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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: forgetting someone's name at a party

    Luca Forgets a Name at the Breakfast Party

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Luca is at a party in a hotel breakfast room. The room is big and bright. There are long tables with white cloths. There is food on every table. Luca puts some eggs and bread on his plate. He walks to a table and sits down. Other guests are already sitting there. They are all talking and smiling. Luca feels happy. He likes meeting new people. He picks up his fork and starts to eat. A man next to him says, "Good morning! My name is David." Luca smiles and says, "Good morning! I am Luca. Nice to meet you." They shake hands and talk a little. After a few minutes, a woman walks over to the table. She smiles at Luca and David.

    Luca knows her face. He spoke to her the night before at dinner. She was very friendly. She told him her name. But now Luca cannot remember it. He thinks hard. Is it Anna? Is it Maria? He is not sure. His face feels a little warm. David says, "Good morning! Come and sit with us." The woman sits down. She looks at Luca and says, "Good morning! Do you remember me? We talked last night." Luca nods and says, "Yes, of course! It is so nice to see you again." But he still does not remember her name. He feels a little embarrassed.

    He drinks some coffee and tries to think. David starts to talk about the hotel breakfast. He says, "The food here is really good." The woman agrees and says, "Yes, I love the fresh fruit." Luca is happy because they are talking. He thinks of a plan. He says, "Sorry, I am really bad with names. Can you tell me your name again? I want to make sure I say it right." The woman laughs. She says, "Of course! My name is Sofia." Luca smiles and says, "Sofia! That is a beautiful name. I am sorry I forgot." Sofia says, "Do not worry. It happens to everyone." David laughs too. They all eat breakfast together. They talk and laugh for a long time. Luca feels much better. He says Sofia's name two more times so he does not forget again.

    Key vocabulary

    guest (noun)a person who is invited to a place or event“The guests at the hotel ate breakfast together.”
    remember (verb)to keep something in your mind or bring it back into your mind“Luca cannot remember the woman's name.”
    embarrassed (adjective)feeling uncomfortable or ashamed because of a mistake“He feels embarrassed because he forgot her name.”
    friendly (adjective)kind and pleasant to other people“Sofia was very friendly at dinner.”
    nod (verb)to move your head up and down to show you agree or understand“Luca nods when Sofia asks if he remembers her.”
    fresh (adjective)recently made or picked, not old or stale“Sofia loves the fresh fruit at the hotel breakfast.”
    plan (noun)an idea for how to do something“Luca thinks of a plan to find out Sofia's name.”
    sure (adjective)certain about something, having no doubt“Luca is not sure if her name is Anna or Maria.”

    Useful phrases

    • nice to meet you — a polite thing to say when you meet someone for the first time“"Nice to meet you," Luca says to David.”
    • shake hands — to hold and move someone's hand up and down as a greeting“Luca and David shake hands and start talking.”
    • of course — used to say yes in a friendly or obvious way“"Of course! It is so nice to see you again," says Luca.”
    • really bad with names — unable to remember people's names easily“Luca says, "I am really bad with names."”
    • make sure — to check that something is correct or done“Luca wants to make sure he says Sofia's name right.”
    • do not worry — used to tell someone not to feel bad about something“Sofia says, "Do not worry. It happens to everyone."”
    • it happens to everyone — used to make someone feel better by saying their mistake is common“"It happens to everyone," Sofia says with a smile.”
    • feel much better — to feel more comfortable or less worried than before“After Sofia laughs, Luca feels much better.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1PUIJEWLKOUWDI
    2AJQGRJEEJHEUX
    3SJZEBDANOSEYV
    4WLHHNUNYSTDAT
    5QBQBGYLAOPURB
    6DTDPUDROHVGET
    7QOKGNRGGWBEBS
    8NFWEAERUSBSMU
    9OJIBKKHEIINEJ
    10NRMGEVKSBFPMA
    11FEVWLKUTEEXEI
    12KUNQCXUIFRSRP
    13ASPLANAMDBFMX

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does the party take place?

      • A) In a conference room
      • B) In a hotel lobby
      • C) In a hotel breakfast room
      • D) In a restaurant downtown
    2. What is the name of the man who sits next to Luca?

      • A) Omar
      • B) Carlos
      • C) David
      • D) Marco
    3. When did Luca talk to the woman before the breakfast party?

      • A) At the pool
      • B) In the elevator
      • C) At dinner the night before
      • D) In the parking lot
    4. Why does Luca's face feel a little warm?

      • A) He is angry
      • B) He feels embarrassed
      • C) The room is too hot
      • D) He drank too much coffee
    5. What is the meaning of the word 'embarrassed' in this story?

      • A) Feeling uncomfortable because of a mistake
      • B) Feeling comfortable and relaxed
      • C) Feeling tired and sleepy
      • D) Feeling very happy and excited
    6. What does Luca say to find out the woman's name?

      • A) He says he is bad with names and asks her to tell him again
      • B) He checks his phone
      • C) He reads her name tag
      • D) He asks David to introduce her
    7. What does Sofia say about the hotel food?

      • A) She loves the bread
      • B) She loves the eggs
      • C) She loves the fresh fruit
      • D) She loves the coffee
    8. Luca says Sofia's name two more times at the end of the story.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) True
      • C) Not stated
      • D) False
    9. What is the meaning of the word 'nod' as used in this story?

      • A) To move your head up and down
      • B) To shake your head from side to side
      • C) To wave your hand
      • D) To close your eyes
    10. How does Sofia react when Luca admits he forgot her name?

      • A) She ignores him
      • B) She laughs and tells him her name
      • C) She leaves the table
      • D) She is angry

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    embarrassed: B11 ↗ · fresh: K13 ↖ · friendly: A11 ↗ · guest: H7 ↓ · nod: A8 ↗ · plan: C13 → · remember: L12 ↑ · sure: I8 ←

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: forgetting someone's name at a party

    Luca's Blank Moment at the Breakfast Table

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Luca arrives at the hotel breakfast room feeling relaxed and ready to enjoy the morning. The room is elegantly set with long buffet tables covered in fresh food, and a warm hum of conversation fills the air. He fills his plate and settles at a table where a cheerful man named David immediately introduces himself. They shake hands and quickly fall into easy conversation about the hotel and the food. Luca is enjoying himself when, out of the corner of his eye, he notices a familiar face approaching the table. His stomach drops slightly. He knows her from the dinner the previous evening, and she was warm and talkative. He just cannot, for the life of him, remember her name. The woman sits down across from Luca with a bright smile.

    "Good morning!" she says. "I was hoping I would see you again." Luca smiles back confidently, but inside his mind is racing through every name he can think of. Anna? Clara? Maria? Nothing feels right. He keeps the conversation going by asking David about his plans for the day, buying himself a little more time to think. When the woman turns to Luca directly and asks, "Do you remember what we were discussing last night?" he nods and answers her question, relieved that she did not ask him to use her name. Still, he knows he cannot avoid the situation much longer.

    Eventually, Luca decides that honesty is the best approach. He puts down his coffee cup, smiles apologetically, and says, "I have to be honest with you. I am terrible with names, and I want to make sure I get yours right. Could you remind me?" The woman laughs warmly and says, "Of course! I am Sofia." Luca repeats her name immediately, both to acknowledge it and to fix it in his memory. "Sofia, of course. I am really sorry about that." Sofia waves her hand and says, "Please do not worry about it. It happens all the time." The three of them continue breakfast together, and Luca makes a point of using Sofia's name naturally throughout the rest of the conversation, determined not to forget it again.

    Key vocabulary

    elegantly (adverb)in a graceful and attractive way“The breakfast room was elegantly set with white tablecloths and fresh flowers.”
    familiar (adjective)known to you; recognized from before“Luca notices a familiar face walking toward the table.”
    approaching (verb)moving closer to someone or something“She was approaching the table with a bright smile.”
    racing (verb)moving or working very fast“His mind was racing as he tried to remember her name.”
    relieved (adjective)feeling happy because something difficult or worrying has not happened or has ended“Luca felt relieved when she did not ask him to say her name.”
    apologetically (adverb)in a way that shows you are sorry for something“He smiled apologetically before admitting he had forgotten her name.”
    acknowledge (verb)to show that you have noticed or accepted something“Luca repeated Sofia's name to acknowledge that he had heard it.”
    determined (adjective)having a strong decision to do something and not giving up“Luca was determined not to forget Sofia's name again.”

    Useful phrases

    • for the life of him — used to say that someone absolutely cannot do something, especially remember something“He could not, for the life of him, remember her name.”
    • fall into easy conversation — to begin talking naturally and comfortably with someone“Luca and David quickly fall into easy conversation over breakfast.”
    • buying himself time — doing something to delay a situation while you think of a solution“He asked David a question, buying himself a little more time.”
    • honesty is the best approach — being truthful is the most effective way to handle a situation“Luca decides that honesty is the best approach and admits he forgot her name.”
    • make a point of — to deliberately do something because you think it is important“Luca makes a point of using Sofia's name throughout breakfast.”
    • wave her hand — to move the hand in a gesture that dismisses or brushes off something“Sofia waves her hand to show that she is not upset.”
    • out of the corner of his eye — seen at the edge of your vision, not by looking directly“Out of the corner of his eye, Luca saw a familiar face.”
    • fix something in your memory — to make sure you will remember something by repeating or focusing on it“Luca repeated the name to fix it in his memory.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1XBGXAPSGVXUODPK
    2RHEYCQCOMDIEXYO
    3ZOGFCCDFSQVYLVD
    4SVDKCXEJGEWLGEJ
    5BDEYLGJDIDANTHM
    6ALLKLHNLQCIEHZW
    7TGWFVTEIIHRXYPM
    8VXOLGRNTCMQYNRF
    9QGNUKREAIALPAAP
    10QUKTCGONGLRISGR
    11GTCXORECXELIYXU
    12QBALPDPANILBMNS
    13RKOPAVCBMKGEXIK
    14MPAAAUGAXGTFLKB
    15AXRTAJFVSFLVVAO

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What is Luca's main problem in this story?

      • A) He does not know what food to choose
      • B) He cannot remember a woman's name
      • C) He cannot find a seat at breakfast
      • D) He forgot to bring his room key
    2. Where does the story take place?

      • A) In a hotel breakfast room
      • B) In a hotel conference room
      • C) In a hotel lobby
      • D) In a hotel restaurant at dinner
    3. What does Luca do to buy himself more time before admitting he forgot her name?

      • A) He reads the hotel menu
      • B) He asks David about his plans for the day
      • C) He goes back to the buffet table
      • D) He pretends to answer a phone call
    4. What is the meaning of 'relieved' as used in this story?

      • A) Feeling nervous and worried
      • B) Feeling angry about a situation
      • C) Feeling bored and tired
      • D) Feeling happy because a difficult moment did not happen
    5. How does Luca ask Sofia to remind him of her name?

      • A) He sends her a message on his cell phone
      • B) He asks David to introduce her
      • C) He looks at her name tag
      • D) He admits he is terrible with names and asks her directly
    6. Luca met Sofia for the first time at the hotel breakfast.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    7. What does the phrase 'for the life of him' mean in this story?

      • A) He is in danger
      • B) He absolutely cannot do something
      • C) He is trying very hard to stay alive
      • D) He is working very slowly
    8. Why does Luca repeat Sofia's name after she tells it to him?

      • A) He thinks it is an unusual name
      • B) He wants to acknowledge it and fix it in his memory
      • C) He did not hear her clearly
      • D) He wants to show off his memory
    9. How does Sofia react when Luca admits he forgot her name?

      • A) She laughs warmly and tells him not to worry
      • B) She refuses to tell him her name again
      • C) She is offended and leaves the table
      • D) She asks David to remind Luca
    10. At the end of the story, Luca uses Sofia's name naturally during the rest of breakfast.

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

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    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.

    acknowledge: C12 ↑ · apologetically: A15 ↗ · approaching: C14 ↗ · determined: O3 ↙ · elegantly: L13 ↖ · familiar: G15 ↗ · racing: K10 ↖ · relieved: F8 ↗

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/luca-forgets-a-name-at-the-breakfast-party-2026-10-16