PDF eBook

How Much Is the Fish? (MSA)

Muhammad feels that the whole world is standing against him, even his wife. His principles seem to work to his disadvantage. Does he need to lie and cheat to find true success?

This is a PDF eBook, delivered as a digital download.
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Level	B1 • B2
Length	50 pages
Series	Arabic Readers
Format	PDF eBook

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The Modern Standard Arabic Readers series gives learners valuable exposure to authentic Arabic in meaningful context. The thirty-five stories, all written at a similar level (B1–B2), can be read in any order, providing a fun and flexible way to build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, and develop fluency.

The main Arabic text appears on even-numbered pages, fully vocalized with tashkeel (diacritics) to support accurate reading and pronunciation. Parallel English translations are presented on the facing odd-numbered pages to help you understand new words, expressions, and cultural references.

A second version of each text is included at the back of the book—without tashkeel or translations—for readers who want a more challenging, immersive experience.

Each story includes twenty comprehension questions with sample answers (and English translations) to reinforce understanding. A sequencing exercise helps you review the story by arranging ten key events back in their correct order.

What’s New in the Revised Editions?

The Modern Standard Arabic Readers series has been fully updated to make it even more effective for learners. The new editions (published May 2025) feature:

Revised English translations for improved clarity and accuracy.
Audio track timestamps above the translations to help you easily follow along.
Twenty comprehension questions for each story, with sample answers and English translations.
A sequencing exercise to help review and reinforce key story events.

Modern Standard Arabic Readers Features

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MP3 Files

Download the full accompanying audio for this product as MP3 files—completely free! The files are provided in a compressed ZIP folder for easy access. Simply download, extract the files, and start listening. No purchase of the PDF eBook is required!

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This book is also available in paperback!

On Lingualism.com, this book is sold as a PDF eBook only.

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Please note that paperback editions are printed with black-and-white interiors, which differ from the full-color sample images shown for the PDF eBook above.

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This book is available in paperback on your local Amazon website.

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5 stars: 2 (100%)
4 stars: 0 (0%)
3 stars: 0 (0%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

This is what I have been looking for for a long time. Native speaker tells a story in MSA with fine pronunciation and sound tracks are of the highest quality. You have the opportunity to use the booklet in different ways, depending on where the emphasis lies: pronunciation, language comprehension, new words and expressions, etc. For my part, I listen to the audio when I drive, when doing the dishes, in the gym, etc. and use my auditive memory for learning. Then I read the text without tashkeel and at last I check the new words and expressions in the other text with diacritical marks. The story often repeats the same words and expressions wich lowers its stylistic value BUT it is all about language learning so it is more than okay. Repetitio est mater studiorum. The only negative I can bring up is that the English translation is not a translation at all but rather a text wich tells the same story in English. If you want to know exactly what the new words mean, you have to take your old and worn dictionary. The book is so useful for my self-studies that I give five stars.

This series is perhaps the most useful tool that I have encountered in my longstanding quest for fluency in the Arabic language. My literacy has improved in leaps and bounds since I started using these readers and the audio recordings have been invaluable in refining my listening skills. I cannot recommend these books highly enough.