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    Chiara Is Late for Swimming

    being late and having to explain whya swimming poolCEFR A2
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    Chiara had a swimming lesson every Saturday morning. The lesson started at nine o'clock. She always arrived early and talked to her friends before the lesson. She liked swimming very much. Her was a tall woman called Nadia. Nadia was very about time. She always said, "Please be on time." Chiara set her for seven thirty every Saturday. She usually woke up quickly and got ready. She ate breakfast and packed her swimming bag. She put her swimsuit, , and in the bag. Then she walked to the swimming pool. The pool was not far from her house. It took about fifteen minutes to walk there. Chiara was never late. But last Saturday was different. Chiara forgot to set her on Friday night.

    She was very tired because she studied a lot that day. She slept and slept. She opened her eyes and looked at the clock. It was eight fifty. "Oh no!" she said. She jumped out of bed very fast. She ran to the bathroom and washed her face. She put on her clothes and grabbed her bag. She did not eat breakfast. She did not check her bag. She ran all the way to the swimming pool. Her heart was beating very fast. When she arrived, it was nine fifteen. The lesson already started. She was fifteen minutes late. Chiara walked to the pool slowly.

    She felt . Nadia looked at her and stopped the lesson. "Chiara, you are late," Nadia said. "Why are you late today?" Chiara took a deep breath. "I am sorry, Nadia," she said. "I forgot to set my last night. I woke up very late this morning." Nadia listened carefully. "I understand," Nadia said. "But please do not let it happen again." Chiara nodded. "I it will not happen again," she said. She changed into her swimsuit and got into the pool. Her friends smiled at her. She felt better. After the lesson, she wrote a note on her phone. The note said, "Always set the alarm." She did not want to be late again.

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    Key Vocabulary

    How to use these cards
    1. Read each word and its meaning.
    2. Tap “Cover the meanings”, then tap a card to check yourself.
    3. Tap “Quick quiz” for a short test. Tap “I know this” on cards you have learned.
    strict
    /strɪkt/
    adjective

    demanding that rules are followed exactly

    "The teacher is strict about homework."

    alarm clock
    /əˈlɑːm klɒk/
    noun

    a clock that makes a loud sound to wake you up

    "I set my alarm clock for six in the morning."

    goggles
    /ˈɡɒɡ.əlz/
    noun

    special glasses that you wear to protect your eyes in water

    "She put on her goggles before diving into the pool."

    grab
    /ɡræb/
    verb

    to take something quickly with your hand

    "He grabbed his coat and ran outside."

    nervous
    /ˈnɜː.vəs/
    adjective

    feeling worried or a little afraid

    "She felt nervous before the exam."

    coach
    /kəʊtʃ/
    noun

    a person who teaches and trains people in a sport

    "The coach told the team to practice every day."

    promise
    /ˈprɒm.ɪs/
    verb

    to say that you will definitely do something

    "I promise I will call you tonight."

    towel
    /ˈtaʊ.əl/
    noun

    a piece of cloth used to dry your body

    "She dried her hair with a towel."

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    Useful Phrases

    How to use these cards
    1. Read each phrase and its meaning.
    2. Tap “Cover the meanings”, then tap a card to check yourself.
    3. Tap “Quick quiz” for a short test. Tap “I know this” on cards you have learned.

    on time

    not early and not late; at the correct time

    "Please try to arrive on time for the meeting."

    Oh no!

    an expression used when something bad or surprising happens

    ""Oh no!" she shouted when she dropped her phone."

    jump out of bed

    to get out of bed very quickly

    "He jumped out of bed when he heard the alarm."

    all the way

    the entire distance from one place to another

    "She ran all the way to school because she was late."

    take a deep breath

    to breathe in slowly and deeply to feel calmer

    "Before speaking, he took a deep breath."

    let it happen

    to allow something to occur

    "Do not let it happen again or there will be problems."

    get into

    to enter or go inside something

    "She got into the pool and started swimming."

    feel better

    to start feeling happier or less worried

    "After talking to her friend, she felt better."

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