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    Layla and the Slow Printer

    waiting for a very slow printera school reception deskCEFR A2
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    Layla works at the desk at a school. Every day, she helps students and teachers. She answers the phone, gives out forms, and sends important papers. One morning, a teacher walks up to the desk. "Layla, can you print ten forms for me, please?" the teacher says. "Of course!" Layla replies with a smile. She opens the on her computer. She the print button. She hears a small sound from the . Then nothing happens. The is very quiet. Layla looks at the . The little light on the is orange. "That is not good," she thinks. She the print button again. Still nothing happens. She waits and watches the . After two minutes, the makes a loud noise. It sounds like an old car.

    Then it stops again. Layla stands up and walks to the . She looks at the screen on the . It says "Please wait." She goes back to her desk. She the print button one more time. The teacher is still standing at the desk. "Is everything okay?" the teacher asks. "Yes, the is just a little slow today," Layla says. She smiles, but she feels a little . More people come to the desk. A student needs a letter. Another student has a question about a class. Layla helps them all. But she also watches the . The makes another noise. Then it stops again. "Come on, !" Layla thinks quietly. Ten minutes later, the starts to print. It is very slow.

    It prints one page, then it stops. Then it prints another page, then it stops again. Layla counts the pages. "One, two, three..." she says quietly. The teacher waits near the desk. Other people wait too. , the prints the last page. Layla picks up all ten forms. She checks them . They all look good. She puts them in a neat and gives them to the teacher. "Thank you so much, Layla!" the teacher says happily. "You are welcome!" Layla replies. She sits back down at her desk. She looks at the . "Please be faster tomorrow," she says to it quietly. The does not answer. But the little light on it turns green.

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    Key Vocabulary

    How to use these cards
    1. Read each word and its meaning.
    2. Tap “Cover the meanings”, then tap a card to check yourself.
    3. Tap “Quick quiz” for a short test. Tap “I know this” on cards you have learned.
    reception
    /rɪˈsep.ʃən/
    noun

    the area near the entrance of a building where visitors are greeted and helped

    "Layla works at the reception desk at the school."

    document
    /ˈdɒk.jʊ.mənt/
    noun

    a piece of writing or a file, often on a computer

    "She opens the document on her computer before printing."

    printer
    /ˈprɪn.tər/
    noun

    a machine that prints words or pictures from a computer onto paper

    "The printer at the reception desk is very slow today."

    click
    /klɪk/
    verb

    to press a button on a computer mouse or keyboard

    "Layla clicks the print button on her computer."

    worried
    /ˈwʌr.id/
    adjective

    feeling nervous or anxious because something might go wrong

    "Layla smiles, but she feels a little worried about the printer."

    finally
    /ˈfaɪ.nəl.i/
    adverb

    after a long time or at the end of a process

    "The printer finally starts to print after ten minutes."

    carefully
    /ˈkeə.fəl.i/
    adverb

    with a lot of attention, making sure everything is correct

    "Layla checks the forms carefully before giving them to the teacher."

    pile
    /paɪl/
    noun

    a tidy or untidy group of things placed on top of each other

    "She puts the printed forms in a neat pile on the desk."

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    Useful Phrases

    How to use these cards
    1. Read each phrase and its meaning.
    2. Tap “Cover the meanings”, then tap a card to check yourself.
    3. Tap “Quick quiz” for a short test. Tap “I know this” on cards you have learned.

    of course

    used to say yes in a willing and friendly way

    ""Of course!" Layla says when the teacher asks for help."

    nothing happens

    there is no result or action after doing something

    "Layla clicks the button but nothing happens."

    a little slow

    not working or moving as fast as it should

    ""The printer is just a little slow today," Layla tells the teacher."

    come on

    something you say when you want something to work or go faster

    ""Come on, printer!" Layla thinks when it stops again."

    one more time

    doing something again, usually after it did not work the first time

    "Layla clicks the print button one more time."

    give out

    to hand something to different people

    "Layla gives out forms to students at the reception desk."

    pick up

    to lift something and take it with your hand

    "Layla picks up the printed pages from the printer."

    thank you so much

    a warm and polite way to express strong gratitude

    ""Thank you so much, Layla!" the teacher says after getting the forms."

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