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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: organizing a group activity

    Oscar's Big Boat Day

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Oscar lived near a marina. He loved the water and the boats. Every weekend, he walked along the docks. He liked to watch the sailboats go by. One morning, he had a great idea. He wanted to organize a group boat trip. He called his friends on the phone. He asked them all to come to the marina. His friend Mia was very excited. His friend Leo said he wanted to help. Oscar felt very happy. He wrote a list of things to do. There were many things to organize. He knew it would be a busy day.

    Oscar went to the marina early in the morning. He talked to the man at the boat rental office. The man's name was Dan. Dan showed Oscar three boats. Two boats were big and one was small. Oscar chose the two big boats. He paid for the boats and got the keys. Then his friends arrived one by one. Mia brought sandwiches and cold drinks. Leo brought life jackets for everyone. Oscar gave each person a job to do. One person checked the boats. Another person counted the life jackets. Everyone worked well together.

    Oscar felt proud of his group. At ten o'clock, the group was ready. Oscar stood at the front of the dock. He spoke to everyone in a loud, clear voice. He said, "Please stay with your boat partner at all times." He also said, "If you feel unsafe, raise your hand." Everyone listened carefully. They all nodded and smiled. Then they got onto the boats. Oscar steered the first boat slowly. The water was calm and blue. Mia laughed and took many photos. Leo helped a friend who was nervous. After two hours, they returned to the dock. Everyone said it was a wonderful day. Oscar was already planning the next trip.

    Key vocabulary

    marina (noun)a place where small boats are kept and looked after, usually with services nearby“Oscar walked along the marina and looked at all the boats.”
    organize (verb)to plan and arrange an event or activity“Oscar wanted to organize a group boat trip for his friends.”
    rental (noun)the act of paying to use something for a short time“He went to the boat rental office to choose a boat.”
    life jacket (noun)a piece of clothing that helps you float in water if you fall in“Leo brought life jackets so everyone would be safe on the water.”
    dock (noun)the area next to the water where boats stop and people get on or off“Oscar stood at the front of the dock and spoke to the group.”
    calm (adjective)quiet and still, not rough or stormy“The water was calm and blue, so the boat trip was very smooth.”
    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or a little scared about something“One friend felt nervous on the boat, so Leo stayed close to help.”
    proud (adjective)feeling happy because you or someone else did something well“Oscar felt proud because everyone worked well together.”

    Useful phrases

    • had a great idea — thought of something good or clever“One morning, Oscar had a great idea to organize a boat trip.”
    • one by one — arriving or happening individually, not all at the same time“His friends arrived at the marina one by one.”
    • gave each person a job — assigned a specific task to every member of the group“Oscar gave each person a job so everything was organized.”
    • worked well together — cooperated successfully as a team“Everyone worked well together to get the boats ready.”
    • in a loud, clear voice — speaking so that everyone can hear and understand easily“Oscar spoke in a loud, clear voice so all his friends could hear him.”
    • raise your hand — lift your hand up to get attention or signal something“Oscar said, "If you feel unsafe, raise your hand."”
    • at all times — always, during every moment“Oscar told everyone to stay with their boat partner at all times.”
    • returned to the dock — came back to the place where the boats are kept“After two hours, the group returned to the dock.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKL
    1OBRIZUFLEOAR
    2IAVIQRBIJULV
    3WMNTXNIFBIAG
    4YCAXPTIEAYTL
    5BELRSPKJZMNT
    6DFZWISMAIFEZ
    7DLAINNLCVARD
    8OMTMNMAKMHJY
    9CWSMIADEWLCV
    10KYPNFHGTMFAX
    11IBBMKQPROUDC
    12CTYENERVOUSB

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What did Oscar want to organize?

      • A) A swimming race
      • B) A fishing competition
      • C) A beach party
      • D) A group boat trip
    2. Where did Oscar go early in the morning?

      • A) To the park
      • B) To the supermarket
      • C) To Leo's house
      • D) To the marina
    3. What does the word 'calm' mean in the story?

      • A) Loud and exciting
      • B) Deep and dark
      • C) Quiet and still
      • D) Cold and rainy
    4. Who brought the life jackets?

      • A) Oscar
      • B) Dan
      • C) Leo
      • D) Mia
    5. What did Mia bring to the marina?

      • A) Sandwiches and cold drinks
      • B) Life jackets and a map
      • C) A camera and a bag
      • D) Rope and tools
    6. What should a friend do if they feel unsafe on the boat?

      • A) Move to another boat
      • B) Call Oscar on the phone
      • C) Raise their hand
      • D) Jump into the water
    7. Oscar chose two small boats from the rental office. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True
    8. What does 'organize' mean?

      • A) To swim in the sea
      • B) To travel by boat
      • C) To plan and arrange an event
      • D) To buy something expensive
    9. How long was the boat trip?

      • A) Half an hour
      • B) Two hours
      • C) Three hours
      • D) One hour
    10. Oscar was already planning the next trip at the end of the story. True or False?

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

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    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.

    calm: L11 ↖ · dock: A7 ↓ · life jacket: H1 ↓ · marina: B3 ↘ · nervous: E12 → · organize: I12 ↖ · proud: G11 → · rental: K7 ↑

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: organizing a group activity

    Oscar and the Marina Expedition

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Oscar had always been drawn to the marina, where the gentle rocking of boats and the smell of salt in the air made him feel at ease. One afternoon, while watching a group of sailboats drift across the water, he decided to organize a group outing for his friends. He sent a message to eight people, outlining his plan and asking for volunteers to help with the preparations. The response was enthusiastic, with most people replying within the hour. Oscar was encouraged by their excitement, and he immediately began drafting a schedule for the day. He knew that a successful group activity required careful planning, clear communication, and a fair distribution of responsibilities. With a notepad in hand, he divided the tasks into categories: equipment, safety, and refreshments.

    On the morning of the outing, Oscar arrived at the marina before anyone else, wanting to confirm the boat reservations and speak with the harbor master. The harbor master, a weathered but friendly man named Dan, walked Oscar through the safety regulations and pointed out two well-maintained vessels that would comfortably fit the group. Oscar listened attentively, taking notes and asking questions about the tidal conditions and recommended routes. By the time his friends began to arrive, Oscar had already briefed himself thoroughly and was ready to pass on the key information. He gathered the group near the main dock and calmly explained the plan, making sure everyone understood their role before they boarded. "If anyone is unsure about anything," he told them, "please speak up now rather than later." His organized approach immediately put the more anxious members of the group at ease. Once out on the water, the atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful, which Oscar felt was a direct result of the thorough preparation that had gone into the trip.

    He moved between the two boats, checking that everyone was comfortable and that the group was following the agreed route. Midway through the outing, he encouraged everyone to share their thoughts on how the activity was going, turning the trip into a collaborative experience rather than a one-way exercise. Several people suggested ideas for future outings, which Oscar noted down with genuine interest. As they steered the boats back towards the marina, the conversation turned to the highlights of the day, with laughter echoing across the water. Oscar felt a quiet sense of satisfaction, not just because the trip had gone smoothly, but because the group had genuinely connected as a team. He was already looking forward to the next adventure, and this time, he planned to let someone else take the lead.

    Key vocabulary

    expedition (noun)an organized journey or trip, often with a specific purpose or group“Oscar treated the marina outing like a proper expedition, planning every detail in advance.”
    enthusiastic (adjective)showing a lot of excitement and eagerness about something“The response from his friends was enthusiastic, with most people replying within the hour.”
    vessel (noun)a boat or ship used for traveling on water“Dan pointed out two well-maintained vessels that would comfortably fit the group.”
    tidal (adjective)relating to the regular rise and fall of the sea caused by the moon and sun“Oscar asked Dan about the tidal conditions before planning the route.”
    collaborative (adjective)involving two or more people working together towards a shared goal“Oscar turned the trip into a collaborative experience by asking everyone for their thoughts.”
    anxious (adjective)feeling worried or nervous, especially about something that might happen“Oscar's calm explanation put the more anxious members of the group at ease.”
    distribution (noun)the act of sharing or spreading something among a group of people“Oscar believed that a fair distribution of responsibilities was key to a successful outing.”
    satisfaction (noun)a feeling of pleasure or achievement when something goes well“Oscar felt a quiet sense of satisfaction as the boats returned to the marina.”

    Useful phrases

    • drawn to — naturally attracted to or interested in something“Oscar had always been drawn to the marina because of his love of the water.”
    • pass on the key information — to share the most important facts or details with others“After speaking to Dan, Oscar was ready to pass on the key information to the group.”
    • speak up — to say something clearly, especially when you have a concern or question“Oscar told the group, "Please speak up now rather than later."”
    • put someone at ease — to make someone feel relaxed and less worried“His organized approach immediately put the more anxious members of the group at ease.”
    • take the lead — to be the person who organizes or directs an activity“Next time, Oscar planned to let someone else take the lead.”
    • briefed himself thoroughly — prepared by learning all the important information in detail“Oscar had briefed himself thoroughly before his friends arrived at the marina.”
    • turned to — changed direction or focus towards a new subject or activity“As they headed back, the conversation turned to the highlights of the day.”
    • gone smoothly — happened without problems or difficulties“Oscar was pleased that the trip had gone smoothly from start to finish.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1NOFCVGECIFOLISD
    2ODZRKBVVCRIAPVI
    3IEBXCZICOYERDPS
    4TNKJBNTVJAQHMAT
    5CTIJXKAQEIFLSLR
    6AHCKKHRNJSSAJLI
    7FUQKMFOYFYSBSSB
    8SSPJLWBSCPREUYU
    9IILQCSAYTDAOLXT
    10TALBDWLYGDISALI
    11ASCGOQLNTXYIGUO
    12STUZNNOHNQIWSUN
    13LIQQVHCADVYLYOR
    14NCZRJBNTIDALWLG
    15PPSGNOITIDEPXEW

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Oscar decide to organize the group outing?

      • A) He was asked to by the harbor master
      • B) He wanted to test his friends' sailing skills
      • C) He had organized a similar trip before
      • D) He was inspired while watching sailboats at the marina
    2. What does 'enthusiastic' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Polite but uninterested
      • B) Careful and organized
      • C) Slow and uncertain
      • D) Very excited and eager
    3. What three categories did Oscar divide the tasks into?

      • A) Food, transport, and entertainment
      • B) Equipment, safety, and refreshments
      • C) Boats, maps, and clothing
      • D) Timing, weather, and navigation
    4. Oscar arrived at the marina after his friends on the morning of the outing. True or False?

      • A) False
      • B) True
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    5. What does the word 'vessel' refer to in the story?

      • A) A type of dock
      • B) A container for storing equipment
      • C) A boat or ship
      • D) A safety device used on water
    6. What did Oscar do midway through the outing?

      • A) He moved everyone onto one boat
      • B) He stopped the boats and called Dan
      • C) He encouraged everyone to share their thoughts
      • D) He changed the route because of bad weather
    7. What does 'put someone at ease' mean?

      • A) To make someone feel relaxed and less worried
      • B) To ask someone to leave
      • C) To put something in a safe place
      • D) To give someone a task to do
    8. Oscar's friends suggested ideas for future outings during the trip. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    9. What was Oscar's plan for the next adventure?

      • A) To hire a professional guide
      • B) To invite more people
      • C) To choose a different location
      • D) To let someone else take the lead
    10. What does 'gone smoothly' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Happened without problems
      • B) Felt exciting and dangerous
      • C) Happened very quickly
      • D) Ended too early

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    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.

    anxious: H13 ↗ · collaborative: G13 ↑ · distribution: O1 ↓ · enthusiastic: B3 ↓ · expedition: N15 ← · satisfaction: A12 ↑ · tidal: H14 → · vessel: H4 ↘

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/oscars-big-boat-day-2026-09-10