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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: a conversation that goes wrong then right

    Kwame's Mix-Up at the Pharmacy

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Kwame walked into the pharmacy. It was a busy morning. There were many people inside. Kwame felt a little nervous. He had a bad headache. He also had a sore throat. He needed some medicine. He went to the counter. The pharmacist was a woman named Sara. Sara was helping another customer. Kwame waited. He looked at the shelves. There were many bottles and boxes. He did not know which one to choose. Sara finished with the other customer. She looked at Kwame. "Can I help you?" she asked.

    "Yes," said Kwame. "I need something for my head." Sara gave him a small box. "Take two of these," she said. Kwame looked at the box. He was confused. "This is for a cold," he said. "I don't have a cold." Sara looked at her notes. She made a mistake. "Oh, I am sorry!" she said. She took the box back. "You said you had a headache, yes?" "Yes," said Kwame. "And a sore throat too." Sara's face went red. She felt embarrassed. She looked at the shelves again. She chose a different box. "This one is better for you," she said. Kwame looked at the new box.

    He read the label carefully. "How many do I take?" he asked. "Take one tablet in the morning and one at night," said Sara. "Do I take them with food?" asked Kwame. "Yes, always with food," said Sara. She smiled at him. Kwame smiled back. He felt much better now. "Thank you," he said. "You were very helpful." Sara laughed a little. "I am sorry about the mistake," she said. "No problem," said Kwame. "It happens." He paid for the medicine. He said goodbye to Sara. He walked out of the pharmacy. He felt happy. He knew he would feel better soon.

    Key vocabulary

    pharmacy (noun)a shop where you can buy medicines and health products“Kwame went to the pharmacy to buy medicine for his headache.”
    pharmacist (noun)a person who works in a pharmacy and gives out medicines“The pharmacist gave Kwame the right medicine for his sore throat.”
    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or not confident about something“Kwame felt nervous because there were many people in the pharmacy.”
    confused (adjective)not able to understand something clearly“Kwame was confused when Sara gave him the wrong medicine.”
    mistake (noun)something you do that is not correct“Sara made a mistake and gave Kwame the wrong box.”
    embarrassed (adjective)feeling uncomfortable because you did something wrong in front of others“Sara felt embarrassed when she gave Kwame the wrong medicine.”
    label (noun)a piece of paper on a product that gives information about it“Kwame read the label on the box to understand how to take the medicine.”
    tablet (noun)a small, hard piece of medicine that you swallow“Sara told Kwame to take one tablet in the morning and one at night.”

    Useful phrases

    • Can I help you? — a polite question used to offer help, often in a shop or service situation“The pharmacist looked at Kwame and asked, "Can I help you?"”
    • I need something for... — a way to ask for a product or medicine to treat a problem“Kwame said, "I need something for my head."”
    • I am sorry! — used to say you feel bad about a mistake or problem you caused“Sara said, "Oh, I am sorry!" when she gave Kwame the wrong box.”
    • No problem — a friendly way to say that something is not important or that you are not angry“Kwame said, "No problem," when Sara apologized for her mistake.”
    • It happens — used to say that mistakes are normal and not a big deal“"No problem," said Kwame. "It happens."”
    • Take one tablet in the morning and one at night — instructions for how often and when to take medicine“Sara told Kwame, "Take one tablet in the morning and one at night."”
    • always with food — an instruction meaning you must eat before or while taking the medicine“"Do I take them with food?" asked Kwame. "Yes, always with food," said Sara.”
    • You were very helpful — a polite way to thank someone and say they did a good job helping you“Kwame smiled and said, "Thank you. You were very helpful."”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1DPLYVLLKLHYOP
    2FNZXCLAFVZTMH
    3BEUEJAPNRZSEA
    4TRPMFXMECCIER
    5FVFBYUMRUHKNM
    6DODAOZDEAAIYA
    7FULRKYXVTHIWC
    8XSKRAKWSQHPHI
    9DPIAIWIQKYYPS
    10CNHSYMDCTYKTT
    11IBYSYDESUFNOC
    12OOREIYLABELKV
    13SMCDLTELBATNI

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Kwame go to the pharmacy?

      • A) He needed cold medicine.
      • B) He wanted to buy food.
      • C) He was visiting a friend.
      • D) He had a headache and a sore throat.
    2. What was the name of the pharmacist?

      • A) Maria
      • B) Sara
      • C) Anna
      • D) Kate
    3. What did Sara give Kwame by mistake?

      • A) Medicine for a sore throat
      • B) Medicine for a cold
      • C) Medicine for a stomach ache
      • D) Medicine for a headache
    4. How did Sara feel when she made a mistake?

      • A) Angry
      • B) Happy
      • C) Embarrassed
      • D) Nervous
    5. In the story, the word 'confused' means...

      • A) Being angry at someone
      • B) Feeling very tired
      • C) Not able to understand something clearly
      • D) Feeling happy and relaxed
    6. How many tablets should Kwame take each day?

      • A) One
      • B) Two
      • C) Three
      • D) Four
    7. Kwame should take the tablets without food. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) True
      • C) False
      • D) Not stated
    8. What does 'label' mean in this story?

      • A) A name for a pharmacist
      • B) A type of medicine
      • C) A small piece of paper on a product with information
      • D) A box of tablets
    9. How did Kwame feel at the end of the story?

      • A) Tired and bored
      • B) Angry and upset
      • C) Still confused
      • D) Happy and positive
    10. Kwame left the pharmacy without paying for the medicine. True or False?

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

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    confused: M11 ← · embarrassed: D3 ↓ · label: G12 → · mistake: F10 ↗ · nervous: B2 ↓ · pharmacist: M1 ↓ · pharmacy: K8 ↖ · tablet: K13 ←

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: a conversation that goes wrong then right

    The Right Medicine for Kwame

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Kwame pushed open the glass door of the pharmacy and joined the short queue at the counter. He had been suffering from a persistent headache and a raw, uncomfortable sore throat since the previous evening, and he was hoping to find a quick solution. The pharmacist on duty, a calm and efficient woman named Sara, finished serving the customer ahead of him and turned with a polite smile. "Good morning, how can I help you today?" she asked. Kwame explained his symptoms briefly, mentioning the headache first and describing it as a dull, constant pressure behind his eyes. Sara nodded as she listened, then turned to scan the shelves behind her with a practiced eye. Without asking any further questions, Sara reached for a box and placed it firmly on the counter. "These should sort you out," she said confidently.

    Kwame picked up the box and read the label with a slight frown forming on his face. "I think there might be a misunderstanding," he said carefully. "This is a decongestant for nasal congestion. I don't have a blocked nose at all." Sara blinked, clearly flustered, and glanced down at the notepad where she had jotted her quick summary of his complaint. She had written 'head' and jumped to the wrong conclusion entirely. "You're absolutely right, and I sincerely apologize for that," she said, sliding the box back across the counter. "Could you describe your symptoms once more so I can be completely sure?" Kwame patiently repeated everything, this time including the sore throat, and Sara listened with full attention. This time, Sara selected a combination remedy that targeted both pain relief and throat discomfort, and she explained the dosage clearly and thoroughly.

    "Take one tablet every six hours with food, and no more than four in a twenty-four-hour period," she advised, handing him the box along with a small information leaflet. Kwame appreciated the extra detail and asked whether the tablets were safe to take alongside a daily vitamin supplement, a question that clearly impressed Sara. "That's a very sensible question," she replied, checking a reference guide before confirming they were perfectly compatible. As Kwame collected his purchase and prepared to leave, he paused at the door. "Thank you for being so thorough the second time around," he said warmly. Sara smiled genuinely. "Thank you for your patience, it truly made a difference."

    Key vocabulary

    persistent (adjective)continuing for a long time and difficult to stop or get rid of“Kwame had been suffering from a persistent headache since the previous evening.”
    symptom (noun)a sign or feeling in the body that suggests you may be ill“Kwame described his symptoms to the pharmacist, starting with his headache.”
    decongestant (noun)a medicine that reduces a blocked or congested nose“Sara accidentally gave Kwame a decongestant, even though he had no nasal problems.”
    flustered (adjective)confused, nervous, and slightly embarrassed, especially after making an error“Sara looked flustered when she realized she had chosen the wrong medicine.”
    dosage (noun)the amount of medicine a person should take and how often they should take it“Sara explained the correct dosage clearly so Kwame would not take too much.”
    remedy (noun)a medicine or treatment that is used to cure an illness or reduce its effects“Sara chose a combination remedy that treated both Kwame's headache and sore throat.”
    compatible (adjective)able to be used or taken together without causing problems“The pharmacist confirmed that the tablets were compatible with Kwame's vitamin supplement.”
    thorough (adjective)done completely and with great attention to detail“Kwame thanked Sara for being so thorough the second time she helped him.”

    Useful phrases

    • How can I help you today? — a polite and professional way to offer assistance, commonly used in service settings“Sara greeted Kwame at the counter by saying, "Good morning, how can I help you today?"”
    • There might be a misunderstanding — a polite way to point out that something is incorrect without being direct or rude“Kwame said calmly, "I think there might be a misunderstanding," when Sara chose the wrong medicine.”
    • I sincerely apologize — a formal and genuine way to say sorry for a mistake“Sara said, "I sincerely apologize for that," after realizing she had given Kwame the wrong box.”
    • jumped to the wrong conclusion — to form an incorrect opinion or decision too quickly without enough information“Sara had written 'head' in her notes and jumped to the wrong conclusion about Kwame's illness.”
    • Could you describe your symptoms once more? — a request for someone to explain their physical problems again, usually to give better help“Sara asked, "Could you describe your symptoms once more so I can be completely sure?"”
    • no more than four in a twenty-four-hour period — a safety instruction limiting how many medicine doses can be taken within one day“Sara advised Kwame to take the tablets every six hours but no more than four in a twenty-four-hour period.”
    • the second time around — when something is done or happens again, usually with more success than the first attempt“Kwame thanked Sara for being so thorough the second time around.”
    • it truly made a difference — used to express that someone's action or quality had a real and positive effect“Sara told Kwame, "Thank you for your patience, it truly made a difference."”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1TQWFGSYMPTOMZT
    2LHYLEGASODFBNJ
    3UHOPEPYRHUOAKZ
    4IAERWKEWIJTEEC
    5GFQNOMZADSXLLY
    6BJDVEUZQEOOBBG
    7GXSDPYGGRYTFIE
    8OWYWWVNHEZZUTH
    9VBDNEOBATCXXAP
    10JXTOCJEJSAJQPK
    11CXLEAJPFUQAZMF
    12DLDONNBALVROOA
    13RZMMESSBFHAYCM
    14TNETSISREPGIHF

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What two symptoms did Kwame have when he visited the pharmacy?

      • A) A headache and a sore throat
      • B) A sore throat and a cough
      • C) A headache and a stomach ache
      • D) A fever and a blocked nose
    2. In the story, the word 'persistent' means...

      • A) Mild and easy to ignore
      • B) Sudden and sharp
      • C) Continuing for a long time and hard to stop
      • D) Coming and going quickly
    3. Why did Sara choose the wrong medicine for Kwame?

      • A) She was new to the job and untrained.
      • B) She was not listening at all.
      • C) She misread a label on the shelf.
      • D) She only noted 'head' and assumed he had nasal congestion.
    4. How did Kwame point out Sara's mistake?

      • A) He politely said he thought there was a misunderstanding.
      • B) He asked to speak to a manager.
      • C) He simply left the pharmacy without saying anything.
      • D) He raised his voice and complained loudly.
    5. What does 'flustered' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Tired and bored
      • B) Confused, nervous, and embarrassed after making an error
      • C) Excited and happy
      • D) Calm and unbothered
    6. What kind of medicine did Sara choose for Kwame the second time?

      • A) A cough syrup
      • B) A vitamin supplement
      • C) A combination remedy for pain and throat discomfort
      • D) A decongestant for a blocked nose
    7. How often should Kwame take the tablets?

      • A) Twice a day
      • B) Every four hours
      • C) Once a day
      • D) Every six hours
    8. Kwame asked whether the tablets were safe to take with a vitamin supplement. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) Not stated
      • C) False
      • D) True
    9. In the story, the phrase 'jumped to the wrong conclusion' means...

      • A) To fall over while running
      • B) To make a correct guess very quickly
      • C) To ignore someone's advice completely
      • D) To form an incorrect opinion too quickly without enough information
    10. Sara apologized to Kwame but he left without thanking her. True or False?

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

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    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.

    compatible: M13 ↑ · decongestant: C12 ↗ · dosage: J2 ← · flustered: I13 ↑ · persistent: J14 ← · remedy: H3 ↙ · symptom: F1 → · thorough: A1 ↘

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/kwames-mix-up-at-the-pharmacy-2026-08-09