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

    Oscar's Day at the Marina

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Oscar walked to the marina early in the morning. The sun was bright and the water was very calm. He looked at the boats and smiled. Oscar wanted to organize a group activity for his friends. He wanted everyone to go on a boat trip together. He called his friend Mia on the phone. "Hello, Mia. Do you want to come to the marina today?" he asked. Mia said, "Yes, that sounds fun! What time?" Oscar replied, "Come at ten o'clock." Then he called his other friends, Leo and Sara. Leo was happy to come. Sara was also excited. "I love boats!" Sara said. Oscar was glad. He had four people for the trip now. He needed to find a good boat for the group. Oscar walked along the marina and looked at the different boats.

    Some boats were very big and some were small. He found a medium boat that was perfect for four people. He talked to the boat owner. "How much is it to rent this boat for the day?" Oscar asked. The owner said, "It is not expensive. You can have it for the whole afternoon." Oscar was happy with the price. He waited near the boat for his friends. Mia arrived first. She carried a bag with drinks and snacks. "I brought food for everyone," she said. Leo came next. He had a camera with him. "I want to take photos of the water," Leo said. Sara arrived last. She wore a big hat and sunglasses. "Sorry I am late," she said with a smile. Everyone was ready.

    Oscar helped everyone get on the boat. He showed them where to sit. "Please put on your life jackets," he said. Everyone put on their life jackets. The boat moved slowly away from the marina. The water was blue and beautiful. Mia opened the snacks and shared them with the group. Leo took many photos of the sea and the sky. Sara pointed at some fish in the water. "Look at those fish! They are so colorful!" she said. Oscar steered the boat carefully. They all laughed and talked together. It was a wonderful afternoon. "Thank you for organizing this, Oscar," Mia said. Oscar smiled and said, "We should do this again soon." Everyone agreed. It was the best day they had in a long time.

    Key vocabulary

    marina (noun)a place where boats are kept and can be tied up“We walked to the marina to see the boats.”
    organize (verb)to plan and arrange something“She helped organize the trip for the whole group.”
    rent (verb)to pay money to use something for a short time“They decided to rent a small boat for the day.”
    life jacket (noun)a special vest you wear to stay safe in water“Everyone must wear a life jacket on the boat.”
    steer (verb)to control the direction of a boat or vehicle“Oscar learned to steer the boat when he was young.”
    snack (noun)a small amount of food eaten between meals“Mia brought some snacks for the boat trip.”
    excited (adjective)feeling very happy and full of energy about something“The children were excited about the boat ride.”
    calm (adjective)quiet and peaceful, without strong movement“The water was calm and easy to sail on.”

    Useful phrases

    • sounds fun — used to say that something seems enjoyable“"Do you want to go swimming?" "That sounds fun!"”
    • How much is it? — a question to ask about the price of something“"How much is it to rent a bicycle?" she asked.”
    • put on — to place something on your body, like clothes“Please put on your hat before we go outside.”
    • get on — to move onto a vehicle, boat, or similar thing“We need to get on the bus quickly.”
    • sorry I am late — a polite way to apologize for arriving after the planned time“"Sorry I am late. The traffic was bad," he said.”
    • pointed at — used a finger to show where something is“She pointed at the bird in the tree.”
    • do this again — to repeat the same activity in the future“That was a great meal. We should do this again.”
    • the whole afternoon — the entire afternoon, from start to finish“They spent the whole afternoon at the beach.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKL
    1DPNVQCUGDWWL
    2RTEKCAJEFILA
    3EAWODETICXEE
    4NLMRBKRRNLQZ
    5TJAGOGTREAGE
    6FLRACMLACESM
    7KIINPGYLQXTJ
    8UINIUVQNLNVS
    9QUAZOLFNFDAW
    10GTPEMLHHDJMK
    11ZHPEHWSNACKX
    12UHWNBXPLCZYK

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Oscar go to the marina?

      • A) To learn to swim
      • B) To organize a group activity
      • C) To meet the boat owner
      • D) To buy a boat
    2. How many friends did Oscar invite?

      • A) Four
      • B) Five
      • C) Three
      • D) Two
    3. What does the word 'calm' mean in the story?

      • A) Cold and windy
      • B) Dark and cloudy
      • C) Quiet and peaceful
      • D) Very hot
    4. Who brought food and drinks for the group?

      • A) Oscar
      • B) Mia
      • C) Leo
      • D) Sara
    5. Oscar rented a very large boat for the trip.

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

      • A) To clean a boat
      • B) To paint a boat
      • C) To control the direction of a boat
      • D) To stop a boat
    7. What did Leo bring to the marina?

      • A) A camera
      • B) A hat
      • C) A life jacket
      • D) Food
    8. Why did Sara arrive last?

      • A) She was sleeping
      • B) She missed the bus
      • C) The story does not say why
      • D) She forgot the time
    9. Everyone wore life jackets on the boat.

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

      • A) To pay to use something for a short time
      • B) To break something
      • C) To give something away
      • D) To buy something forever

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. B 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. C 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. D 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: I6 ← · excited: K3 ← · life jacket: K2 ← · marina: C4 ↓ · organize: D3 ↓ · rent: A2 ↓ · snack: G11 → · steer: L8 ↖

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

    Setting Sail with Oscar

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Oscar had been thinking about organizing a group outing for weeks, and he finally decided that a day at the marina would be the perfect idea. He had always loved being near the water, and he thought his friends would enjoy it too. Early one morning, he sent a message to a group chat with five of his closest friends, inviting them to join him for an afternoon boat trip. The responses came quickly, and most of them were enthusiastic, although two friends had to decline because of other commitments. In the end, Oscar confirmed that Mia, Leo, and Sara would be joining him, which made a group of four. He began researching boat rental options at the local marina, comparing sizes and prices to find something suitable. After making a reservation online, he felt a wave of excitement and started preparing a checklist of things they would need for the day.

    When the group arrived at the marina on the chosen day, they were greeted by rows of gleaming boats bobbing gently on the water. Oscar had already collected the keys from the rental office and was waiting by a sleek, medium-sized motorboat that could comfortably seat six people. "I've already gone through the safety briefing with the staff, so let me explain the main points to you," he told the group as he handed out life jackets. Mia had volunteered to be in charge of supplies, and she had packed a cooler full of sandwiches, fruit, and cold drinks. Leo, who considered himself an amateur photographer, had brought along his best camera and was already snapping pictures of the harbor. Sara, meanwhile, was studying a simple map of the coastline that Oscar had printed out, suggesting interesting spots where they could anchor and swim. The atmosphere was relaxed and full of anticipation as they prepared to set off on their adventure together.

    As Oscar carefully navigated the boat out of the marina, the group settled into a comfortable rhythm of conversation and laughter. They cruised along the coast for about an hour before finding a sheltered bay with crystal-clear water, where they decided to stop and swim. While floating in the cool water, Leo mentioned that he had never felt so relaxed, and Mia agreed, saying that getting away from their usual routine had been exactly what she needed. After their swim, they climbed back aboard and shared the food that Mia had prepared, chatting about when they might plan their next outing. "I think we should make this a regular thing," Oscar suggested, and everyone nodded in agreement. By the time they returned the boat to the marina that evening, the sun was setting in shades of orange and pink, and each of them felt grateful for the shared experience. Oscar realized that the best part of organizing the activity had not been the planning itself, but seeing his friends genuinely enjoy themselves.

    Key vocabulary

    outing (noun)a short trip taken for pleasure“The family planned an outing to the lake for the weekend.”
    decline (verb)to politely refuse an invitation or offer“She had to decline the invitation because she was busy.”
    reservation (noun)an arrangement to have something kept for you in advance“He made a reservation at the restaurant for eight o'clock.”
    gleaming (adjective)shining brightly, often because of reflected light“The gleaming surface of the lake reflected the morning sun.”
    briefing (noun)a meeting or session where instructions or information are given“The safety briefing covered all the emergency procedures.”
    anchor (verb)to secure a boat in one place by lowering a heavy weight to the seabed“They decided to anchor near the island and explore on foot.”
    navigate (verb)to direct the course of a boat or vehicle“She learned to navigate the river by reading the current.”
    sheltered (adjective)protected from wind, rain, or other harsh conditions“They found a sheltered spot behind the rocks to have lunch.”

    Useful phrases

    • in charge of — responsible for managing or looking after something“Leo was in charge of booking the tickets for the group.”
    • set off — to begin a journey or trip“They set off early to avoid the traffic.”
    • gone through — to have reviewed or completed something carefully“I have already gone through the instructions twice.”
    • make this a regular thing — to do the same activity often in the future“The walk was so nice that they wanted to make this a regular thing.”
    • settled into — to become comfortable in a new situation or activity“After a few minutes, the group settled into a relaxed conversation.”
    • getting away from — leaving your usual place or routine for a break“Sometimes getting away from the city helps you feel refreshed.”
    • climbed back aboard — got back onto a boat or vehicle after leaving it“After exploring the beach, they climbed back aboard the ferry.”
    • nodded in agreement — moved the head up and down to show that you agree“When she suggested the idea, everyone nodded in agreement.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1FSEEKFRFDXSRU
    2YHRTOYKSZUIHQ
    3MELZACMHCCVTX
    4RLNDIGRBFQAHV
    5PTVDYMIZNWBWV
    6MERESERVATION
    7GRDAPYWCANZMR
    8DECLINETGNBOA
    9FDYLUPAGABHCJ
    10YGLEAMINGCEDS
    11AUJTDHSCNHSAJ
    12GNITUOIAXGEGV
    13BRIEFINGTKEJZ

    Comprehension quiz

    1. How many friends did Oscar originally invite to the boat trip?

      • A) Three
      • B) Four
      • C) Five
      • D) Six
    2. What does the word 'decline' mean in the story?

      • A) To accept happily
      • B) To change plans
      • C) To arrive late
      • D) To politely refuse
    3. Who was responsible for bringing food and drinks?

      • A) Oscar
      • B) Leo
      • C) Sara
      • D) Mia
    4. Oscar had difficulty finding a boat to rent.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) True
      • C) False
      • D) Not mentioned
    5. What does 'sheltered' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Very deep
      • B) Extremely warm
      • C) Protected from harsh conditions
      • D) Far from land
    6. What did Sara study before the trip began?

      • A) A list of boat rules
      • B) A photography guide
      • C) A recipe book
      • D) A map of the coastline
    7. The group swam in a sheltered bay during the trip.

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

      • A) To paint a boat
      • B) To direct the course of a boat
      • C) To repair a boat
      • D) To sell a boat
    9. What did Oscar realize at the end of the day?

      • A) That he prefers to travel alone
      • B) That boats are too expensive
      • C) That seeing his friends enjoy themselves was the best part
      • D) That he should buy his own boat
    10. The group returned the boat before sunset.

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

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    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.

    anchor: H12 ↗ · briefing: A13 → · decline: A8 → · gleaming: B10 → · navigate: J8 ↖ · outing: F12 ← · reservation: C6 → · sheltered: B1 ↓

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/oscars-day-at-the-marina-2026-06-01