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.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | P | L | Y | V | L | L | K | L | H | Y | O | P |
| 2 | F | N | Z | X | C | L | A | F | V | Z | T | M | H |
| 3 | B | E | U | E | J | A | P | N | R | Z | S | E | A |
| 4 | T | R | P | M | F | X | M | E | C | C | I | E | R |
| 5 | F | V | F | B | Y | U | M | R | U | H | K | N | M |
| 6 | D | O | D | A | O | Z | D | E | A | A | I | Y | A |
| 7 | F | U | L | R | K | Y | X | V | T | H | I | W | C |
| 8 | X | S | K | R | A | K | W | S | Q | H | P | H | I |
| 9 | D | P | I | A | I | W | I | Q | K | Y | Y | P | S |
| 10 | C | N | H | S | Y | M | D | C | T | Y | K | T | T |
| 11 | I | B | Y | S | Y | D | E | S | U | F | N | O | C |
| 12 | O | O | R | E | I | Y | L | A | B | E | L | K | V |
| 13 | S | M | C | D | L | T | E | L | B | A | T | N | I |
Comprehension quiz
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.
What was the name of the pharmacist?
- A) Maria
- B) Sara
- C) Anna
- D) Kate
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
How did Sara feel when she made a mistake?
- A) Angry
- B) Happy
- C) Embarrassed
- D) Nervous
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
How many tablets should Kwame take each day?
- A) One
- B) Two
- C) Three
- D) Four
Kwame should take the tablets without food. True or False?
- A) Not mentioned
- B) True
- C) False
- D) Not stated
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
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
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 ←