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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: asking for a refund at a store

    Sakura Asks for a Refund at the Night Market

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Sakura went to the night market on Saturday evening. She loved the bright lights and the smell of food. There were many stalls selling clothes, food, and small gifts. Sakura stopped at a stall that sold bags. She saw a small blue bag and thought it was very nice. The price was good, so she decided to buy it. She paid for the bag and put it in her hand. She was very happy. She walked around the market and looked at other stalls. Then she stopped under a light to look at the bag again. She noticed something wrong. There was a broken zipper on the side of the bag. She pulled the zipper, but it did not move. She tried again, but it was stuck. She felt disappointed. She wanted to go back to the stall and get her money back. Sakura walked back to the stall.

    The sales clerk was a young woman with a friendly face. "Excuse me," said Sakura. "I just bought this bag, but the zipper is broken." The sales clerk took the bag and looked at it. "I'm sorry about that," she said. "Can I see your receipt?" Sakura opened her purse and found the receipt. She gave it to the sales clerk. The sales clerk looked at the receipt and nodded. "Yes, you bought this a few minutes ago," she said. "Would you like a new bag or your money back?" Sakura thought for a moment. She looked at the other bags on the table. There were no more blue bags. "I would like my money back, please," said Sakura. "Of course," said the sales clerk. "I'm really sorry for the trouble." She opened the cash box and counted out the money. She gave it to Sakura with a smile. Sakura took the money and said "thank you." Sakura felt much better after she got her refund.

    She put the money back in her purse. The sales clerk was very polite, and Sakura was happy with how the situation went. She walked back into the market and enjoyed the rest of her evening. She tried some food at another stall. It was hot and delicious. She also saw a small red bag at a different stall. She looked at the zipper carefully this time. It worked perfectly. She smiled and decided to buy it. The new bag was good quality. She paid for it and put her things inside. The night market was busy and fun. Sakura walked home slowly and felt satisfied. It was a good evening in the end. She knew now that it was always okay to ask for a refund when something was wrong.

    Key vocabulary

    refund (noun)money that is given back to you when you return something you bought“Sakura asked for a refund because the bag was broken.”
    stall (noun)a small table or stand where things are sold, often at a market“She stopped at a stall that sold bags and clothes.”
    zipper (noun)a fastener with two rows of small teeth used to open and close bags or clothes“The zipper on the bag was broken and would not move.”
    receipt (noun)a piece of paper that shows you have paid for something“The sales clerk asked Sakura to show her receipt.”
    disappointed (adjective)feeling sad because something was not as good as you hoped“Sakura felt disappointed when she saw the broken zipper.”
    polite (adjective)behaving in a way that is respectful and kind to others“The sales clerk was very polite and apologized right away.”
    quality (noun)how good or bad something is“The new bag was good quality, so Sakura was happy to buy it.”
    satisfied (adjective)pleased because something happened the way you wanted“Sakura walked home feeling satisfied after a good evening.”

    Useful phrases

    • ask for a refund — to request your money back after buying something“She decided to ask for a refund because the zipper was broken.”
    • I just bought this — used to say you purchased something very recently“"I just bought this bag, but there is a problem with it."”
    • Can I see your receipt? — a request to show proof of purchase“The sales clerk said, "Can I see your receipt?"”
    • I'm sorry for the trouble — an apology for causing problems or inconvenience“"I'm really sorry for the trouble," said the sales clerk.”
    • Would you like ... or ...? — used to offer someone a choice between two options“"Would you like a new bag or your money back?"”
    • get your money back — to receive a refund after returning a product“Sakura wanted to get her money back for the broken bag.”
    • in the end — used to say what finally happened after a situation“It was a good evening in the end, even with the broken bag.”
    • look at ... carefully — to examine something closely and with attention“She looked at the zipper carefully before buying the new bag.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1XXEFJBBLSHIUXI
    2YRTJZDFTYZMYKX
    3QUMHLQACYISCPO
    4ZZLBYLXETPXNSZ
    5GAMPLTXTTPBNLL
    6KYOOKXEPFECLNH
    7EREFUNDIMRHDVV
    8LACPOJQEEOLNCW
    9LFMUZRNCJTAVKF
    10SATISFIEDQICOP
    11ABPKWRYRKFALZL
    12QUALITYWVKHIOI
    13DETNIOPPASIDZP
    14HMXDTARGDMZUWP

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where did Sakura go on Saturday evening?

      • A) A shopping mall
      • B) A night market
      • C) A grocery store
      • D) A restaurant
    2. What did Sakura buy at the stall?

      • A) A black bag
      • B) A blue bag
      • C) A red bag
      • D) A green bag
    3. What was wrong with the bag?

      • A) The bag was too small
      • B) The handle was torn
      • C) The color was wrong
      • D) The zipper was broken
    4. What did the sales clerk ask Sakura to show?

      • A) Her ID
      • B) Her phone
      • C) Her purse
      • D) Her receipt
    5. Why didn't Sakura choose a new bag?

      • A) The new bags were too expensive
      • B) There were no more blue bags
      • C) The sales clerk didn't offer one
      • D) She didn't like the other colors
    6. The word "disappointed" means feeling sad because something was not as good as you hoped. True or false?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    7. What did Sakura check carefully before buying the second bag?

      • A) The zipper
      • B) The size
      • C) The color
      • D) The price
    8. How did the sales clerk behave when Sakura returned the bag?

      • A) She asked Sakura to come back later
      • B) She ignored Sakura
      • C) She was polite and apologized
      • D) She was rude and unhelpful
    9. A "stall" is a large store inside a shopping center. True or false?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not mentioned
    10. How did Sakura feel at the end of the evening?

      • A) Worried
      • B) Satisfied
      • C) Bored
      • D) Angry

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    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.

    disappointed: L13 ← · polite: N13 ↖ · quality: A12 → · receipt: H11 ↑ · refund: B7 → · satisfied: A10 → · stall: I1 ↙ · zipper: J2 ↓

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: asking for a refund at a store

    Sakura's Refund Request at the Night Market

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Sakura had been looking forward to the night market all week. The stalls were packed with colorful goods, and the warm glow of the lights made everything feel exciting. She paused at a bag stall, where a small blue bag caught her eye immediately. The price seemed reasonable, so she paid without hesitation and continued browsing the market. A few minutes later, she stepped under a bright light and noticed that the zipper on the side of the bag was completely jammed. She tried pulling it in both directions, but it refused to budge. Feeling frustrated, she tucked the receipt into her purse and headed back to the stall, determined to resolve the problem.

    The sales clerk, a young woman with an open and friendly manner, listened carefully as Sakura explained the issue. "I'm really sorry about that," the clerk said, examining the zipper with a quick frown. "Do you have your receipt with you?" Sakura handed it over, and the clerk confirmed the purchase had been made just minutes earlier. "I can offer you an exchange or a full refund, whichever you prefer," the clerk said. Sakura glanced at the remaining bags on the table, but there were no more in the color she wanted. "A refund would be great, thank you," she replied calmly. The clerk counted out the money from the cash box, handed it over with a genuine apology, and Sakura thanked her before stepping back into the busy market.

    With the refund safely in her purse, Sakura felt relieved that the situation had been handled so smoothly. She wandered further through the market, stopping to try some food at a nearby stall. Later, a red bag at a different stall caught her attention. Before making any decision, she tested the zipper twice, checked the stitching along the seams, and made sure the straps were secure. Satisfied that the bag was well made, she bought it without hesitation. As she made her way home through the thinning crowd, she reflected on the evening with quiet satisfaction. The experience had reminded her that speaking up politely about a faulty product almost always leads to a fair outcome.

    Key vocabulary

    jammed (adjective)stuck and unable to move properly“The zipper was completely jammed and refused to open.”
    hesitation (noun)a pause before doing something, often because of doubt or uncertainty“She paid for the bag without hesitation because the price was good.”
    exchange (noun)the act of returning a product and receiving a different one instead“The clerk offered Sakura an exchange or a full refund.”
    genuine (adjective)truly felt or meant; sincere“The sales clerk offered a genuine apology for the faulty bag.”
    faulty (adjective)not working correctly because of a defect“Speaking up about a faulty product usually leads to a fair outcome.”
    stitching (noun)the lines of thread used to sew pieces of material together“Sakura checked the stitching on the bag to make sure it was strong.”
    resolve (verb)to find a solution to a problem“She went back to the stall, determined to resolve the problem quickly.”
    outcome (noun)the result or effect of a situation or action“Being polite about the problem led to a fair outcome.”

    Useful phrases

    • catch one's eye — to attract someone's attention“A small blue bag caught her eye immediately at the stall.”
    • refuse to budge — to be completely stuck and not move at all“She pulled the zipper in both directions, but it refused to budge.”
    • handle a situation smoothly — to deal with a problem easily and without difficulty“Sakura felt relieved that the situation had been handled so smoothly.”
    • whichever you prefer — used to let someone choose freely between options“"I can offer you an exchange or a full refund, whichever you prefer."”
    • speak up about something — to say something confidently, especially to raise a concern“The experience reminded her that speaking up about a faulty product is always worth it.”
    • make one's way — to travel or move toward a place, often slowly or with effort“She made her way home through the thinning crowd.”
    • look forward to something — to feel excited and happy about a future event“Sakura had been looking forward to the night market all week.”
    • a full refund — the return of the complete amount of money paid for a product“The sales clerk offered her a full refund for the broken bag.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKL
    1GOHGCBYXJRST
    2ENQDQOCKYEWY
    3NDOGIIYSXSRM
    4UYEIORZCWONP
    5ITIMTUHLFLRD
    6NLLKMATDNVYK
    7EUVHNATCFEZG
    8NAOGZIJIOSKO
    9NFEYGRBXSMSK
    10GNIHCTITSEED
    11IIAGLCWDBXHM
    12LKAVMVGQFHSQ

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What first attracted Sakura to the bag stall?

      • A) A small blue bag that caught her eye
      • B) The large variety of colors available
      • C) A sign advertising a sale
      • D) A sales clerk who called out to her
    2. Why did Sakura go back to the stall?

      • A) The zipper on her bag was jammed
      • B) She had left her purse there
      • C) She wanted to buy a second bag
      • D) She had been given the wrong change
    3. What does the word "faulty" mean in the context of the story?

      • A) Not working correctly because of a defect
      • B) Old and out of fashion
      • C) Expensive and overpriced
      • D) Too small to be useful
    4. What two options did the sales clerk offer Sakura?

      • A) A replacement or a gift card
      • B) An exchange or a full refund
      • C) A new zipper or a different bag
      • D) A discount or a store credit
    5. Why didn't Sakura choose an exchange?

      • A) There were no more bags in the color she wanted
      • B) The exchange policy required extra paperwork
      • C) The other bags were more expensive
      • D) The clerk said an exchange was not possible
    6. Sakura bought the second bag without checking it first. True or false?

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    7. What does the phrase "refuse to budge" mean?

      • A) To move quickly and easily
      • B) To break apart completely
      • C) To open in the wrong direction
      • D) To be stuck and not move at all
    8. How did the sales clerk respond when Sakura explained the problem?

      • A) She offered a discount instead of a refund
      • B) She listened carefully and apologized sincerely
      • C) She accused Sakura of causing the damage
      • D) She asked Sakura to return the next day
    9. What lesson did Sakura take away from the experience?

      • A) Speaking up politely about a faulty product usually leads to a fair outcome
      • B) Sales clerks are always willing to give refunds
      • C) It is better to check items before paying
      • D) Night markets rarely sell good quality products
    10. The word "genuine" means truly felt or sincere. True or false?

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

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    exchange: J2 ↙ · faulty: B9 ↑ · genuine: A1 ↓ · hesitation: K11 ↖ · jammed: G8 ↖ · outcome: E4 ↘ · resolve: J1 ↓ · stitching: I10 ←

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/sakura-asks-for-a-refund-at-the-night-market-2026-10-27