Worksheet for teachers and learners: both levels, with quiz and answer key. Free to print and share in class.

    ← Back to story

    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: asking for help

    Nadia Asks for Help

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Nadia went to the local park on a sunny morning. She wanted to ride her bicycle around the park. She was very excited because it was a beautiful day. She put on her helmet and started to ride. The path was smooth and easy at first. She rode past the tall trees and the green grass. She saw other people walking and jogging. Some children were playing near the fountain. Nadia smiled and felt happy. Then she rode over a big stone on the path. Her bicycle made a loud noise. She stopped and looked at the front wheel. The tire was flat. She did not know how to fix it.

    She felt worried and looked around for someone to help. Nadia saw an older woman sitting on a bench nearby. The woman was reading a book. Nadia walked over to her slowly. She said, "Excuse me, can you help me please?" The woman looked up and smiled. "Of course, what is the problem?" she asked. Nadia pointed to her bicycle and said, "My tire is flat and I do not know how to fix it." The woman closed her book and stood up. She said, "My name is Rosa. I fixed many bicycle tires before." Rosa walked to the bicycle and looked at the tire carefully. She checked her bag and found a small repair kit inside. Nadia was surprised and very grateful. Rosa showed Nadia the tools in the kit. "First, we need to find the hole," Rosa said. Nadia watched closely and paid attention to every step.

    Rosa removed the tire and found a small hole in it. She used a patch from her kit to cover the hole. Then she put the tire back on the wheel. She pumped air into the tire with a small pump. "There you go, it is fixed now," Rosa said with a smile. Nadia was so happy and thanked Rosa many times. "Thank you so much for your help," Nadia said. Rosa replied, "You are welcome. It is always good to help others." Nadia learned something important that day. She learned that it is okay to ask for help. She also learned how to fix a flat tire. Before she left, she said, "Next time, I can fix it myself because you taught me." Rosa laughed and said, "That is the best thing I heard today." Nadia rode home feeling proud and thankful. She decided to always help others too.

    Key vocabulary

    helmet (noun)a hard hat that protects your head“Always wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle.”
    path (noun)a way or track for walking or riding“The path in the park goes around the lake.”
    smooth (adjective)having an even surface with no bumps“The road was smooth and easy to ride on.”
    flat (adjective)having no air inside (for a tire)“I cannot ride my bicycle because the tire is flat.”
    worried (adjective)feeling nervous or afraid about something“She was worried because she lost her keys.”
    bench (noun)a long seat for two or more people, often in a park“They sat on the bench and talked for a long time.”
    repair (noun/verb)to fix something that is broken or damaged“He needed to repair his phone after he dropped it.”
    patch (noun)a small piece of material used to cover a hole“She put a patch on the hole in the tire.”
    grateful (adjective)feeling thankful for something“I am grateful for your kind help.”
    proud (adjective)feeling good about something you did or learned“She felt proud after she finished the race.”

    Useful phrases

    • Excuse me — a polite way to get someone's attention“"Excuse me, do you know what time it is?"”
    • Can you help me? — asking someone for assistance“"Can you help me carry this box?"”
    • Of course — a way to say yes happily or willingly“"Can I sit here?" "Of course!"”
    • Thank you so much — a strong way to show you are grateful“"Thank you so much for waiting for me."”
    • You are welcome — a polite reply when someone thanks you“"You are welcome. I was happy to help."”
    • There you go — said when you finish something for someone“"There you go, your coffee is ready."”

    Word search

    Find all 10 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJ
    1AMDTHSPPGM
    2AWORRIEDFW
    3RIAPERCYFF
    4KGRATEFULZ
    5NHTOOMSKRW
    6PPJWBENCHS
    7PARTRFNIEV
    8GATOHELMET
    9VQTCUVFAWV
    10SNXHHDBETM

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Nadia go to the park?

      • A) To walk her dog
      • B) To read a book
      • C) To ride her bicycle
      • D) To meet her friends
    2. What happened to Nadia's bicycle?

      • A) The wheel came off
      • B) The tire went flat
      • C) The seat fell off
      • D) The chain broke
    3. What does the word 'grateful' mean in the story?

      • A) Feeling tired
      • B) Feeling angry
      • C) Feeling scared
      • D) Feeling thankful
    4. Nadia found a repair kit in her own bag.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) Not stated
      • C) False
      • D) True
    5. What was Rosa doing when Nadia first saw her?

      • A) Reading a book
      • B) Eating lunch
      • C) Walking her dog
      • D) Talking on the phone
    6. What does 'flat' mean when talking about a tire?

      • A) Having no air
      • B) Very wide
      • C) Brand new
      • D) Very colorful
    7. Rosa used a patch to fix the tire. What is a patch?

      • A) A kind of pump
      • B) A small piece of material to cover a hole
      • C) A type of glue
      • D) A special tool for cutting
    8. Nadia paid Rosa money for fixing the tire.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    9. What important thing did Nadia learn that day?

      • A) That bicycles are expensive
      • B) That parks are dangerous
      • C) How to ride faster
      • D) That it is okay to ask for help
    10. What does the word 'smooth' mean in the story?

      • A) Very dark
      • B) Very loud
      • C) Very cold
      • D) Having an even surface

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    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.

    bench: E6 → · flat: F7 ↘ · grateful: B4 → · helmet: E8 → · patch: A6 ↘ · path: A7 ↘ · proud: B6 ↘ · repair: F3 ← · smooth: G5 ← · worried: B2 →

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: asking for help

    The Courage to Ask

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Nadia had been looking forward to her afternoon at the local park all week. She had recently started painting as a hobby, and she wanted to capture the beautiful scenery around the lake. She set up her easel under a large tree, arranged her brushes and paints, and began to sketch the outline of the water. However, after about thirty minutes, she realized that something was wrong. No matter how hard she tried, she could not get the reflection of the trees on the water to look realistic. She mixed different shades of green and blue, but the colors always seemed too bright or too dull. Feeling frustrated, she sat down on the grass and stared at her canvas, wondering whether she should simply give up and go home.

    While Nadia was sitting there feeling discouraged, she noticed a man painting at another easel not far from her. His landscape looked incredible, with soft colors that blended together naturally. Nadia wanted to ask him for advice, but she hesitated because she felt embarrassed about her own work. After thinking about it for several minutes, she finally gathered her courage and walked over to him. "Excuse me, I hope I am not interrupting, but would you mind giving me some advice about painting water reflections?" she asked nervously. The man, who introduced himself as Leo, smiled warmly and said, "I would be happy to help. I struggled with the same thing when I was starting out." He walked over to Nadia's easel and studied her painting thoughtfully before offering several helpful suggestions.

    Leo explained that the key to painting realistic reflections was to use thinner layers of paint and to blend the edges gently with a dry brush. He demonstrated the technique on a corner of her canvas, and Nadia immediately noticed the difference. She thanked him sincerely and spent the next hour applying what she had learned. By the time she finished, her painting had improved significantly, and she felt a deep sense of accomplishment. As she was packing up her supplies, Leo came over and said, "You have real talent. All you needed was a little guidance." Nadia smiled and replied, "I almost did not ask for your help because I was too embarrassed. I am so glad I did." Walking home that evening, she reflected on how one moment of courage had turned a frustrating afternoon into one of the most rewarding experiences she had ever had.

    Key vocabulary

    capture (verb)to record or represent something accurately, especially in art or photography“She wanted to capture the sunset in her painting.”
    scenery (noun)the natural beauty and features of a landscape“The scenery around the mountain was breathtaking.”
    reflection (noun)an image seen in a mirror or on a shiny surface like water“He could see his reflection in the calm lake.”
    frustrated (adjective)feeling upset or annoyed because you cannot achieve something“She was frustrated because the recipe did not turn out well.”
    discouraged (adjective)having lost confidence or enthusiasm about something“Do not feel discouraged if you make mistakes while learning.”
    hesitate (verb)to pause before doing something because you feel uncertain or nervous“He hesitated before knocking on the door.”
    courage (noun)the ability to do something that is difficult or frightening“It took a lot of courage to speak in front of so many people.”
    demonstrate (verb)to show someone how to do something by doing it yourself“The teacher demonstrated how to solve the problem on the board.”
    accomplishment (noun)a feeling of success after achieving something“Finishing the project gave her a great sense of accomplishment.”
    guidance (noun)help and advice about how to do something or deal with problems“With the right guidance, anyone can learn a new skill.”

    Useful phrases

    • no matter how hard — regardless of how much effort is made“No matter how hard she tried, she could not solve the puzzle.”
    • give up — to stop trying to do something“Do not give up just because it is difficult.”
    • would you mind — a polite way to ask someone to do something“"Would you mind helping me move this table?"”
    • starting out — beginning to do something, especially as a beginner“When I was starting out, I made a lot of mistakes too.”
    • a sense of accomplishment — a proud feeling after completing something successfully“Running the race gave him a great sense of accomplishment.”
    • I am so glad — expressing strong happiness about something“I am so glad you decided to come to the event.”

    Word search

    Find all 9 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1FIMFETARTSNOMED
    2SNOITCELFERMIEE
    3QFKTNJGECPWXXEG
    4RNSJECAPTURETMF
    5JADJMBDGGOSAHRX
    6VLHIHBETCETTUES
    7WBNBSXEOQIWSNSC
    8VICLICSZSDTDGGG
    9NMDMLIOEFROZZUE
    10MBJEPUHUAPEMIVA
    11DVRDMJMTRFBDQBD
    12YZASODEUMAAQOFZ
    13WKPPCDLSRNGVCMD
    14ZESZCFLFCTUENDY
    15TUJAASCENERYDHB

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What hobby had Nadia recently started?

      • A) Writing
      • B) Painting
      • C) Gardening
      • D) Photography
    2. What specific problem was Nadia having with her painting?

      • A) She could not draw the trees
      • B) She could not paint the water reflections realistically
      • C) She ran out of paint
      • D) Her canvas was too small
    3. What does the word 'hesitate' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) To move quickly toward something
      • B) To feel happy about a decision
      • C) To pause because of uncertainty or nervousness
      • D) To speak loudly to get attention
    4. Leo told Nadia that her painting was terrible.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) Not stated
      • C) False
      • D) True
    5. Why was Nadia reluctant to ask Leo for help?

      • A) She felt embarrassed about her own work
      • B) She thought he was busy
      • C) She preferred to work alone always
      • D) She did not like his painting style
    6. What does 'guidance' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Strict rules to follow
      • B) Physical strength
      • C) Help and advice about how to do something
      • D) A type of painting tool
    7. What technique did Leo suggest for painting realistic reflections?

      • A) Painting the reflection first before the landscape
      • B) Adding more water to the paint
      • C) Using thinner layers and blending with a dry brush
      • D) Using thicker paint and bigger brushes
    8. Nadia and Leo had met at the park before this day.

      • A) True
      • B) Not stated
      • C) False
      • D) Not mentioned
    9. What does the word 'discouraged' mean in the story?

      • A) Having lost confidence or enthusiasm
      • B) Feeling angry at other people
      • C) Feeling excited and motivated
      • D) Being physically tired
    10. What is the main message of this story?

      • A) Parks are the best place to practice art
      • B) Asking for help can lead to rewarding experiences
      • C) It is better to work alone than with others
      • D) Painting is a very difficult hobby to learn

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    accomplishment: E15 ↑ · capture: F4 → · demonstrate: O1 ← · discouraged: C5 ↘ · frustrated: O4 ↙ · guidance: O8 ↙ · hesitate: G10 ↗ · reflection: K2 ← · scenery: F15 →

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/nadia-asks-for-help-2026-04-26