Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: dealing with a problem at work
Carlos and the Missing Booking
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Carlos works at a hotel. He stands at the concierge desk every day. He likes his job very much. He helps guests with many things. He books taxis for them. He recommends good restaurants. He answers many questions. The hotel is always busy. Many guests come and go. Carlos knows all the staff by name. He always wears a smart uniform. He smiles at every guest. He is very polite and kind. He is good at his job. One morning, a guest walked up to the desk.
Her name was Mrs. Patel. She looked worried. "I have a problem," she said. "My room booking is not here." Carlos listened carefully. He looked at the computer. He searched for her name. He could not find it. "Please do not worry," he said. "I will help you." He called his manager. He explained the problem clearly. He checked another system. He searched again and again. Mrs. Patel waited.
She looked a little nervous. Carlos found the booking in a different system. It was under a different spelling of her name. "I found it!" he said with a smile. "Your room is ready." Mrs. Patel looked very happy. "Thank you so much," she said. "You are very helpful." Carlos felt proud. He gave her the key card. He showed her the way to the lift. He told her about breakfast times. He answered all her questions. She thanked him again. Carlos went back to his desk. He was ready to help the next guest.
Key vocabulary
| concierge (noun) | a hotel worker who helps guests with information and services“The concierge helped me find a good restaurant near the hotel.” |
| booking (noun) | a reservation made in advance for a room, table, or seat“I made a booking for two nights at the hotel.” |
| guest (noun) | a person who stays at a hotel“The guest asked for an extra pillow.” |
| worried (adjective) | feeling anxious or troubled about something“She was worried because she could not find her passport.” |
| polite (adjective) | having good manners and being respectful to others“It is important to be polite to customers at work.” |
| uniform (noun) | a special set of clothes worn for a job or school“All the hotel staff wear a blue uniform.” |
| spelling (noun) | the way letters are arranged to make a word or name“There was a mistake in the spelling of my name on the form.” |
| proud (adjective) | feeling pleased and satisfied about something you have done“Carlos felt proud when he solved the problem for the guest.” |
Useful phrases
- Please do not worry — used to calm someone down and reassure them“"Please do not worry," said Carlos. "I will find your booking."”
- I will help you — an offer to assist someone with their problem“"I will help you," he said, and he picked up the phone.”
- Thank you so much — a strong way of expressing gratitude“"Thank you so much," said the guest. "You saved my day!"”
- I found it — used to announce that you have successfully located something“"I found it!" she said, holding up the missing key.”
- listened carefully — paid close attention to what someone was saying“He listened carefully before he answered the question.”
- come and go — to arrive and leave regularly“Guests come and go all day at a busy hotel.”
- showed her the way — guided someone in the right direction“The staff member showed her the way to the dining room.”
- ready to help — prepared and willing to assist someone“The team at the desk is always ready to help guests.”
Word search
Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Z | P | Y | P | O | S | S | R | M | L | N |
| 2 | Z | H | S | P | E | L | L | I | N | G | V |
| 3 | P | F | S | Z | R | B | F | D | R | W | J |
| 4 | Q | C | O | N | C | I | E | R | G | E | E |
| 5 | W | M | Z | A | H | P | G | E | E | G | M |
| 6 | O | N | H | X | O | U | C | A | N | R | I |
| 7 | R | B | N | L | E | F | Q | I | O | E | D |
| 8 | R | C | I | S | T | B | K | F | Y | C | U |
| 9 | I | T | T | G | K | O | I | W | H | E | O |
| 10 | E | F | L | P | O | N | D | O | G | Y | R |
| 11 | D | P | A | B | U | J | B | B | H | G | P |
Comprehension quiz
Where does Carlos work?
- A) At an airport
- B) At a school
- C) At a hotel concierge desk
- D) At a restaurant
What is the meaning of the word 'booking' in the story?
- A) A reservation made in advance
- B) A key card for a room
- C) A computer system
- D) A type of uniform
Why did Mrs. Patel look worried?
- A) She lost her key card
- B) She did not like the hotel
- C) Her room was too small
- D) Her booking could not be found at first
What did Carlos do first when he could not find the booking?
- A) He sent an email
- B) He gave Mrs. Patel a new room
- C) He called his manager
- D) He asked Mrs. Patel to come back later
Where did Carlos finally find the booking?
- A) In a different system under a different spelling
- B) On a noticeboard
- C) In a notebook
- D) In an email
What does the word 'polite' mean?
- A) Working very fast
- B) Loud and energetic
- C) Feeling sad or upset
- D) Having good manners and being respectful
Carlos feels proud at the end of the story. True or False?
- A) Not stated
- B) False
- C) True
- D) Not mentioned
What did Carlos give Mrs. Patel after he solved the problem?
- A) A map of the hotel
- B) A key card
- C) A restaurant menu
- D) A taxi number
Carlos works at the hotel only on weekends. True or False?
- A) Not stated
- B) Not mentioned
- C) False
- D) True
Which word means 'a person who stays at a hotel'?
- A) Guest
- B) Concierge
- C) Staff
- D) Manager
Answer key (A2 (Elementary))
1. C 2. A 3. D 4. C 5. A 6. D 7. C 8. B 9. B 10. A
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.
booking: D11 ↗ · concierge: B4 → · guest: G5 ↙ · polite: F5 ↙ · proud: K11 ↑ · spelling: C2 → · uniform: E11 ↗ · worried: A5 ↓