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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: handling conflicting information from two people

    Rashid Asks for Help

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Rashid was at the bus station. He was sitting in the waiting room. He had a big bag next to him. He wanted to take a bus to the city. He did not know which bus to take. He looked at the board on the wall. The board had a lot of numbers and times. He could not understand it. He felt a little worried. A man was sitting near him. The man looked friendly. Rashid walked over to him. "Excuse me," said Rashid. "Which bus goes to the city center?" The man smiled and said, "You need bus number five." Rashid said, "Thank you very much." Rashid went back to his seat. He felt better now. He put his ticket in his pocket. He waited for a few minutes.

    Then an old woman sat down next to him. She had a small bag and a newspaper. She looked at Rashid and smiled. Rashid smiled back. "Are you waiting for the bus to the city?" she asked. "Yes," said Rashid. "I am taking bus number five." The woman shook her head. "No, no," she said. "Bus number five does not go to the city center. You need bus number nine." Rashid looked surprised. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes, I am sure," said the woman. Rashid did not know what to think. The man said number five. The woman said number nine. He felt confused. Rashid stood up. He decided to find the right answer.

    He walked to the information desk. A young worker was standing there. "Hello," said Rashid. "I need some help, please." The worker said, "Of course! How can I help you?" Rashid explained his problem. "One person told me bus number five. Another person told me bus number nine. I do not know which one is correct." The worker checked the computer. "Bus number five goes to the north part of the city," she said. "Bus number nine goes to the city center." Rashid laughed a little. "So the woman was right!" he said. "Yes," said the worker, "but the man was not wrong. He just did not understand where you wanted to go." Rashid thanked the worker. He went back to the waiting room. He sat down and waited for bus number nine. When the bus arrived, he got on and found a seat. He felt happy and ready for his trip.

    Key vocabulary

    waiting room (noun)a room where people sit and wait, for example at a station“Rashid sat in the waiting room at the bus station.”
    confused (adjective)not able to think clearly or understand something“Rashid felt confused because two people gave him different answers.”
    board (noun)a flat surface on a wall that shows information“He looked at the board to find the bus times.”
    explain (verb)to tell someone about something so they can understand it“Rashid explained his problem to the worker at the desk.”
    correct (adjective)right; without any mistakes“He wanted to find the correct bus number.”
    information desk (noun)a place at a station or building where you can ask for help“Rashid walked to the information desk to ask for help.”
    surprised (adjective)feeling something you did not expect“Rashid looked surprised when the woman gave him different information.”
    worried (adjective)feeling nervous or unhappy because you are not sure about something“He felt a little worried because he could not read the board.”

    Useful phrases

    • Excuse me — used to politely get someone's attention“"Excuse me," said Rashid. "Which bus goes to the city center?"”
    • How can I help you? — a polite question asking what someone needs“The worker at the desk said, "How can I help you?"”
    • Are you sure? — used to check if someone is certain about what they said“"Are you sure?" Rashid asked the woman.”
    • I don't know what to think — used when you feel confused and cannot decide something“Rashid did not know what to think after he heard two different answers.”
    • find the right answer — to discover the correct information“Rashid decided to find the right answer by going to the information desk.”
    • shook her head — moved her head from side to side to show disagreement“The woman shook her head and said bus number five was wrong.”
    • Of course! — used to say yes in a friendly and willing way“"Of course! How can I help you?" said the worker.”
    • ready for — prepared and able to do something“Rashid felt happy and ready for his trip.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1IYOSOVMUWNNDIRH
    2DNBHKZOUNORHBOA
    3URFJVFKAYARIFRL
    4QLWOOKIOOSNRCXR
    5HEWKRZGBTOVXIVD
    6ZLIABMYOYGYHZEP
    7QOTHIIANXDEEXID
    8FMCTJTCTIQECQDV
    9ABEVREIOIAUIBAS
    10OYRFJSENNOLTOCQ
    11OORCBAGUGFNPVQH
    12OCOBJFGNORUDXFA
    13NNCWYRLFQLOSEEW
    14CSURPRISEDZOESS
    15IJTSLRXYVVXNMDK

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where was Rashid at the start of the story?

      • A) At an airport
      • B) At a bus station waiting room
      • C) At a hotel
      • D) At a train station
    2. What did the man tell Rashid?

      • A) Take bus number nine
      • B) Take bus number five
      • C) Take bus number two
      • D) Take bus number one
    3. What did the old woman tell Rashid?

      • A) Bus number five goes to the city center
      • B) Bus number nine goes to the city center
      • C) Bus number two goes to the city center
      • D) Bus number five is the right bus
    4. Why did Rashid feel confused?

      • A) The bus was very late
      • B) Two people gave him different bus numbers
      • C) He could not find the information desk
      • D) He lost his ticket
    5. What does the word 'confused' mean in this story?

      • A) Very happy and excited
      • B) Angry at someone
      • C) Not able to think clearly because of different information
      • D) Tired after a long journey
    6. Where did Rashid go to find the correct answer?

      • A) He asked the old woman again
      • B) He went to the information desk
      • C) He called a friend
      • D) He looked at the board again
    7. What does 'information desk' mean?

      • A) A place where you eat food
      • B) A desk where you buy tickets
      • C) A desk where you leave your bags
      • D) A place where you can ask for help and get information
    8. The man gave Rashid the wrong bus number on purpose. True or False?

      • A) True
      • B) Not stated
      • C) False
      • D) Not mentioned
    9. Which bus goes to the city center?

      • A) Bus number two
      • B) Bus number nine
      • C) Bus number one
      • D) Bus number five
    10. How did Rashid feel at the end of the story?

      • A) Happy and ready for his trip
      • B) Tired and confused
      • C) Worried and sad
      • D) Angry at the worker

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. B 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. C 6. B 7. D 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.

    board: H5 ↗ · confused: G8 ↘ · correct: C13 ↑ · explain: N13 ↖ · information desk: A1 ↘ · surprised: B14 → · waiting room: C5 ↘ · worried: I1 ↘

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: handling conflicting information from two people

    Two Answers, One Truth

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Rashid arrived at the bus station with his travel bag and settled into a seat in the waiting room. He needed to reach the city center, but the departure board was cluttered with numbers and times that made little sense to him. A middle-aged man sitting nearby noticed his uncertainty and offered some unsolicited advice. "You want bus number five," the man said confidently. "It leaves from platform two in about twenty minutes." Rashid thanked him and felt a wave of relief wash over him. However, just as he relaxed, an elderly woman took the seat beside him and struck up a conversation. When she learned where Rashid was heading, she frowned and said, "Bus number five?

    No, that won't take you to the city center. You need bus number nine." Rashid looked from one person to the other, suddenly uncertain about everything. The conflicting information left Rashid in an awkward position. Both people seemed confident, and neither appeared to be deliberately misleading him. He considered simply choosing one answer and hoping for the best, but the thought of boarding the wrong bus and wasting time was enough to push him into action. He politely excused himself and made his way to the information desk at the far end of the waiting room, where a staff member was reviewing something on a computer screen. "I've been given two different answers about which bus goes to the city center," Rashid explained, "and I'd rather get the correct information before I board." The worker smiled sympathetically, clearly familiar with this kind of situation.

    After checking the system, the worker provided a clear explanation that resolved the confusion. "Bus number five does serve the city," she said, "but it terminates at the northern district, not the center. Bus number nine is the one that goes all the way to the city center." Rashid realized that the man had not been wrong exactly, but had simply assumed that the northern district was Rashid's destination. The woman, who apparently used this route regularly, had understood his needs more precisely. Rashid thanked the worker and returned to his seat with a sense of satisfaction. When bus number nine was announced, he boarded calmly and found himself reflecting on a simple but useful lesson: when two people give you conflicting information, the wisest thing to do is always seek a reliable third source.

    Key vocabulary

    conflicting (adjective)describes information or opinions that disagree with each other“The conflicting information from two passengers left Rashid unsure which bus to take.”
    unsolicited (adjective)given without being asked for“The man offered unsolicited advice about which bus Rashid should take.”
    departure board (noun)a screen or board at a station showing times and platforms for buses or trains leaving“Rashid studied the departure board but found it difficult to understand.”
    terminate (verb)to end a journey at a particular stop or place“Bus number five terminates at the northern district, not the city center.”
    sympathetically (adverb)in a way that shows understanding and care for someone's situation“The worker smiled sympathetically when she heard about Rashid's confusion.”
    deliberately (adverb)done on purpose, with intention“Neither passenger was deliberately misleading Rashid; they simply had different knowledge.”
    resolve (verb)to find a solution to a problem or to end a disagreement“The worker's explanation resolved the confusion Rashid had been feeling.”
    reliable (adjective)consistently good and able to be trusted“Rashid decided to find a reliable source of information at the official desk.”

    Useful phrases

    • struck up a conversation — started talking to someone, often in a casual or unexpected way“The elderly woman struck up a conversation with Rashid in the waiting room.”
    • hoping for the best — accepting a situation and expecting a good outcome despite uncertainty“Rashid considered simply choosing one answer and hoping for the best.”
    • made his way to — moved towards a particular place, often with some effort or purpose“Rashid made his way to the information desk at the end of the waiting room.”
    • I'd rather — used to express a preference for one thing over another“"I'd rather get the correct information before I board," said Rashid.”
    • all the way to — the complete distance to a destination without stopping short“Bus number nine goes all the way to the city center.”
    • reflecting on — thinking carefully and seriously about something, especially a past experience“Rashid found himself reflecting on a useful lesson about seeking reliable information.”
    • seek a reliable source — to look for trustworthy information from an official or knowledgeable person“When two people disagree, it is wise to seek a reliable source.”
    • a wave of relief — a sudden strong feeling that a worry or problem has gone away“Rashid felt a wave of relief when the man first told him which bus to take.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1KEVLCXKHOUOPYWK
    2ENNRDOHGPNEBLTO
    3AEVQEGNITSEEEPQ
    4NLCPPEVFIOVNTPS
    5RBQJARTRLLWSAZW
    6BADNRJUAOIUKRSR
    7IITJTHDSNCCCEGL
    8DLIKUVERJIRTBLS
    9OEXJRRXAATMZIGB
    10URQXETZNOENRLNG
    11WNPSBWSSDDDEEVG
    12OIOGODBZAHOXDTL
    13SYMPATHETICALLY
    14HKDERVVBJTAJMOA
    15TDMKDNTKVQHKZDA

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Rashid find the departure board difficult to use?

      • A) It was broken and not working
      • B) It was too far away to read
      • C) It only showed train times, not bus times
      • D) It was cluttered with numbers and times that were hard to understand
    2. What does 'unsolicited advice' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) Advice that came from an official source
      • B) Advice that was asked for and expected
      • C) Advice that was rude and unhelpful
      • D) Advice that was given without being asked for
    3. Why did Rashid decide to go to the information desk instead of just choosing one answer?

      • A) He could not find his seat in the waiting room
      • B) The woman told him to go there
      • C) He was worried about boarding the wrong bus and wasting time
      • D) He wanted to buy a new ticket
    4. What was the key difference between bus number five and bus number nine?

      • A) Bus five went to the city center and bus nine did not
      • B) Bus five terminated at the northern district while bus nine went to the city center
      • C) Bus five was faster than bus nine
      • D) Bus nine only ran in the evenings
    5. The man was deliberately trying to mislead Rashid. True or False?

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

      • A) To cancel a bus route permanently
      • B) To end a journey at a particular stop
      • C) To start a journey from a particular place
      • D) To change direction during a journey
    7. Why had the elderly woman given more accurate information than the man?

      • A) She worked at the bus station
      • B) She had read the departure board carefully
      • C) She had asked the information desk before speaking to Rashid
      • D) She used the route regularly and understood where Rashid needed to go
    8. What lesson did Rashid reflect on at the end of the story?

      • A) When two people give conflicting information, seek a reliable third source
      • B) It is better to travel alone than to ask for help
      • C) Always sit near the information desk at a bus station
      • D) Departure boards are more reliable than people
    9. What does 'sympathetically' mean as used in the story?

      • A) In a confused and uncertain way
      • B) In a professional and formal way
      • C) In a way that shows understanding and care
      • D) In an impatient and hurried way
    10. Rashid boarded his bus feeling anxious and unsure. True or False?

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

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    conflicting: E1 ↘ · deliberately: M12 ↑ · departure board: E2 ↓ · reliable: B10 ↑ · resolve: F9 ↗ · sympathetically: A13 → · terminate: N12 ↖ · unsolicited: J1 ↓

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/rashid-asks-for-help-2026-06-12