw the hungry children gathered around their sick mother.
The March sisters gave them everything.
When they returned home, they had only simple bread and milk for breakfast, but they felt happy.
Later, they exchanged their small presents with Marmee.
The day became even happier when Mr. Laurence, the wealthy old man who lived next door, sent them a large meal as a Christmas gift. He had heard about their kindness to the poor family.
The girls were surprised.
They also became curious about his grandson, Laurie, who lived with him.
They did not know that Laurie would soon become one of the most important people in their lives.
Chapter Two
The Boy Next Door
A few days later, Meg and Jo were invited to a New Year’s Eve party. Meg was excited. She wanted to look beautiful, but she had no expensive dress.
Jo cared very little about fashion. Her dress was simple, and one of her gloves was badly stained. At the party, Meg quickly became comfortable. Jo did not.
She stood near the wall and watched the other young people.
Then she escaped into a quiet room.
Someone was already there.
It was Laurie.
At first, both of them felt embarrassed. But soon they began talking.
Laurie told Jo about his years at school in Switzerland and his travels in Europe. Jo loved hearing about his adventures.
The two young people soon became friends.
Laurie was shy around other people, but Jo’s unusual personality made him comfortable.
When Jo returned home, she told her sisters everything about him.
Soon Laurie became a regular visitor to the March house.
The girls learned that his grandfather was a wealthy and serious man, while Laurie himself was lonely and wanted friendship.
The March family invited him into their lives.
One day, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy visited the Laurence house.
Beth was especially nervous. She loved music and wanted to play the beautiful piano there, but she was too shy to ask.
Laurie noticed her interest.
He arranged for her to use the piano whenever she wished.
Beth slowly became friends with the Laurence family.
The sisters also became more involved in their neighborhood.
One of their neighbors, the Laurences, had once seemed distant and unfriendly. But kindness changed that relationship.
Jo, in particular, became close to Laurie.
They played games, talked, and went on adventures.
The girls’ lives were not always peaceful.
Amy sometimes felt that Jo treated her like a child. Jo thought Amy was too proud and too interested in appearance.
Their arguments could be serious.
One winter day, Amy became angry because Jo and the other girls went skating without her.
She followed them onto the ice.
Jo warned her not to skate near a dangerous place.
Amy ignored the warning.
Suddenly the ice broke.
Amy fell into the cold water.
Jo pulled her out.
The experience frightened Jo deeply.
She realized how quickly anger could lead to disaster.
That evening, Amy was safe, but Jo was ashamed of her own behavior.
She had been angry with Amy earlier and had not treated her kindly.
The sisters forgave one another.
Their relationship was stronger because of the experience.
But another conflict was waiting.
Jo had always wanted to become a writer.
She wrote stories in the attic and dreamed of earning money from them.
Her family encouraged her.
Jo also had a strong temper.
When she became angry, she sometimes said things she regretted.
Marmee understood this better than anyone.
She told Jo that controlling her temper was one of the hardest tasks she would ever face.
Jo listened.
She wanted to become a better person, even though she knew it would take years.
Chapter Three
School and Trouble
Amy had difficulties at school. Her teacher sometimes punished her for bringing small luxuries or behaving proudly.
One day, Amy was punished because she had forbidden food at school.
She felt humiliated.
Jo was angry when she heard about it.
She wanted to defend her sister, but Amy’s pride made the situation worse.
The two sisters often misunderstood one another.
Amy admired Meg’s beauty and Jo’s talent, but she also wanted to be important.
Jo thought Amy was spoiled.
Their arguments became worse after Amy destroyed some of Jo’s writings.
Jo had worked hard on the stories and felt deeply hurt.
She became furious.
Later, she realized that Amy was sorry.
The sisters slowly forgave each other.
Their mother taught them that love was more important than winning an argument.
Meanwhile, Jo continued writing.
She wanted to earn money and become independent.
She sent one of her stories to a newspaper.
To her surprise, it was accepted.
The payment was small, but Jo was extremely proud.
She had taken her first step toward becoming a professional writer.
The family celebrated her success.
Laurie also encouraged her.
He admired Jo’s energy and imagination.
The sisters’ lives continued to change.
Meg dreamed of beautiful clothes and elegant parties.
Beth was happiest at home.
Amy dreamed of becoming an artist.
Jo wanted to write.
Their dreams were different, but they were all learning that life did not always follow the plans they made.
One summer, the girls created a club.
They called themselves the Pickwick Club.
Beth became the postmistress.
They built a small post office and left letters and messages for one another.
Soon the post office became a place where secrets and feelings were shared.
The club brought the sisters and Laurie closer together.
But Laurie had dreams of his own.
He wanted to live a meaningful life.
His grandfather expected him to study hard and prepare for the future.
Laurie sometimes wished he could escape these expectations.
The March family gave him something he needed badly: a home-like atmosphere and real friendship.
Chapter Four
Meg and the World of Fashion
Meg had a chance to spend time with a wealthy family. At first, she enjoyed the beautiful clothes, parties, and elegant lifestyle.
But she soon discovered that wealth did not always bring happiness.
Some people talked constantly about money and social position.
Meg enjoyed the attention, but she also felt uncomfortable.
She began to understand that she could easily become vain.
Her sisters noticed the change.
Jo worried that Meg might forget the values they had learned at home.
Meg eventually returned to her family with a better understanding of herself.
She still liked beautiful things, but she no longer believed that money could solve every problem.
Meanwhile, the sisters continued their experiments in self-improvement.
Marmee challenged them to use their free time wisely.
The girls tried different plans.
Some succeeded.
Others failed.
They discovered that good intentions were not enough.
They needed patience and discipline.
Laurie often joined them.
He became a true member of the family.
One summer, he invited the girls to spend a day at his house.
There they enjoyed games, food, music, and conversation.
The girls felt completely free.
Laurie, however, began to think seriously about his future.
His grandfather wanted him to prepare for a career.
Laurie dreamed of freedom and adventure.
He wanted to travel.
He also wanted to remain close to the people he loved.
The sisters began to realize that growing up meant making difficult choices.
Their childhood was slowly disappearing.
Chapter Five
Dreams and a Difficult Winter
Jo continued writing in the attic. She secretly hoped that one day she would become a famous writer.
She wrote a long story and sent it to a publisher.
The story was accepted.
Jo earned some money and felt proud of herself.
Her success gave her confidence.
But she soon learned that becoming a writer was not easy.
She had to accept criticism.
Some stories were rejected.
She was disappointed, but she did not give up.
At the same time, Mr. March became seriously ill.
A telegram arrived with the news.
The family was frightened.
Mrs. March immediately decided to travel to him.
Jo wanted to go with her, but she had little money.
She cut her long hair and sold it.
The sacrifice was difficult because Jo loved her hair.
But she wanted to help her father.
The family appreciated what she had done.
While their mother was away, the sisters tried to remain strong.
They wrote letters and waited for news.
Laurie’s grandfather also helped them.
He sent money and made sure they were not alone.
Mr. March slowly recovered.
The family was grateful.
The experience changed the girls.
They understood that life could change suddenly. Money, beauty, and success were not enough. Family and friendship mattered more.
Chapter Six
Beth’s Illness
Beth had always been the quietest sister. She loved her family and never asked for much.
One winter, she became seriously ill after helping a poor family.
At first, the sisters did not understand how dangerous her illness was.
Beth became weaker.
The whole house became quiet.
Jo was especially frightened.
She blamed herself for many things.
Laurie and Mr. Laurence tried to help.
The family waited anxiously.
Beth eventually recovered, but the illness changed her.
She was no longer as strong as before.
Amy, meanwhile, was sent to stay with Aunt March.
At first she hated being away from home.
But she began to understand how much she loved her sisters.
She also became more responsible.
She learned to control her temper and think about other people.
The sisters were slowly growing up.
Meg was thinking seriously about love and marriage.
John Brooke, Laurie’s tutor, cared deeply for Meg.
Meg cared about him too.
But she was uncertain.
She had seen wealth and wanted a comfortable life.
John had little money.
Marmee helped Meg understand that a good marriage depended on love and character, not wealth.
Meg eventually accepted John’s love.
The family was happy.
But Jo was worried.
She did not want the sisters to separate.
She wanted them to remain together forever.
Life, however, was moving forward.
Chapter Seven
Meg’s Wedding
Meg married John Brooke. The wedding was simple. There was no great display of wealth. But there was love.
Meg left her family home and began a new life.
Jo felt the loss strongly.
She missed her sister.
At first, Meg and John had difficulties.
Meg wanted to become the perfect wife.
She tried to keep the house beautiful and prepare perfect meals.
But real life was not perfect.
She sometimes became tired and frustrated.
John sometimes came home exhausted.
They had to learn how to live together.
Meg gradually discovered that marriage was not about pretending to be perfect.
It was about patience, honesty, and understanding.
Meanwhile, Amy was developing her artistic interests.
She went to Europe with relatives.
She wanted to become a great artist.
She soon discovered that talent and hard work were different from genius.
She enjoyed beautiful places and met many interesting people.
Laurie also traveled.
His grandfather wanted him to become serious and responsible.
Laurie struggled with his future.
Jo continued writing.
She moved to New York for a time and worked as a teacher while trying to develop her writing.
There she met Professor Friedrich Bhaer.
He was a serious but kind German professor.
At first, Jo did not know what to think of him.
But he respected her mind.
He also criticized some of her writing.
Jo was hurt.
Later, she understood that he wanted her to become a better writer.
Their friendship slowly deepened.
Chapter Eight
Laurie and Jo
Laurie had grown into a young man. He had money, education, and opportunities. But he still carried strong feelings for Jo.
Jo did not understand them at first.
She thought of Laurie as a brother and close friend.
Laurie eventually told Jo that he loved her.
He asked her to marry him.
Jo was shocked.
She cared deeply for Laurie, but she did not love him in the way he wanted.
She refused.
Laurie was heartbroken.
Jo felt terrible.
She did not want to lose him, but she could not promise a marriage without love.
Laurie left to travel.
Jo remained at home.
Later, Jo received news that Beth was becoming weaker.
Jo returned home.
She spent more time with Beth.
The sisters knew that Beth would not live much longer.
Beth accepted her fate peacefully.
She told Jo that she had always known she was different from the others.
Jo struggled to accept the truth.
Beth’s death became one of the most painful moments in the family’s life.
After Beth died, the house felt empty.
Jo was lost.
She had always believed that her sisters would remain together.
Now everything had changed.
Beth’s memory, however, gave Jo strength.
Jo began to understand that she had to continue living.
She returned to her writing.
She also began to think more seriously about the future.
Chapter Nine
Amy and Laurie
Amy had changed during her time in Europe. She was still artistic and ambitious, but she had become more mature. Laurie met her there.
At first, he was unhappy and careless. He had not yet recovered from Jo’s rejection.
Amy challenged him. She told him that he was wasting his life.
Laurie slowly began to listen.
They spent more time together.
Laurie discovered that Amy was no longer the little girl he remembered.
She was thoughtful, intelligent, and confident.
Amy also began to see Laurie differently.
Their friendship became love.
Eventually, Laurie asked Amy to marry him.
She accepted.
They returned home as a married couple.
The family was surprised but happy.
Jo was especially relieved.
She had feared that Laurie would remain unhappy forever.
Instead, he had found someone who loved him.
Jo’s own life was also changing.
Professor Bhaer had become important to her.
She missed him after he left.
She realized that her feelings for him were deeper than friendship.
But she did not know if he felt the same.
Jo returned to her family home.
She began to understand that her future might be different from the one she had imagined as a girl.
Chapter Ten
A New Life
Jo inherited an old house from Aunt March. At first, she did not know what to do with it. Then she had an idea. She would create a school for boys.
Professor Bhaer supported the idea.
Jo wanted the house to become a place where children could learn and grow in a warm environment.
The school began modestly. Over time, it became successful. Jo and Professor Bhaer became closer. Eventually, he asked her to marry him. Jo accepted.
She was surprised by how happy she felt.
She had once believed that marriage would destroy her independence.
Instead, she discovered that love could give her a different kind of freedom.
Professor Bhaer respected her intelligence and her work.
Jo respected his kindness and wisdom.
They married and began their life together.
Meg and John also had children.
Their twins were named Daisy and Demi.
The children brought new happiness and new problems.
Meg learned that being a mother required patience.
Jo loved the children and often visited them.
Amy and Laurie also built a home together.
Their relationship was warm and affectionate.
The March sisters were no longer children.
They had become wives, mothers, writers, artists, and teachers.
Yet they remained sisters.
Chapter Eleven
The Family Changes
The years passed. Amy and Laurie became parents. Jo continued her work at the school. Meg continued to build a loving home with John.
The sisters’ lives were very different now. But they still met and remembered their childhood. Jo often thought about Beth.
She knew that Beth would never see the changes. Beth’s gentle spirit, however, remained part of the family.
Jo also thought about her own younger self.
As a girl, she had wanted to become famous.
She had imagined herself writing great books and living an exciting life.
Instead, she had found happiness in family, friendship, teaching, and love.
She still wrote.
But her writing was no longer the only thing that mattered.
Amy and Laurie were also happy.
Their marriage had grown from friendship and understanding.
They remembered how different they had once been.
Laurie had once loved Jo.
Amy had once been only a child in his eyes.
Life had surprised them all.
One day, the family gathered again.
The children played around the house.
The adults talked about the past.
The March family had changed, but the old house still carried their memories.
The girls had learned that growing up did not mean forgetting childhood.
It meant carrying its lessons into the future.
Chapter Twelve
Harvest Time
Many years had passed since the four March sisters had sat around the fire and complained about being poor.
Their lives were now full of new responsibilities. Meg had become a wife and mother. Jo had married Professor Bhaer and created a school.
Amy and Laurie had built a happy family.
The children of the next generation filled the house with noise and energy. Jo looked at them with affection.
She remembered the days when she and her sisters had played pilgrims.
At that time, their burdens had seemed small. Now life had given each of them much heavier burdens. But they had learned how to carry them.
Meg had learned that marriage required patience.
Amy had learned that beauty and wealth were not the most important things in life.
Laurie had learned to take responsibility for himself and for others.
Jo had learned to control her anger, accept disappointment, and open her heart to love.
And Beth had taught them the quietest lesson of all: kindness could change people’s lives.
The family continued to remember her.
As the years passed, the March home became a place where children learned, played, and grew.
Jo and Professor Bhaer worked together. Their school became successful. Jo still wrote. She no longer dreamed only of fame. She wanted her stories to be useful and meaningful.
One day, Jo looked at the younger members of the family and thought about how quickly life had passed. She remembered the Christmas when they had been poor.
She remembered their father’s letter. She remembered Laurie arriving as a shy boy.
She remembered Amy falling through the ice. She remembered Meg’s wedding.
She remembered Beth’s illness and death.
She remembered the pain of losing childhood. But she also remembered the happiness.
The sisters had not received everything they wanted.
They had experienced disappointment, illness, poverty, separation, and loss.
Yet they had continued to love one another.
That love had helped them grow.
The March sisters had learned that life was not a straight road. Sometimes the road was difficult.
Sometimes people lost what they loved.
Sometimes dreams changed. Sometimes a person had to leave one dream behind before discovering another. But there was always another step to take.
The family gathered together again. The children played outside. The older people watched them and smiled. Jo looked at her sisters.
Meg was beside her husband. Amy stood with Laurie. Their children were laughing nearby. Jo thought about Beth.
For a moment, she felt the old sadness.
Then she looked at the happy family around her.
She understood that love did not disappear when someone died.
It remained in memories, in kindness, and in the lives of the people who had been loved.
The harvest of their lives was not money or fame.
It was the family they had built, the people they had helped, and the love they had given.
Jo smiled.
The four little girls who had once dreamed of becoming “little women” had grown up.
They had become women in different ways.
And although life had taken them along different roads, the love between them remained. That was the greatest gift they had ever received.
The End
Read the original story: gutenberg.org
Vocabulary
- Independent — able to make your own decisions and not depend on other people.
Example: Jo was an independent girl who wanted to choose her own life. - Responsibility — the duty to take care of something or someone.
Example: The sisters learned to accept responsibility for their family. - Disappointment — the feeling of sadness when something is not as good as you hoped.
Example: Jo felt deep disappointment when her story was rejected. - Generous — willing to give time, money, help, or kindness to others.
Example: The March family was generous even though they did not have much money. - Sacrifice — giving up something important in order to help someone or achieve something.
Example: Jo made a great sacrifice to support her family. - Ambitious — having a strong desire to achieve something important or successful.
Example: Amy was ambitious and dreamed of becoming a successful artist. - Affection — love and care for someone.
Example: The sisters showed great affection for one another. - Determined — having a strong decision to do something and not give up.
Example: Jo was determined to become a writer. - Encourage — to give support, confidence, or hope to someone.
Example: Marmee always encouraged her daughters to be kind and brave. - Struggle — to try very hard to do something, often when it is difficult.
Example: Laurie struggled to find his place in life.
- Selfish — caring only about your own needs and not about other people.
Example: Amy realized that she had sometimes been selfish. - Forgive — to stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone for a mistake.
Example: Jo learned to forgive her sister after their argument. - Mature — having the qualities of a grown-up person, especially in thoughts and actions.
Example: Amy became more mature after spending time in Europe. - Valuable — very important or useful.
Example: The family learned that love was more valuable than money. - Devoted — showing great love, loyalty, and care for someone.
Example: Beth was deeply devoted to her family. - Poverty — the state of being very poor and not having enough money for basic needs.
Example: The March family lived in poverty, but they remained happy and close. - Confidence — the feeling of believing in yourself and your abilities.
Example: Jo gained confidence when her stories were published. - Relationship — the way two or more people are connected or feel about each other.
Example: The sisters had a strong relationship despite their differences. - Recover — to get better after an illness, a difficult experience, or a problem.
Example: Mr. March slowly began to recover from his illness. - Responsible — taking care of your duties and making good decisions.
Example: Laurie became more responsible as he grew older.
Comprehension Questions
- Why was the March family experiencing financial difficulties at the beginning of the story?
- How were Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy different from one another in their personalities and interests?
- Why did the sisters decide to give their Christmas presents to their mother instead of buying things for themselves?
- What effect did their father’s letter have on the four sisters?
- Why did the March sisters decide to give their Christmas breakfast to the poor Hummel family?
- How did Laurie first become a close friend of the March sisters?
- Why did Jo dislike many of the traditional expectations placed on young women?
- What did Jo’s writing mean to her, and why was becoming a writer important to her?
- How did Jo and Amy’s disagreements affect their relationship?
- What did Meg learn from spending time with wealthy people and attending social events?
- Why was Jo willing to make a personal sacrifice when her father became seriously ill?
- How did Beth’s illness affect the March family and especially Jo?
- Why did Meg have doubts about marrying John Brooke, and how did she eventually make her decision?
- How did Meg’s experience of marriage change her understanding of love and family life?
- Why did Laurie propose to Jo, and why did Jo refuse his proposal?
- How did Beth’s death change Jo’s understanding of life and her own future?
- How did Amy change during her time in Europe?
- Why did Laurie and Amy eventually fall in love with each other?
- How did Professor Bhaer influence Jo’s development as a writer and as a person?
- What important lessons did the four March sisters learn as they grew from childhood into adulthood?
Grammar Exercises
- When Mr. March was away at the war, the family __ to manage without him.
A) has learned
B) had learned
C) had to learn
D) would have learned - Jo was angry because Amy __ her manuscript before Jo had finished working on it.
A) had burned
B) burns
C) has burned
D) was burning - If the March sisters __ more money, they would have bought more expensive Christmas presents.
A) have
B) had
C) would have
D) had had - Meg realized that she __ too much attention to fashionable clothes during her visit to wealthy friends.
A) had been paying
B) has paid
C) would pay
D) is paying - Laurie __ the March family several times before he became one of their closest friends.
A) visited
B) had visited
C) has visited
D) was visiting - Jo decided that she would continue writing even though some of her early stories __.
A) rejected
B) had rejected
C) had been rejected
D) were rejecting - By the time Mr. March returned home, the girls __ a great deal during his absence.
A) have changed
B) had changed
C) are changing
D) would change - Beth would probably have recovered more quickly if she __ so seriously ill.
A) wasn’t
B) hadn’t been
C) wouldn’t be
D) hasn’t been - Amy became more mature after she __ time in Europe and experienced a different way of life.
A) spends
B) had spent
C) has spent
D) was spending - When Laurie proposed to Jo, she told him that she __ him deeply but did not love him in the same way.
A) respects
B) had respected
C) respected
D) has respected
- Meg eventually married John Brooke, although she __ some doubts about marriage at first.
A) has
B) had
C) would have
D) is having - Jo wished she __ her temper when Amy destroyed her manuscript.
A) controls
B) had controlled
C) would control
D) has controlled - The family was relieved when Beth __ her illness and began to regain her strength.
A) recovered from
B) had recovered from
C) has recovering from
D) was recover from - By the time Amy returned from Europe, Laurie __ that his feelings for her had changed.
A) realizes
B) had realized
C) has realized
D) was realizing - Jo’s writing improved as she __ more experience and confidence.
A) gained
B) had been gained
C) was gaining
D) has gaining - Marmee always encouraged her daughters __ their mistakes and learn from them.
A) accepting
B) to accept
C) accepted
D) acceptingly - Although Jo wanted __ independent, she eventually understood how important family relationships were.
A) remained
B) remaining
C) to remain
D) remain - The sisters were grateful __ their mother for supporting them through difficult times.
A) to
B) for
C) with
D) at - Jo became a successful writer because she refused __ up when she faced disappointment.
A) giving
B) to give
C) gave
D) given - The March sisters learned that happiness does not depend __ wealth or social position.
A) at
B) in
C) on
D) with
Answer Key
1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-A, 5-B, 6-C, 7-B, 8-B, 9-B, 10-C, 11-B, 12-B, 13-A, 14-B, 15-A, 16-B, 17-C, 18-A, 19-B, 20-C
More English Stories – B2 Level
01. The Luck of Roaring Camp (Intermediate Level B2)
The Luck of Roaring Camp was written in 1868 by American author Bret Harte. The story describes life in a rough California mining camp during the Gold Rush.
When a baby is born in the camp, the lonely and dangerous men begin to change. The child brings hope and kindness into their harsh lives. This English story reading explores themes of innocence, redemption, hope, and human goodness.
02. My Kinsman, Major Molineux (Intermediate Level B2)
My Kinsman, Major Molineux is a powerful short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1831. It takes place in pre-revolutionary America and explores complex themes such as identity, independence, rebellion, and personal growth. The story follows a young country boy named Robin who travels to the city in search of his powerful relative, Major Molineux. But what he discovers in the city is not what he expected — and the journey becomes a symbolic test of maturity and self-discovery.
03. The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans (Intermediate Level B2)
The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans is a detective story written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous British author who created Sherlock Holmes. This story was first published in 1908. It is one of the most popular Holmes adventures because it mixes mystery, spying, and national secrets.
In this version, the story is rewritten for Level 4 English learners (B2). The language is a bit easier to understand, but the main events and characters are the same as in the original story.