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    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.

    ABCDEFGHIJK
    1ZPYPOSSRMLN
    2ZHSPELLINGV
    3PFSZRBFDRWJ
    4QCONCIERGEE
    5WMZAHPGEEGM
    6ONHXOUCANRI
    7RBNLEFQIOED
    8RCISTBKFYCU
    9ITTGKOIWHEO
    10EFLPONDOGYR
    11DPABUJBBHGP

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does Carlos work?

      • A) At an airport
      • B) At a school
      • C) At a hotel concierge desk
      • D) At a restaurant
    2. 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
    3. 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
    4. 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
    5. 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
    6. 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
    7. Carlos feels proud at the end of the story. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not mentioned
    8. 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
    9. Carlos works at the hotel only on weekends. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    10. 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 ↓

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: dealing with a problem at work

    Carlos and the Reservation That Disappeared

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Carlos had worked at the concierge desk for three years, and he prided himself on staying calm under pressure. The hotel was a demanding place to work, with guests arriving at all hours and expecting quick, efficient service. He had dealt with lost luggage, overbooked rooms, and difficult complaints, so he felt confident handling almost anything. One busy morning, however, a situation arose that tested his patience and his problem-solving skills. A guest named Mrs. Patel approached the desk, clutching her travel documents tightly and looking visibly anxious. When she explained that her reservation appeared to have vanished from the system, Carlos took a slow breath and gave her his most reassuring smile.

    "I completely understand how frustrating this must be," he said calmly, "and I promise we will get this sorted out for you." Carlos began methodically searching through the hotel's booking system, checking different spellings of the guest's name and varying date combinations. The reservation simply was not appearing, and he could feel Mrs. Patel's anxiety growing with each passing minute. Rather than showing his own concern, he kept his tone steady and professional, explaining each step he was taking so she felt involved in the process. He then contacted the reservations team directly, who confirmed that a booking had indeed been made but had been filed incorrectly due to a data entry error. "These things occasionally happen," he explained to Mrs.

    Patel, "but please be assured that your reservation is absolutely valid." He escalated the issue to his supervisor, who authorised an upgraded room at no additional charge as an apology for the inconvenience. Within twenty minutes, the situation had been fully resolved, and Mrs. Patel was handed a key card for a room that exceeded her original reservation. She was clearly relieved and expressed genuine gratitude for the way Carlos had managed the situation without making her feel dismissed or unimportant. "I have stayed in many hotels," she said warmly, "but the service here is truly exceptional." Carlos thanked her sincerely and accompanied her partway to the lift, pointing out the key facilities along the route. After she had gone, his supervisor approached and acknowledged how professionally he had handled a potentially damaging situation. Carlos returned to his desk with quiet satisfaction, already focused on the next guest waiting at the end of the queue.

    Key vocabulary

    reservation (noun)an arrangement to have something kept for your use, such as a hotel room“She called the hotel to confirm her reservation for the following week.”
    methodically (adverb)in a careful and organized way, following a clear plan“He methodically checked every file until he found the missing document.”
    escalate (verb)to refer a problem to someone at a higher level of authority“When she could not solve the issue herself, she decided to escalate it to her manager.”
    authorise (verb)to give official permission for something to happen“The supervisor was able to authorise a room upgrade for the inconvenienced guest.”
    exceptional (adjective)unusually good or outstanding in quality“The team received an award for their exceptional customer service.”
    inconvenience (noun)a situation that causes difficulty or trouble“We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay.”
    valid (adjective)legally or officially acceptable and in force“The ticket is valid for travel on any day this week.”
    gratitude (noun)the feeling of being thankful and appreciative“She expressed her gratitude to the staff who had helped her during her stay.”

    Useful phrases

    • under pressure — in a stressful situation where quick or good results are needed“Good hotel staff must be able to stay calm under pressure.”
    • get this sorted out — to resolve or fix a problem successfully“"Don't worry," he said. "We will get this sorted out as quickly as possible."”
    • at no additional charge — without any extra cost to the customer“The hotel offered a room upgrade at no additional charge as an apology.”
    • be assured — used to tell someone they can feel confident and certain about something“"Please be assured," said the manager, "that your complaint will be taken seriously."”
    • expressed genuine gratitude — showed real and sincere thankfulness“The guest expressed genuine gratitude after the team resolved her problem so quickly.”
    • testing his patience — making it difficult for someone to stay calm“The long queue of unhappy guests was really testing his patience.”
    • keeping his tone steady — speaking in a calm and controlled way, without showing emotion“Even when the guest raised her voice, he kept his tone steady and professional.”
    • quiet satisfaction — a calm, private feeling of pleasure from doing something well“She finished the report and sat back with quiet satisfaction.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1NHILDESIROHTUAB
    2OLRNJETALACSEPV
    3ITOLCKVLVVRVZGM
    4TBYTTOZOGQDBLPY
    5AJJCWWNJPMHKLDS
    6VXNHBMDVSAXDDFF
    7RLWKZQMIEQUDPEZ
    8EZQWYGWOPNIMQQI
    9SVVPJJYHELIWCYM
    10ETPVRFPCAPPETPR
    11RIEMRYNVGDDPNRY
    12TEIUHDHQDLBOMCL
    13XYGNJMGRATITUDE
    14PAEMEXCEPTIONAL
    15KRYLLACIDOHTEMU

    Comprehension quiz

    1. How long had Carlos worked at the concierge desk?

      • A) Three years
      • B) Two years
      • C) One year
      • D) Five years
    2. What does 'escalate' mean as used in the story?

      • A) To cancel a reservation
      • B) To ignore a problem and move on
      • C) To solve a problem independently
      • D) To refer a problem to a higher level of authority
    3. Why had Mrs. Patel's reservation disappeared from the system?

      • A) She had canceled it by mistake
      • B) The hotel was fully booked
      • C) It had been filed incorrectly due to a data entry error
      • D) She had used the wrong name
    4. What did the supervisor authorise as an apology?

      • A) A full refund
      • B) An upgraded room at no extra charge
      • C) A later check-out time
      • D) A free meal in the restaurant
    5. What does 'exceptional' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) Slow and inefficient
      • B) Unusually good or outstanding
      • C) Formal and strict
      • D) Average and ordinary
    6. Carlos showed his concern to Mrs. Patel while he was searching the system. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not stated
    7. How long did it take to fully resolve the situation?

      • A) Twenty minutes
      • B) One hour
      • C) Half a day
      • D) Five minutes
    8. What does 'gratitude' mean?

      • A) A sense of confusion
      • B) A formal complaint
      • C) The feeling of being thankful and appreciative
      • D) A feeling of frustration
    9. Carlos accompanied Mrs. Patel all the way to her room. True or False?

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    10. Which phrase from the story means 'in a careful and organized way'?

      • A) At no additional charge
      • B) Methodically
      • C) Under pressure
      • D) Quiet satisfaction

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    authorise: N1 ← · escalate: M2 ← · exceptional: E14 → · gratitude: G13 → · inconvenience: C1 ↘ · methodically: N15 ← · reservation: A11 ↑ · valid: H11 ↗

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/carlos-and-the-missing-booking-2026-07-18