Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: returning a shirt to a store
Fatima Returns a Shirt at the Library
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Fatima walks into the library. She has a bag with her. Inside the bag is a shirt. She bought the shirt three days ago. The shirt is blue and white. She tries it on at home. It is too small for her. She wants to return it. She looks around the library. She sees a sales clerk near the front desk. The clerk is helping another person. Fatima waits near the desk. She holds her bag. She feels a little nervous. She hopes the return is easy. The sales clerk finishes with the other person.
She smiles at Fatima. "Hello! Can I help you?" she asks. "Yes, please," says Fatima. "I want to return this shirt." She puts the bag on the desk. She takes the shirt out. "I bought it three days ago. It is too small." The clerk looks at the shirt. She also looks at the receipt. "Do you have the receipt?" she asks. "Yes, I do," says Fatima. She takes the receipt out of her bag. The clerk checks it carefully. "This is fine," says the clerk. "No problem at all." The clerk gives Fatima a new shirt.
It is the same color but a bigger size. Fatima tries it on in a small room near the desk. It fits perfectly. She smiles and comes back to the desk. "This one is great!" she says. "I am so happy." The clerk smiles too. "I am glad it fits," she says. Fatima thanks the clerk. "Thank you so much for your help," she says. "You are welcome," says the clerk. Fatima puts the new shirt in her bag. She says goodbye to the clerk. She walks out of the library. She feels very happy.
Key vocabulary
| return (verb) | to bring something back to a store because it is wrong or you do not want it“Fatima wants to return the shirt because it is too small.” |
| receipt (noun) | a piece of paper that shows you bought something and how much you paid“The clerk asks Fatima if she has the receipt.” |
| sales clerk (noun) | a person who works in a store and helps customers“The sales clerk smiles and asks Fatima how she can help.” |
| nervous (adjective) | feeling worried or a little scared about something“Fatima feels nervous because she has never returned something before.” |
| size (noun) | how big or small something is“The shirt is too small, so Fatima needs a bigger size.” |
| fits (verb) | is the right size for someone“The new shirt fits Fatima perfectly.” |
| exchange (verb) | to give something back and get a different one instead“Fatima exchanges the small shirt for a bigger one.” |
| carefully (adverb) | with a lot of attention so you do not make a mistake“The clerk checks the receipt carefully before helping Fatima.” |
Useful phrases
- I want to return this. — used to tell a sales clerk you want to bring something back to the store“Fatima says, "I want to return this shirt."”
- Do you have the receipt? — a question a store clerk asks to check that you bought the item there“The clerk asks, "Do you have the receipt?"”
- It is too small. — used to explain that something does not fit because it is not big enough“Fatima tells the clerk, "It is too small."”
- No problem at all. — used to say that something is easy and not a difficulty“The clerk says, "No problem at all," and helps Fatima right away.”
- Can I help you? — a polite question a store worker asks when a customer arrives“The sales clerk smiles and says, "Can I help you?"”
- It fits perfectly. — used to say that a piece of clothing is exactly the right size“Fatima tries on the new shirt and says, "It fits perfectly!"”
- Thank you so much for your help. — a polite way to show you are very grateful for what someone did“Fatima says, "Thank you so much for your help" to the clerk.”
- I am glad it fits. — used to say you are happy that something is the right size for someone“The clerk smiles and says, "I am glad it fits."”
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 | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W | O | F | S | Z | A | A | K | E | J | N | D |
| 2 | C | T | E | X | U | I | S | H | P | R | K | I |
| 3 | D | G | X | S | Q | O | N | T | U | S | R | O |
| 4 | L | Q | C | I | V | H | V | T | I | K | E | T |
| 5 | O | E | H | Z | P | Q | E | R | G | F | L | G |
| 6 | U | H | A | E | U | R | W | G | E | U | C | I |
| 7 | D | I | N | P | V | M | O | Z | F | N | S | G |
| 8 | Z | E | G | U | F | Y | K | C | V | E | E | X |
| 9 | L | I | E | A | X | Q | S | N | W | M | L | W |
| 10 | O | C | A | R | E | F | U | L | L | Y | A | R |
| 11 | C | Y | R | Q | N | S | B | S | M | I | S | I |
| 12 | N | B | R | E | C | E | I | P | T | M | Q | Q |
Comprehension quiz
Where does Fatima go to return the shirt?
- A) A café
- B) A library
- C) A shopping mall
- D) A post office
Why does Fatima want to return the shirt?
- A) It is too small
- B) It is the wrong color
- C) It is too expensive
- D) It is damaged
How long ago did Fatima buy the shirt?
- A) Two weeks ago
- B) Three days ago
- C) One week ago
- D) One day ago
What does the sales clerk ask Fatima for?
- A) A bag
- B) Her phone number
- C) The receipt
- D) Her name
What color is the shirt?
- A) Yellow and gray
- B) Blue and white
- C) Green and white
- D) Red and black
What does Fatima get in the end?
- A) Her money back
- B) A bag
- C) A different shirt in a bigger size
- D) A smaller shirt
Fatima feels nervous while she waits for the clerk. True or False?
- A) Not stated
- B) Not mentioned
- C) True
- D) False
The word 'receipt' means a piece of paper that shows you bought something. True or False?
- A) True
- B) Not mentioned
- C) Not stated
- D) False
Which word means 'is the right size for someone'?
- A) Returns
- B) Waits
- C) Fits
- D) Checks
How does Fatima feel at the end of the story?
- A) Angry
- B) Sad
- C) Happy
- D) Nervous
Answer key (A2 (Elementary))
1. B 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. C 7. C 8. A 9. C 10. C
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.
carefully: B10 → · exchange: C2 ↓ · fits: J5 ↖ · nervous: J7 ↖ · receipt: C12 → · return: F6 ↗ · sales clerk: K11 ↑ · size: D3 ↓