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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: celebrating a team success

    Idris and the Big Win

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Idris is a student at a university. He is on the university quiz team. The team works hard every week. They study together and practice a lot. This week, the team wins a big competition. Idris is very happy. All his teammates are happy too. They decide to go to the canteen together. The canteen is a large room with many tables. It is on the ground floor of the university. Students go there to eat and drink. Idris walks to the canteen with his team. He is smiling and laughing. It is a great day for everyone. Idris and his team find a big table.

    They sit down together. A woman comes to take their order. "What would you like?" she asks. "I would like a bowl of soup, please," says Idris. His friend Priya orders a sandwich. Another friend, Omar, orders a plate of rice. The woman writes everything down. She smiles at the group. "You all look very happy today," she says. "We won our competition!" says Idris. "Congratulations!" says the woman. She goes to get their food. The team talks and laughs while they wait. Idris feels proud of his team. The food arrives at the table.

    Everything looks and smells good. The team starts to eat. Idris looks around at his friends. He feels very lucky. "This is a wonderful team," he thinks. Priya raises her glass of juice. "Let's celebrate our win!" she says. Everyone raises their glass too. "We did it together!" says Omar. They all drink at the same time. Idris laughs with joy. They eat their food slowly. They do not want the moment to end. After they finish, they sit and talk for a long time. It is the best afternoon Idris has in a very long time.

    Key vocabulary

    competition (noun)an event where people try to win against each other“The quiz team entered a big competition at the university.”
    teammate (noun)a person who is on the same team as you“Idris celebrated with his teammates after the win.”
    canteen (noun)a place inside a building where people can buy and eat food“The students went to the canteen for lunch.”
    order (verb)to ask for food or drink in a restaurant or canteen“Idris ordered a bowl of soup for his lunch.”
    proud (adjective)feeling very pleased about something you or others have done well“Idris felt proud of his team after they won.”
    celebrate (verb)to do something enjoyable because of a special event or success“The team went to the canteen to celebrate their win.”
    raise (verb)to lift something to a higher position“Priya raised her glass of juice to celebrate.”
    moment (noun)a very short period of time; a special point in time“The team did not want the happy moment to end.”

    Useful phrases

    • work hard — to put a lot of effort into something“The quiz team works hard every week to prepare for competitions.”
    • find a table — to look for and choose a place to sit in a canteen or restaurant“Idris and his team found a big table in the canteen.”
    • take someone's order — to listen to and write down what a person wants to eat or drink“A woman came to the table to take their order.”
    • look happy — to appear cheerful or pleased“The woman said, "You all look very happy today!"”
    • let's celebrate — a way of suggesting that a group should do something enjoyable together“Priya said, "Let's celebrate our win!"”
    • raise your glass — to lift your drink as a sign of celebration or good wishes“Everyone raised their glass when Priya made her toast.”
    • we did it — an expression used to show that a group has achieved something successfully“Omar smiled and said, "We did it together!"”
    • sit and talk — to stay somewhere and have a relaxed conversation“After eating, the team sat and talked for a long time.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1CFCNEZYRDUORP
    2FJIBTDFYSTNWM
    3ECKDAGGNIDIEI
    4IMMWRRSORIEZH
    5JESHBRFIQXSYM
    6RAISEUMTTSOAX
    7NXMDLYPIEUCFT
    8LERDEQTTARXIH
    9NOECCNAEMUNHL
    10UMTTEOLPMCVXS
    11BLUMNVYMAQPXJ
    12GUOVEAPOTEIOS
    13MMUKEGCCENXXI

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does Idris study?

      • A) At a school
      • B) At a university
      • C) At a sports club
      • D) At a library
    2. Why is Idris happy at the start of the story?

      • A) He gets a good grade
      • B) He finds a new canteen
      • C) He makes a new friend
      • D) His team wins a competition
    3. Where do Idris and his team go to celebrate?

      • A) To a park
      • B) To a classroom
      • C) To a library
      • D) To the canteen
    4. What does Idris order at the canteen?

      • A) A sandwich
      • B) A glass of juice
      • C) A plate of rice
      • D) A bowl of soup
    5. What does the word 'proud' mean in the story?

      • A) Feeling tired after working
      • B) Feeling pleased about something done well
      • C) Feeling worried about the future
      • D) Feeling hungry and ready to eat
    6. Who raises their glass first to celebrate?

      • A) Idris
      • B) The woman in the canteen
      • C) Omar
      • D) Priya
    7. What does Omar say when the team raises their glasses?

      • A) "Let's celebrate our win!"
      • B) "We did it together!"
      • C) "Congratulations, Idris!"
      • D) "This food is delicious!"
    8. True or False: The canteen is on the top floor of the university.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    9. Which of the following best describes the word 'canteen'?

      • A) A place where students sleep
      • B) A sports hall for university teams
      • C) A place inside a building where people can buy and eat food
      • D) A room where students study quietly
    10. True or False: Idris and his team leave the canteen quickly after eating.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    canteen: G13 ↖ · celebrate: E9 ↑ · competition: H13 ↑ · moment: B13 ↗ · order: B9 ↗ · proud: M1 ← · raise: A6 → · teammate: I6 ↓

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: celebrating a team success

    Idris and the Taste of Victory

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Idris had barely sat down in his morning lecture when the news spread across the group chat: his university quiz team had won the regional inter-university competition. By the time the lecture ended, the atmosphere in the corridor was electric, and teammates were already pulling each other into quick, excited embraces. It was Idris who suggested they all head to the canteen to mark the occasion properly, and nobody disagreed. The university canteen, usually a noisy blur of trays and chairs, felt somehow warmer and more welcoming that afternoon, as though the room itself sensed that something worth celebrating had happened. They claimed a long table near the window, dropping their bags with the satisfied thud of people who had earned their rest. For the first time in weeks, there was no revision to do, no practice rounds to run, and no pressure waiting around the corner. They were simply a group of friends, together, and that was enough. A member of the canteen staff approached the table with a notepad.

    "Are you all ready to order?" she asked, glancing at the unusually large and cheerful group. Idris scanned the menu quickly and chose a bowl of lentil soup with a bread roll, while his teammate Priya opted for a grilled vegetable wrap and Omar went for a generous portion of rice and beans. As the orders were placed, Priya leaned across the table and asked Idris how he was feeling. "Honestly, relieved more than anything," he admitted, resting his chin in his hand. "We put so much into this, and for a while I wasn't sure it would be enough." Omar nodded, stirring his drink thoughtfully. "I think the moment it clicked for me was when we answered that final question without hesitating," he said. "That's when I knew we had it." When the food arrived, Priya raised her glass of sparkling water and looked around the table with a wide smile.

    "To the team," she said simply, and the others echoed her words with genuine warmth. They ate without any rush, dipping in and out of conversation, recalling the trickiest questions from the competition and laughing at the moments they had nearly lost their nerve. Idris found himself studying the faces of the people around him, feeling a quiet but powerful sense of gratitude that they had all come together to achieve something none of them could have managed alone. "Do you think we should enter again next year?" Omar asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over the table. "Absolutely," said Idris, without a moment's hesitation. He pushed back in his chair, full and content, and decided that this particular afternoon, in this ordinary canteen, was one he would not forget for a very long time.

    Key vocabulary

    electric (adjective)full of excitement and energy“The atmosphere in the corridor was electric after the team's victory was announced.”
    occasion (noun)a special or important event or time“Idris suggested going to the canteen to mark the occasion properly.”
    relieved (adjective)feeling happy because something difficult or worrying has ended“Idris said he felt relieved more than anything after the competition.”
    hesitating (verb)pausing before doing or saying something, often due to uncertainty“The team answered the final question without hesitating.”
    gratitude (noun)the feeling of being thankful and appreciative“Idris felt a quiet sense of gratitude for his teammates.”
    genuine (adjective)truly felt or expressed; not fake or pretended“The teammates echoed Priya's toast with genuine warmth.”
    recalling (verb)remembering and talking about past events“They sat in the canteen recalling the trickiest questions from the competition.”
    content (adjective)peacefully happy and satisfied“Idris pushed back in his chair, feeling full and content after the meal.”

    Useful phrases

    • mark the occasion — to do something special to recognize an important event“Idris suggested going to the canteen to mark the occasion properly.”
    • claim a table — to choose and take a particular table, especially in a busy place“The team claimed a long table near the window in the canteen.”
    • scan the menu — to read through a menu quickly to decide what to order“Idris scanned the menu and chose a bowl of lentil soup.”
    • lose your nerve — to suddenly feel afraid or uncertain and stop feeling confident“The team laughed about the moments they had nearly lost their nerve.”
    • come together — to join as a group and work towards a shared goal“Idris felt grateful that the team had all come together to achieve something.”
    • without a moment's hesitation — immediately, without any pause or doubt“"Absolutely," said Idris, without a moment's hesitation.”
    • dip in and out of conversation — to talk casually, moving between topics without a fixed structure“They ate without any rush, dipping in and out of conversation.”
    • to the team — a short toast said to honor and celebrate a group's achievement“Priya raised her glass and said simply, "To the team."”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKL
    1HAOZQNTRHINB
    2KENIUNEGLKGR
    3QQDEVEILERGE
    4GOCTSKZQANKC
    5SCCIQUWTIEPA
    6ZCOORAITFVLL
    7SACBNTALCKOL
    8NSOLUTCEHTYI
    9WIPDIFEEBLON
    10YOESYQCNLPVG
    11KNETILJETEJW
    12XHBDSESEQDCA

    Comprehension quiz

    1. How did Idris first find out that his team had won?

      • A) He read it on a notice board
      • B) A teacher told him in class
      • C) His teammate called him on the phone
      • D) The news spread on a group chat
    2. What did Idris order at the canteen?

      • A) A portion of rice and beans
      • B) A sandwich and a sparkling water
      • C) A bowl of lentil soup with a bread roll
      • D) A grilled vegetable wrap
    3. What does the word 'electric' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Full of excitement and energy
      • B) Powered by electricity
      • C) Calm and peaceful
      • D) Very loud and disorganised
    4. How did Idris say he felt after the competition?

      • A) Surprised and confused
      • B) Excited and energetic
      • C) Proud and confident
      • D) Relieved more than anything
    5. What moment made Omar feel certain the team had won?

      • A) When the scores were announced
      • B) When the other team made a mistake
      • C) When they answered the final question without hesitating
      • D) When their coach congratulated them
    6. Who proposed the toast to the team in the canteen?

      • A) Idris
      • B) Omar
      • C) A canteen staff member
      • D) Priya
    7. What does 'gratitude' mean in the story?

      • A) A feeling of pride in your own abilities
      • B) The feeling of being thankful and appreciative
      • C) A sense of relief after danger has passed
      • D) Excitement about a future event
    8. True or False: Idris had a lot of revision to do after the celebration meal.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) True
    9. What question did Omar ask towards the end of the meal?

      • A) "Should we order dessert?"
      • B) "Do you think we should enter again next year?"
      • C) "Who answered the most questions correctly?"
      • D) "When is the next competition?"
    10. True or False: The story states that the canteen was empty when the team arrived.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    content: C5 ↘ · electric: J11 ↖ · genuine: H2 ← · gratitude: K2 ↙ · hesitating: B12 ↗ · occasion: B4 ↓ · recalling: L2 ↓ · relieved: J3 ←

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/idris-and-the-big-win-2026-06-10