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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: a birthday party for a friend

    Aisha Plans a Birthday Party at the Co-Working Space

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Aisha works at a co-working space. She shares the space with many other people. One of her friends is a woman named Sara. Sara's birthday is on Friday. Aisha wants to do something special for her. She decides to organize a small party at the co-working space. She thinks it will be a nice surprise. Aisha smiles and starts to plan. She writes a list of things she needs. She needs a cake, some drinks, and some snacks. She also wants to put up some decorations. Aisha looks at her schedule. She has time to get everything ready. She feels very excited. The next day, Aisha talks to her other colleagues.

    She speaks quietly so Sara cannot hear. "Sara's birthday is on Friday," she says. "Can you help me with the party?" Her colleague Ben says, "Yes, I can bring some cookies!" Another colleague, Mia, says, "I can bring some juice and a card." Aisha is very happy. She goes to the store near the co-working space. She buys a small cake with white frosting. She buys some paper cups and plates. She buys some colorful balloons. She puts everything in a bag and brings it back. She hides the bag under her desk. She does not want Sara to see it. She feels a little nervous but also very excited. On Friday morning, Aisha arrives early at the co-working space. Ben and Mia arrive early too. They work together to set up the party. They put up the balloons.

    They put the cake on a table in the center of the room. They put the cookies and juice on the table too. Everything looks great. Then Sara walks in. She sees the balloons and the cake. Her eyes go wide. "Is this for me?" she asks. "Yes!" says Aisha. "Happy birthday, Sara!" Everyone claps and smiles. Sara looks very surprised. She has a big smile on her face. "Thank you so much," she says. "This is the best surprise ever!" They all eat cake together and have a wonderful time.

    Key vocabulary

    organize (verb)to plan and arrange something carefully“Aisha decides to organize a small party for her friend.”
    colleague (noun)a person you work with“Aisha talks to her colleagues about the party.”
    decoration (noun)something you put up to make a place look nice“She wants to put up some decorations for the birthday party.”
    surprise (noun)something unexpected that makes someone happy“The party is a wonderful surprise for Sara.”
    frosting (noun)a sweet, soft layer put on top of a cake“Aisha buys a small cake with white frosting.”
    nervous (adjective)feeling a little worried or anxious about something“Aisha feels nervous because she does not want Sara to find out.”
    arrives (verb)gets to a place“Aisha arrives early at the co-working space on Friday morning.”
    wonderful (adjective)very good; making you feel very happy“They all have a wonderful time at the party.”

    Useful phrases

    • do something special — to make an occasion different and enjoyable for someone“Aisha wants to do something special for Sara's birthday.”
    • put up — to attach or place decorations in a room“They put up colorful balloons around the room.”
    • look at (one's) schedule — to check your plan for the day to see when you are free“Aisha looks at her schedule to find time to get everything ready.”
    • speak quietly — to talk in a low voice so others cannot hear“Aisha speaks quietly so Sara cannot hear the plan.”
    • hide (something) under — to put something in a place where it cannot be seen“She hides the bag under her desk so Sara will not see it.”
    • set up — to prepare and arrange things for an event“Ben and Mia arrive early to help set up the party.”
    • eyes go wide — to open your eyes very big because you are surprised“Sara's eyes go wide when she sees the cake and balloons.”
    • have a wonderful time — to enjoy yourself very much“Everyone has a wonderful time at Sara's birthday party.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKL
    1WHUUSEVIRRAY
    2OGORGANIZERV
    3NNOITAROCEDM
    4DISUOVRENYCC
    5ETUSIBOOEHOI
    6RSUQUNKOQLIR
    7FOVBMRLZLSXI
    8URQSPMPEDRNR
    9LFVTILARLIKZ
    10WJMVQGBHIQFA
    11FBMSUSLNXSXM
    12NYIEJWJTSNEJ

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does Aisha work?

      • A) At a bakery
      • B) At a co-working space
      • C) At a school
      • D) At a hospital
    2. Whose birthday is on Friday?

      • A) Aisha's
      • B) Ben's
      • C) Mia's
      • D) Sara's
    3. What does Ben offer to bring to the party?

      • A) Juice
      • B) Cookies
      • C) A cake
      • D) Balloons
    4. What does Mia say she will bring?

      • A) Snacks and cups
      • B) Cookies and balloons
      • C) A cake and plates
      • D) Juice and a card
    5. Where does Aisha hide the bag with the party supplies?

      • A) In a closet
      • B) In her car
      • C) In the kitchen
      • D) Under her desk
    6. The word 'organize' in the story means to ___.

      • A) forget about something
      • B) plan and arrange something
      • C) ask someone for help
      • D) buy something quickly
    7. What type of cake does Aisha buy?

      • A) A cake with colorful frosting
      • B) A large chocolate cake
      • C) A small cake with white frosting
      • D) A cake with candles
    8. Aisha arrives early on Friday morning. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) True
      • C) Not stated
      • D) False
    9. What does Sara say when she sees the party?

      • A) "Let us eat!"
      • B) "Who did this for me?"
      • C) "This is the best surprise ever!"
      • D) "I do not like surprises!"
    10. The word 'nervous' in the story means ___.

      • A) feeling happy and confident
      • B) feeling a little worried or anxious
      • C) feeling tired and bored
      • D) feeling angry

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. B 2. D 3. B 4. D 5. D 6. B 7. C 8. B 9. C 10. B

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    arrives: K1 ← · colleague: L4 ↙ · decoration: K3 ← · frosting: B9 ↑ · nervous: I4 ← · organize: C2 → · surprise: D5 ↘ · wonderful: A1 ↓

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: a birthday party for a friend

    Aisha's Surprise Birthday Party at the Co-Working Space

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Aisha has been working at the co-working space for almost a year, and in that time she has gotten to know most of her colleagues well. One of her closest friends there is Sara, whose birthday is coming up on Friday. Aisha wants to do something meaningful to mark the occasion, so she decides to organize a small surprise party right in the shared workspace. She quietly checks her schedule, makes a list of supplies, and begins to figure out how to pull everything off without Sara suspecting a thing. The whole plan feels exciting but a little risky, and Aisha knows she will need help from the others. The following morning, Aisha pulls Ben and Mia aside during their coffee break and explains the plan in a low voice.

    Both of them are immediately on board. Ben offers to bring a batch of homemade cookies, while Mia agrees to pick up some juice and write a card on behalf of the group. Aisha herself heads to the store near the co-working space and picks out a small cake with white frosting, some paper cups and plates, and a bundle of colorful balloons. She smuggles everything back to the office in a large tote bag and tucks it under her desk, hoping Sara will not notice. For the rest of the day, she finds it almost impossible to act normally around her friend. On Friday morning, Aisha, Ben, and Mia arrive well before the others to transform the common area into a festive space.

    They arrange the balloons near the entrance, center the cake on the main table, and lay out the cookies, juice, and card so that everything looks welcoming and cheerful. When Sara walks through the door and takes in the scene, her face shifts from confusion to pure delight in an instant. "Is all of this for me?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. "Every bit of it," Aisha replies with a grin. Sara pulls her into a hug and tells her it is the most thoughtful thing anyone has done for her in a long time. The rest of the morning passes in laughter, cake, and the kind of easy conversation that reminds everyone why they enjoy sharing a workspace.

    Key vocabulary

    meaningful (adjective)having real importance or value; showing that you care“Aisha wants to do something meaningful to celebrate Sara's birthday.”
    suspecting (verb)thinking that something is true or about to happen, often without clear proof“Aisha plans everything carefully without Sara suspecting a thing.”
    on board (adjective phrase)willing to take part in a plan or activity“When Aisha explains the idea, Ben and Mia are immediately on board.”
    smuggles (verb)to bring something somewhere secretly so that nobody notices“She smuggles the cake and balloons into the office in a large bag.”
    festive (adjective)bright, cheerful, and suitable for a special celebration“They decorate the common area to give it a festive feel.”
    delight (noun)a feeling of great pleasure and happiness“Sara's face shows pure delight when she sees the surprise party.”
    thoughtful (adjective)showing care and consideration for other people's feelings“Sara tells Aisha it is the most thoughtful thing anyone has done for her.”
    transform (verb)to change the appearance or character of something completely“They arrive early to transform the common area into a festive space.”

    Useful phrases

    • mark the occasion — to do something special to celebrate a particular event“Aisha wants to organize a party to mark the occasion of Sara's birthday.”
    • pull (something) off — to succeed in doing something difficult or surprising“Aisha needs help from her colleagues to pull the surprise party off.”
    • on behalf of — as a representative of a group; in place of others“Mia writes a card on behalf of everyone in the co-working space.”
    • tuck (something) away — to put something in a hidden or out-of-sight place“Aisha tucks the bag of supplies under her desk so Sara won't see it.”
    • act normally — to behave in your usual way, especially when trying to hide something“Aisha finds it hard to act normally around Sara for the rest of the day.”
    • take in (a scene) — to look at and understand everything around you at once“Sara takes in the scene and cannot believe the party is for her.”
    • barely above a whisper — speaking very quietly, almost in a whisper“"Is this for me?" Sara asks, her voice barely above a whisper.”
    • in laughter and easy conversation — spending time together in a relaxed, enjoyable way“The rest of the morning passes in laughter and easy conversation.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKL
    1YMUDELIGHTQI
    2SDRNRPZRERWL
    3ULROXANQTOUU
    4SPUWFYOFOFNO
    5PNJFESGBGHMO
    6EPNNTVNNNLYA
    7CMUMUHIALOVX
    8TESNXNGTRIYE
    9IVHTAAQUSTRF
    10NHEEMWXNOEFC
    11GSMUGGLESHFJ
    12ZRYPYLCAMKTC

    Comprehension quiz

    1. How long has Aisha been working at the co-working space?

      • A) Just a few days
      • B) More than two years
      • C) Almost a year
      • D) A few weeks
    2. Why does Aisha need help from Ben and Mia?

      • A) She does not have enough money for the cake
      • B) She wants to keep the party a secret from Sara
      • C) She does not know where to buy supplies
      • D) She is too busy to come in on Friday
    3. The word 'festive' in the story means ___.

      • A) large and crowded
      • B) bright and cheerful for a celebration
      • C) formal and professional
      • D) quiet and serious
    4. What does Mia agree to do for the party?

      • A) Buy the balloons and cake
      • B) Pick up juice and write a card
      • C) Arrive early to set up the room
      • D) Tell Sara about the surprise
    5. Aisha hides the party supplies in a closet near the entrance. True or False?

      • A) False
      • B) Not stated
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) True
    6. The phrase 'on board' in the story means ___.

      • A) standing on a boat
      • B) willing to take part in a plan
      • C) working at a desk
      • D) ready to leave the office
    7. How does Sara react when she walks in and sees the party?

      • A) She laughs and immediately starts eating cake
      • B) Her face shifts from confusion to pure delight
      • C) She does not notice the decorations at first
      • D) She becomes upset because she dislikes surprises
    8. What does Sara say about the party after she hugs Aisha?

      • A) She says she prefers quiet celebrations
      • B) She says it is the biggest party she has ever had
      • C) She says it is the most thoughtful thing anyone has done for her in a long time
      • D) She says she already knew about the surprise
    9. The word 'transform' in the story means ___.

      • A) to move furniture to another room
      • B) to change the appearance of something completely
      • C) to clean a room carefully
      • D) to decorate a room with lights
    10. Aisha finds it easy to act normally around Sara on the day before the party. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. C 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. A 6. B 7. B 8. C 9. B 10. B

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    delight: D1 → · festive: K11 ↖ · meaningful: C11 ↗ · on board: J7 ↖ · smuggles: B11 → · suspecting: A2 ↓ · thoughtful: K12 ↖ · transform: J9 ↖

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/aisha-plans-a-birthday-party-at-the-co-working-space-2026-10-15