Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: helping a stranger find their way
Priya Helps a Stranger
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Priya works in a big office. The office is on the fifth floor of a tall building. There are many desks, computers, and people. It is a very busy place. Every day, Priya arrives early. She makes coffee and sits at her desk. She answers emails and talks to her colleagues. Priya is friendly and always smiles. One morning, a man walks into the office. He looks confused and a little worried. He stops near the door and looks around slowly. He has a bag in his hand and a paper in his other hand. He does not know where to go. Nobody else notices him. But Priya sees him right away.
Priya stands up and walks over to the man. She smiles and says, "Hello, can I help you?" The man looks relieved. He says, "Yes, please. I have a meeting with Mr. Sato, but I cannot find his office." Priya looks at the paper in his hand. She says, "Mr. Sato is in Room 12. That is on this floor." The man says, "Thank you so much. This building is very big." Priya laughs softly and says, "Yes, it can be confusing at first." She points down the long corridor. She says, "Go straight ahead and then turn left. Room 12 is the third door on the right." The man listens carefully and nods his head. He says, "Straight, then left, and the third door. I understand." Priya says, "That is correct. Would you like me to take you there?" The man smiles and says, "That is very kind. Yes, please."
Priya walks with the man down the corridor. She shows him the way to Room 12. On the way, she asks, "Is this your first time in this building?" The man says, "Yes, it is. I was here last week, but I used a different entrance." Priya nods and says, "Ah, that is why it looks different." They arrive at Room 12. Priya knocks on the door for him. Mr. Sato opens the door and welcomes the man inside. The man turns to Priya and says, "Thank you very much. You were so helpful." Priya smiles and says, "You are welcome. Good luck with your meeting!" She waves goodbye and walks back to her desk. She feels happy. She helped a stranger today. She sits down and picks up her coffee. It is still warm. She smiles again and starts to read her emails.
Key vocabulary
| colleague (noun) | a person you work with“Priya talks to her colleagues every morning.” |
| confused (adjective) | not able to understand something clearly“The man looks confused because he cannot find the office.” |
| corridor (noun) | a long passage inside a building with rooms on each side“Priya points down the long corridor.” |
| entrance (noun) | the door or opening you use to go into a building“The man used a different entrance last week.” |
| relieved (adjective) | feeling happy because a problem or worry has gone away“The man looks relieved when Priya offers to help.” |
| meeting (noun) | a planned time when people come together to talk about something“The man has a meeting with Mr. Sato.” |
| straight (adverb) | without turning or curving; directly forward“She says, "Go straight ahead and then turn left."” |
| welcome (verb) | to greet someone in a friendly way when they arrive“Mr. Sato opens the door and welcomes the man inside.” |
Useful phrases
- Can I help you? — a polite way to offer help to someone“Priya walks over to the man and says, "Can I help you?"”
- right away — immediately; without any delay“Nobody else notices the man, but Priya sees him right away.”
- turn left / turn right — change direction to the left or right side“Priya says, "Go straight ahead and then turn left."”
- at first — in the beginning; when you first experience something“Priya says, "It can be confusing at first."”
- That is very kind — a polite phrase used to thank someone for being generous or helpful“The man smiles and says, "That is very kind. Yes, please."”
- on the right / on the left — located on the right side or left side“Priya says, "Room 12 is the third door on the right."”
- Good luck with... — a friendly phrase wishing someone success in what they are doing“Priya says, "Good luck with your meeting!"”
- You are welcome — a polite reply to someone who says thank you“The man thanks Priya, and she says, "You are welcome."”
Word search
Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M | E | E | T | I | N | G | W | W | C | R |
| 2 | E | B | U | M | S | Z | D | E | O | X | D |
| 3 | K | N | C | Q | A | T | L | L | S | A | G |
| 4 | C | F | T | X | Q | C | L | T | R | I | P |
| 5 | O | E | E | R | O | E | R | K | O | C | D |
| 6 | N | Y | O | M | A | A | A | Y | D | S | D |
| 7 | F | V | E | G | I | N | T | N | I | H | E |
| 8 | U | Z | U | G | F | B | C | A | R | E | O |
| 9 | S | E | H | I | F | G | E | E | R | Z | X |
| 10 | E | T | Y | Z | W | A | H | X | O | N | Y |
| 11 | D | E | V | E | I | L | E | R | C | G | R |
Comprehension quiz
Where does Priya work?
- A) In a hospital
- B) In a big office
- C) In a school
- D) In a shop
Why does the man look confused?
- A) He does not speak English
- B) He lost his bag
- C) He cannot find Mr. Sato's office
- D) He is late for work
What does Priya say when she walks over to the man?
- A) "The office is upstairs."
- B) "Hello, can I help you?"
- C) "Are you lost?"
- D) "Please wait here."
Where is Room 12?
- A) In a different building
- B) On the floor above
- C) On the same floor as Priya's desk
- D) At the entrance of the building
The word 'relieved' means feeling happy because a problem or worry has gone away.
- A) True
- B) Not mentioned
- C) Not stated
- D) False
How does Priya direct the man to Room 12?
- A) She calls Mr. Sato
- B) She draws a map
- C) She walks him there immediately
- D) She tells him to go straight, then turn left
Why did the building look different to the man?
- A) He came in from the car park
- B) The lights were off
- C) He used a different entrance last week
- D) It was his first time there
What does Priya do when they arrive at Room 12?
- A) She goes inside with the man
- B) She waits in the corridor
- C) She knocks on the door for the man
- D) She opens the door herself
Priya feels unhappy after helping the stranger.
- A) Not stated
- B) Not mentioned
- C) False
- D) True
Which word means 'a long passage inside a building with rooms on each side'?
- A) entrance
- B) meeting
- C) colleague
- D) corridor
Answer key (A2 (Elementary))
1. B 2. C 3. B 4. C 5. A 6. D 7. C 8. C 9. C 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.
colleague: J1 ↙ · confused: A4 ↓ · corridor: I11 ↑ · entrance: A2 ↘ · meeting: A1 → · relieved: H11 ← · straight: I3 ↙ · welcome: I1 ↙