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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: a trolley with a wonky wheel in a supermarket

    Ibrahim and the Wonky Wheel

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Ibrahim went to the supermarket on a sunny morning. He needed to buy food for the week. He walked inside and took a trolley from the line near the door. The trolley looked normal at first. He put his hands on the handle and started to push. Then he heard a strange noise. One of the wheels was not working well. It was a wonky wheel. The trolley moved to the left all the time. Ibrahim tried to push it straight, but it was very difficult. He used a lot of energy to keep it on the right path. Other shoppers looked at him and smiled. The noise from the wheel was loud and annoying. Ibrahim felt a little embarrassed.

    He thought about getting a different trolley, but the shop was very busy. Ibrahim decided to keep the wonky trolley. He pushed it slowly down the first aisle. He put bread, rice, and some vegetables inside it. Every time he turned a corner, the trolley made a loud squeaky sound. A shop worker walked past him. Ibrahim said, "Excuse me, this trolley has a bad wheel." The worker looked at the wheel and said, "I am sorry. All the other trolleys are in use right now." Ibrahim sighed and said, "That is okay. I will manage." He continued shopping and filled the trolley with more items. The trolley became heavier and harder to push. He bumped into a shelf once, but nothing fell down. He paid for his food at the checkout and carried the bags outside. He was very tired from fighting with the trolley. He needed to sit down and rest.

    Ibrahim walked to a park bench near the supermarket. He sat down and put his shopping bags on the ground. He took a deep breath and relaxed. A woman was sitting on the other end of the bench. She had shopping bags too. She looked at Ibrahim and said, "You look tired." Ibrahim laughed and said, "I had a trolley with a wonky wheel. It was a real struggle." The woman smiled and said, "I know that feeling. It happened to me last week." They both laughed together. Ibrahim said, "Next time, I will check the wheels before I start shopping." The woman nodded and said, "That is a very good idea." Ibrahim sat on the bench for ten more minutes. He felt better after the rest. Then he picked up his bags and walked home with a smile on his face. It was a small problem, but it made a funny story.

    Key vocabulary

    trolley (noun)a metal cart with wheels that you use to carry things in a supermarket“I put all my food in the trolley.”
    wonky (adjective)not straight or not working correctly; shaky or unsteady“The table is a bit wonky because one leg is shorter.”
    wheel (noun)a round object that turns and helps something move“The wheel on my suitcase is broken.”
    aisle (noun)a long space between rows of shelves in a shop“The milk is in the last aisle on the right.”
    squeaky (adjective)making a short, high sound“My new shoes are very squeaky on the floor.”
    embarrassed (adjective)feeling uncomfortable because other people are watching you“She felt embarrassed when she dropped her phone in the meeting.”
    manage (verb)to succeed in doing something difficult“It was hard, but I managed to finish the work on time.”
    struggle (noun)something that is very difficult to do“Walking in the strong wind was a real struggle.”

    Useful phrases

    • at first — in the beginning, before something changed“The job was easy at first, but then it became harder.”
    • all the time — continuously; without stopping“The dog barks all the time when strangers walk past.”
    • right now — at this moment“I am busy right now, but I can help you later.”
    • bumped into — hit something accidentally“I bumped into the door because I was not looking.”
    • took a deep breath — breathed in slowly to feel calm or relaxed“She took a deep breath before she started speaking.”
    • I will manage — I will find a way to do it even if it is hard“The bag is heavy, but I will manage.”
    • I know that feeling — I have experienced the same thing before“You are tired after work? I know that feeling.”
    • a good idea — a smart or sensible plan“Taking an umbrella today is a good idea.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1VEBJQDYLEHLXE
    2WANFKKTGCQIGG
    3MEDVAIXRFWARJ
    4SYLESZBRONRMF
    5YDUSUUDGALWBW
    6SQUWIMBMLMLJV
    7STEMBARRASSED
    8VQRYXEJLEEHWY
    9YLRUKCVDODEIO
    10YVDNGNRLXNZAY
    11RNNBYGOVJLPZI
    12EEWDOWLWLHQVP
    13ONJMOZAEJAXTT

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What was wrong with Ibrahim's trolley?

      • A) One wheel was wonky.
      • B) It was too small.
      • C) It had no handle.
      • D) It was very old.
    2. What does the word 'wonky' mean in the story?

      • A) Very large
      • B) Not working correctly; unsteady
      • C) Brand new
      • D) Expensive
    3. Ibrahim got a different trolley when he asked the shop worker.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True
    4. What does 'aisle' mean?

      • A) A shopping bag
      • B) A long space between shelves in a shop
      • C) The checkout area
      • D) A type of food
    5. Where did Ibrahim sit down to rest after shopping?

      • A) In his car
      • B) Inside the supermarket
      • C) On a park bench
      • D) At a bus stop
    6. What did the trolley do every time Ibrahim turned a corner?

      • A) It lost a wheel.
      • B) It made a loud squeaky sound.
      • C) It stopped moving.
      • D) It fell over.
    7. Ibrahim bumped into a shelf and many things fell down.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    8. What does 'manage' mean in the sentence 'I will manage'?

      • A) I will succeed in doing something difficult.
      • B) I will complain.
      • C) I will leave.
      • D) I will pay more money.
    9. The woman on the bench had also had a problem with a trolley.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) True
      • C) False
      • D) Not stated
    10. What did Ibrahim say he would do next time?

      • A) Bring his own trolley
      • B) Check the wheels before shopping
      • C) Order food online
      • D) Shop at a different supermarket

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    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.

    aisle: F7 ↖ · embarrassed: C7 → · manage: H6 ↗ · squeaky: A7 ↗ · struggle: A6 ↘ · trolley: G2 ↘ · wheel: L8 ← · wonky: H12 ↖

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: a trolley with a wonky wheel in a supermarket

    The Trolley That Had a Mind of Its Own

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Ibrahim had been planning a big weekly shop for days, so when he finally arrived at the supermarket, he was eager to get started. He grabbed a trolley from the bay near the entrance without inspecting it, which turned out to be a mistake he would soon regret. The moment he pushed it forward, the front left wheel began to wobble violently, pulling the entire trolley to one side. No matter how firmly he gripped the handle, the trolley seemed determined to go in every direction except the one Ibrahim intended. It squeaked and rattled loudly as it scraped along the polished floor, attracting curious glances from other shoppers. He considered abandoning it and finding a replacement, but the trolley bay was now empty and a long queue had already formed at the entrance. Feeling frustrated but unwilling to waste more time, Ibrahim decided to wrestle with the stubborn trolley and complete his shopping as quickly as possible.

    The shopping experience proved to be far more exhausting than Ibrahim had anticipated. Each turn into a new aisle required an enormous amount of effort, as the wonky wheel would jam at the worst possible moments, causing the trolley to lurch sideways into displays of carefully stacked tins. At one point, a shop assistant noticed Ibrahim struggling and walked over to help. "Having a bit of trouble with that one, are you?" she asked with a sympathetic smile. Ibrahim sighed and replied, "It has been fighting me since the moment I picked it up." The assistant explained that several trolleys had been reported as faulty that week, but replacements had not yet arrived from the supplier. She offered to help Ibrahim carry his heavier items to the checkout, which he gratefully accepted. By the time he had paid for everything and loaded his bags, his arms were aching and his patience had been thoroughly tested.

    Desperate for a moment of peace, Ibrahim spotted a park bench just across the road from the supermarket and headed straight for it. He set his bags down, sank onto the wooden seat, and let out a long, relieved sigh. An older man sitting at the far end of the bench had been watching him approach and chuckled softly. "Let me guess, you got the trolley with the wonky wheel," the man said, gesturing towards the supermarket. Ibrahim could not help but laugh and replied, "Is it that obvious?" The man nodded and said, "I have been shopping there for years, and I have learned to always test the wheels before committing to a trolley." Ibrahim shook his head in amusement and admitted that he would never make the same mistake again. As he sat there catching his breath, he realized that what had felt like an ordeal would probably become one of those funny little stories he would tell his friends over and over again.

    Key vocabulary

    wobble (verb)to move unsteadily from side to side“The jelly began to wobble when she carried the plate to the table.”
    abandon (verb)to leave something behind or stop using it“They had to abandon the car when the road became too flooded.”
    lurch (verb)to make a sudden, uncontrolled movement in one direction“The bus lurched forward and several passengers nearly fell.”
    sympathetic (adjective)showing that you understand and care about someone's problems“The teacher gave her a sympathetic look when she explained why she was late.”
    faulty (adjective)not working correctly; having a defect“The shop replaced the faulty toaster free of charge.”
    gratefully (adverb)in a way that shows you are thankful for something“She gratefully accepted the glass of water after the long walk.”
    ordeal (noun)a very unpleasant and difficult experience“Being stuck in the lift for two hours was a real ordeal.”
    committing (verb (present participle))deciding to use or do something after making a choice“Before committing to a gym, you should try a few different ones.”

    Useful phrases

    • turned out to be — was discovered or proved to be something in the end“The restaurant turned out to be much better than we expected.”
    • had a mind of its own — behaved in an uncontrollable or unpredictable way“My hair has a mind of its own on rainy days.”
    • at the worst possible moment — at the most inconvenient or unlucky time“My phone died at the worst possible moment, right when I needed the map.”
    • having a bit of trouble — experiencing a small difficulty or problem“Are you having a bit of trouble with that suitcase? Let me help.”
    • thoroughly tested — pushed to the limit; completely challenged“My patience was thoroughly tested during the three-hour delay.”
    • could not help but — was unable to stop yourself from doing something“I could not help but smile when I saw the puppy.”
    • catching his breath — resting to breathe normally again after physical effort“He sat on the steps, catching his breath after running up the hill.”
    • over and over again — many times; repeatedly“She played the same song over and over again until she knew the words.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1LJYABVBIJNFNC
    2TUXLSKEEUYRXO
    3DVDWLHORDEALM
    4WOZXMUZENCIAM
    5EHFHPWFTIXALI
    6SYMPATHETICET
    7AKRVZNJGTYGNT
    8EPLWVLNFVALVI
    9KLVDUKAAYSRGN
    10PBBRLUNXWBFGG
    11ASCBLNODNABAF
    12JHHTOPCNHJMNG
    13BXYUBWFYHDZFG

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Ibrahim not inspect the trolley before using it?

      • A) He could not see the wheels clearly.
      • B) A shop assistant chose it for him.
      • C) The trolleys were all new.
      • D) He was in a hurry and eager to start shopping.
    2. What does the word 'lurch' mean as used in the story?

      • A) To make a sudden, uncontrolled movement in one direction
      • B) To spin around quickly
      • C) To stop completely without warning
      • D) To become lighter
    3. Ibrahim found a replacement trolley in the bay.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    4. What does 'faulty' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) Very expensive to repair
      • B) Not working correctly; having a defect
      • C) Too large to use
      • D) Brand new and shiny
    5. How did the shop assistant help Ibrahim?

      • A) She drove him home.
      • B) She offered to carry his heavier items to the checkout.
      • C) She fixed the wonky wheel.
      • D) She gave him a discount.
    6. The man on the park bench had never experienced a wonky trolley himself.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) True
      • C) Not stated
      • D) False
    7. What does the phrase 'had a mind of its own' suggest about the trolley?

      • A) It was stolen from another shop.
      • B) It was controlled by a computer.
      • C) It was brand new and very smart.
      • D) It moved in unpredictable ways that Ibrahim could not control.
    8. What advice did the older man on the bench give Ibrahim?

      • A) To bring his own bags
      • B) To always test the wheels before choosing a trolley
      • C) To complain to the manager
      • D) To shop online instead
    9. Ibrahim's arms were aching because of the heavy bags only.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    10. What did Ibrahim realize while sitting on the bench?

      • A) He had forgotten to buy something.
      • B) The experience would become a funny story to tell friends.
      • C) The older man was his neighbor.
      • D) He needed to go back to the supermarket.

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    abandon: L11 ← · committing: M1 ↓ · faulty: H8 ↙ · gratefully: L10 ↖ · lurch: F8 ↙ · ordeal: G3 → · sympathetic: A6 → · wobble: F13 ↖

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/ibrahim-and-the-wonky-wheel-2026-05-22