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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: trying something for the first time

    Anne's First Day at the Bank

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Anne woke up early. She felt nervous. Today was a special day. It was her first time at a bank. She had some money to put in a new account. She did not know what to do. She put on her coat. She picked up her bag. She walked to the bank. The bank was on a busy street. It had big glass doors. Anne stopped outside. She took a deep breath. She pushed open the door and went inside.

    The bank was quiet and clean. There were many people inside. Some people sat in chairs. Other people stood in a line. Anne looked around. She did not know where to go. A man at the door smiled at her. He said, "Good morning! Can I help you?" Anne said, "Yes, please. I want to open a new account." The man said, "Please take a number and wait in line." Anne took a small piece of paper with a number on it. She sat down in a chair. She waited. She looked at the other people. They all looked calm.

    Anne tried to feel calm too. After a few minutes, a woman called her number. Anne walked to the desk. The woman smiled and said, "Hello! How can I help you today?" Anne said, "I want to open a new account, please." The woman said, "Of course! I need to see your identification." Anne gave her the documents. The woman typed on her computer. She asked Anne some questions. Anne answered them slowly and carefully. The woman said, "Everything is ready. Your account is now open!" Anne felt very happy. She said, "Thank you so much!" She walked out of the bank. She smiled all the way home. It was not so hard after all.

    Key vocabulary

    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or a little afraid about something“Anne felt nervous before she went into the bank.”
    account (noun)a service at a bank where you keep your money“She wanted to open a new account at the bank.”
    line (noun)a group of people standing one behind the other, waiting for something“Anne stood in a line and waited for her turn.”
    identification (noun)an official document that shows who you are“The woman at the desk asked to see Anne's identification.”
    document (noun)an official piece of paper with important information“Anne gave her documents to the woman at the bank.”
    calm (adjective)relaxed and not worried or excited“The other people in the bank looked calm.”
    desk (noun)a table where someone works, often in an office or bank“Anne walked to the desk to speak to the bank worker.”
    breath (noun)the air that goes in and out of your body“Anne took a deep breath before she went inside.”

    Useful phrases

    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly to help yourself feel calmer“Anne took a deep breath before she walked into the bank.”
    • open an account — to start a new bank account for the first time“Anne went to the bank to open a new account.”
    • take a number — to get a piece of paper with a number so you know when it is your turn“The man told Anne to take a number and wait.”
    • wait in line — to stand in a line of people until it is your turn“Anne had to wait in line at the bank.”
    • How can I help you? — a polite question used to ask what someone needs“The woman at the desk said, "How can I help you today?"”
    • of course — used to say yes in a polite and friendly way“The bank worker said, "Of course!" when Anne asked for help.”
    • after all — used to say something was not as difficult as expected“Going to the bank was not so hard after all.”
    • all the way — for the whole distance or journey“Anne smiled all the way home after visiting the bank.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1IICSPFGNZPDNXHM
    2IDVBRCESMHESXCN
    3KCEFMCIYTTFNPRT
    4KLANQVMLPNJHGIR
    5MODLTGBREATHYBX
    6SHQMMIXZRNBOIPP
    7UAJODWFPROCNTNV
    8OUCNCDRINZZAELK
    9VGJCYQQDCOWNGXZ
    10RKQNOAGBPAINQUO
    11ESABUUMHHLTFPDN
    12NEANOUNGYRKITRR
    13BDBTHSMTJAFNOWQ
    14XFSUWTNEMUCODNN
    15CLVLZKUYQVCUIJG

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Anne go to the bank?

      • A) To open a new account
      • B) To pay a bill
      • C) To meet a friend
      • D) To change her money
    2. How did Anne feel before she went inside the bank?

      • A) Nervous
      • B) Happy
      • C) Tired
      • D) Angry
    3. What did the man at the door tell Anne to do?

      • A) Fill in a form
      • B) Sit down and wait
      • C) Go to the desk
      • D) Take a number and wait in line
    4. What does the word 'calm' mean?

      • A) Tired and bored
      • B) Relaxed and not worried
      • C) Busy and stressed
      • D) Excited and happy
    5. What did the bank worker ask Anne to show?

      • A) Her phone
      • B) Her identification
      • C) Her bag
      • D) Her money
    6. Anne had been to the bank many times before. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True
    7. What does 'open an account' mean?

      • A) To close a bank account
      • B) To take money out of the bank
      • C) To check your balance
      • D) To start a new bank account
    8. How did Anne feel when she left the bank?

      • A) Happy
      • B) Sad
      • C) Nervous
      • D) Angry
    9. What did the bank worker use to process Anne's information?

      • A) A printer
      • B) A computer
      • C) A notebook
      • D) A telephone
    10. Anne walked to the bank. True or False?

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

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    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.

    account: B7 ↘ · breath: G5 → · calm: B3 ↘ · desk: B13 ↑ · document: M14 ← · identification: A1 ↘ · line: J11 ↗ · nervous: A12 ↑

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: trying something for the first time

    Anne Steps Into the Unknown

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Anne had been putting off her visit to the bank for weeks. The idea of walking in alone and speaking to a stranger about her finances made her stomach turn. On a gray Tuesday morning, she finally convinced herself to go. She wore her smartest jacket, as if the right clothes might give her the confidence she lacked. Standing outside the heavy glass doors, she could see people moving calmly inside, and she reminded herself that everyone in there had once done this for the first time. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, letting the cool, quiet air settle her nerves. The bank was more welcoming than she had imagined.

    A member of staff greeted Anne and directed her to take a numbered ticket before joining the queue. She found a seat and watched the other customers, trying to pick up any clues about how the process worked. When her number was called, she approached the desk with careful, measured steps. The bank clerk, a friendly woman with a calm manner, introduced herself and asked how she could help. Anne explained that she wanted to open her first account, and to her relief, the clerk responded with patience and clarity. She walked Anne through each step, explaining what every document was for and what the account would allow her to do. By the time the process was complete, Anne felt a quiet sense of pride that she had not expected.

    The clerk handed her a card and said, "You're all set! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to come back." Anne thanked her warmly and made her way to the exit. Outside, the street felt different somehow, as though the world had shifted slightly in her favor. She had spent so long dreading the experience that she had forgotten it might actually go well. Walking home, she made a mental note to stop avoiding the things that frightened her and to trust herself a little more.

    Key vocabulary

    convince (verb)to make someone, or yourself, believe that something is true or right“Anne finally convinced herself to go to the bank that morning.”
    confidence (noun)the feeling of being sure about your own abilities“She wore her smartest jacket, hoping it would give her confidence.”
    queue (noun)a line of people waiting for something“Anne took a numbered ticket and joined the queue at the bank.”
    clerk (noun)a person who works in an office or bank dealing with records and customers“The bank clerk explained the process clearly and patiently.”
    measured (adjective)careful and controlled, not rushed“Anne walked to the desk with measured steps, trying to appear calm.”
    dread (verb)to feel very worried or afraid about something that is going to happen“Anne had been dreading the visit to the bank for weeks.”
    clarity (noun)the quality of being clear and easy to understand“The clerk responded with patience and clarity, which helped Anne relax.”
    hesitate (verb)to pause before doing something, often because you are unsure“The clerk told Anne not to hesitate to return if she had questions.”

    Useful phrases

    • put off — to delay doing something, often because you are nervous or do not want to do it“Anne had been putting off her visit to the bank for weeks.”
    • make one's stomach turn — to make someone feel anxious or slightly sick with worry“The thought of speaking to a stranger about her finances made her stomach turn.”
    • pick up clues — to notice small pieces of information that help you understand a situation“Anne watched the other customers, trying to pick up clues about the process.”
    • walk someone through — to explain something step by step to help someone understand“The clerk walked Anne through each step of opening the account.”
    • you're all set — everything is ready and complete“The clerk smiled and said, "You're all set!" when the account was open.”
    • don't hesitate to — a polite way of encouraging someone to do something without worrying“The clerk said, "Don't hesitate to come back if you have any questions."”
    • make a mental note — to decide to remember something without writing it down“Walking home, Anne made a mental note to stop avoiding frightening things.”
    • in one's favor — in a way that benefits or helps someone“Outside the bank, the world felt as though it had shifted in her favor.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKL
    1MPDAERDFKMAA
    2OHMEOEOCQOEF
    3VHEPCBKUQTXD
    4WKAONNCEAUSU
    5FRSVNLITUVOL
    6QEUPHDIVVEZF
    7VLRMCSUWNAUS
    8VCEPEVSXAOQQ
    9ABDHNKXXLACD
    10FXCLARITYFAE
    11LTECNEDIFNOC
    12APVDJBXWLJPT

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why had Anne been avoiding the bank for weeks?

      • A) She did not have the right documents
      • B) The idea of it made her anxious
      • C) The bank was too far away
      • D) She did not have enough money
    2. What does 'put off' mean in this story?

      • A) To prepare for something carefully
      • B) To cancel something permanently
      • C) To look forward to something
      • D) To delay something you don't want to do
    3. Why did Anne wear her smartest jacket?

      • A) Because the bank had a dress code
      • B) Because she hoped it would give her confidence
      • C) Because it was cold outside
      • D) Because she wanted to impress the clerk
    4. What did Anne do while she waited for her number to be called?

      • A) She watched the other customers
      • B) She called a friend
      • C) She filled in a form
      • D) She read a magazine
    5. What does the word 'dread' mean?

      • A) To feel very worried about something upcoming
      • B) To feel excited about something
      • C) To prepare carefully for something
      • D) To forget about something important
    6. The bank clerk was impatient with Anne. True or False?

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    7. What did the clerk give Anne at the end of the visit?

      • A) A form to complete at home
      • B) A booklet about accounts
      • C) A card
      • D) A receipt for her money
    8. What unexpected feeling did Anne have at the end of her visit?

      • A) A quiet sense of pride
      • B) Anger
      • C) Disappointment
      • D) Embarrassment
    9. What does 'clarity' mean in this story?

      • A) Speaking very loudly
      • B) Being quick and efficient
      • C) Being friendly and warm
      • D) Being clear and easy to understand
    10. Anne said she would never go back to the bank again. True or False?

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

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    clarity: C10 → · clerk: B8 ↑ · confidence: L11 ← · convince: K9 ↖ · dread: G1 ← · hesitate: D9 ↗ · measured: C2 ↓ · queue: L8 ↖

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/annes-first-day-at-the-bank-2026-08-10