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    Nico and the Wrong Umbrella

    a mix-up with someone else's umbrellaa taxiCEFR A2
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    Nico got into a . It was raining very hard outside. He had a big bag and a wet . He put his on the seat next to him. The driver said, "Where would you like to go?" Nico said, "To the city center, please." The driver nodded and started the car. Nico looked out of the window. The rain was heavy and the streets were dark. There was another on the floor of the . It was blue and green. Nico did not see it. He was very tired. He closed his eyes for a moment. The moved slowly through the wet streets. After some time, the stopped. "We are here," said the driver. Nico paid the driver and said, "Thank you." He picked up an from the seat.

    He opened the door and got out quickly. The rain was still falling. He opened the above his head. But something felt . The was very big. It was also a different color. Nico looked at it carefully. It was not his ! His was small and black. This was blue and green. Nico looked back at the . The driver was already leaving. "Wait!" Nico called out. But the was gone. Nico stood on the street with the wrong . He felt very silly.

    He looked at the again. It had a name on the . The name was "Clara." Nico took out his phone. He called the company. A woman answered the phone. "Hello, how can I help you?" she said. Nico the problem. "I took the wrong from a ," he said. The woman said, "Don't worry. Leave your name and number. We will call you if someone a ." Nico said, "Thank you very much." He waited two days. Then the company called him. Clara had called too! They met at the office and swapped their . Clara laughed and said, "I think our like each other!" Nico laughed too. It was a funny mix-up.

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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.
    umbrella
    /ʌmˈbrel.ə/
    noun

    a device you hold above your head to stay dry when it rains

    "Nico picked up the wrong umbrella from the taxi."

    taxi
    /ˈtæk.si/
    noun

    a car with a driver that you pay to take you somewhere

    "Nico got into a taxi because it was raining."

    strange
    /streɪndʒ/
    adjective

    not normal or expected; unusual

    "Something felt strange when he opened the umbrella."

    handle
    /ˈhæn.dl/
    noun

    the part of an object that you hold in your hand

    "There was a name on the handle of the umbrella."

    report
    /rɪˈpɔːt/
    verb

    to tell someone officially about something that has happened

    "The woman said she would call if someone reported a missing umbrella."

    swap
    /swɒp/
    verb

    to exchange one thing for another

    "Nico and Clara met at the taxi office and swapped their umbrellas."

    explain
    /ɪkˈspleɪn/
    verb

    to make something clear or easy to understand by giving details

    "Nico explained the problem to the woman on the phone."

    missing
    /ˈmɪs.ɪŋ/
    adjective

    not in the right place; lost

    "The taxi company would call if someone reported a missing umbrella."

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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.

    Where would you like to go?

    a polite question a driver asks a passenger about their destination

    "The taxi driver asked, "Where would you like to go?""

    something felt strange

    used to describe a feeling that something is not right or normal

    "When Nico opened the umbrella, something felt strange."

    called out

    to shout in order to get someone's attention

    "Nico called out "Wait!" but the taxi was already gone."

    Don't worry

    used to tell someone there is no need to be anxious or upset

    "The woman said, "Don't worry. Leave your name and number.""

    leave your name and number

    to give your name and phone number so someone can contact you later

    "The taxi company asked Nico to leave his name and number."

    take out

    to remove something from a bag, pocket, or container

    "Nico took out his phone to call the taxi company."

    How can I help you?

    a polite phrase used to offer assistance, especially on the phone or in a shop

    "The woman answered and said, "Hello, how can I help you?""

    mix-up

    a situation where things or people are confused with each other by mistake

    "Taking the wrong umbrella was a funny mix-up."

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