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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: dealing with a noise complaint

    Sana and the Noisy Shop

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Sana worked at a bike rental shop. The shop was on a busy street. Every day, she opened the shop at eight o'clock. She checked all the bikes and made sure they were clean. The shop had ten bikes. Some bikes were big and some were small. Sana liked her job very much. She was always friendly to the customers. She helped them choose the right bike. She showed them how to use the helmet. The shop was usually quiet in the morning. But today was different. A man came in at nine o'clock. He looked worried. He said, "Excuse me, I need to talk to you." Sana smiled and said, "Of course! How can I help?"

    The man's name was Tom. He lived next door to the shop. He said, "Your shop is very noisy today." Sana was surprised. She said, "I am sorry to hear that. What is the problem?" Tom said, "There is a loud machine near the window." Sana listened carefully. She could hear a strange noise. It was coming from the back of the shop. She walked to the back and looked around. She saw an old fan. The fan was very loud. It was making a rattling sound. She turned off the fan. The noise stopped right away. She walked back to Tom and said, "I found the problem. It was an old fan." Tom looked happy. He said, "Thank you so much!" Sana said, "I am very sorry about the noise."

    Sana decided to fix the problem for good. She called her manager and explained everything. Her manager said, "Well done, Sana. Please order a new fan today." Sana wrote it down in her notebook. Then she went back to help Tom. She said, "We will get a new fan very soon." Tom smiled and said, "That is great news. Thank you for listening." Sana felt happy. She liked helping people. After Tom left, a new customer came in. The customer wanted to rent a bike. Sana helped her choose a good one. She checked the tires and the brakes. She gave the customer a helmet. The customer rode away happily. Sana watched her and smiled. It was a good day at the bike rental shop.

    Key vocabulary

    complaint (noun)a statement that something is wrong or not good“Tom made a complaint about the loud noise.”
    noisy (adjective)making a lot of loud or unpleasant sound“The old fan was very noisy.”
    rattling (adjective)making a series of short, hard sounds“The rattling sound came from the old fan.”
    customer (noun)a person who buys or uses a service“A new customer came in to rent a bike.”
    helmet (noun)a hard hat that protects your head“Sana gave the customer a helmet before she rode away.”
    manager (noun)a person who is in charge of a place or a team“Sana called her manager to explain the problem.”
    tire (noun)the rubber part around a wheel“Sana checked the tires on the bike.”
    explained (verb)told someone about something clearly“She explained the noise problem to her manager.”

    Useful phrases

    • How can I help? — used to offer assistance to someone“Sana smiled and said, "How can I help?"”
    • I am sorry to hear that — used to show you feel bad about someone's problem“Sana said, "I am sorry to hear that" when Tom complained.”
    • right away — immediately; without any delay“The noise stopped right away when Sana turned off the fan.”
    • I found the problem — used to say you have discovered what is wrong“Sana said, "I found the problem. It was an old fan."”
    • for good — permanently; in a way that will not change“Sana wanted to fix the noise problem for good.”
    • Well done — used to praise someone for doing something good“The manager said, "Well done, Sana."”
    • Thank you for listening — used to thank someone for paying attention to your problem“Tom said, "Thank you for listening" to Sana.”
    • make sure — to check that something is correct or done properly“Every day, Sana made sure the bikes were clean.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJK
    1WCUSTOMERIT
    2UMZFZQRZJSL
    3GCOMPLAINTE
    4RVKFRSHHNXS
    5OAZKGEACPVI
    6HITYPFGLZKA
    7OEDTSPAARSH
    8SSLLLIUNNGL
    9STIMNIOLKAL
    10USREEPNNSJM
    11JODMJTMGXZD

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where did Sana work?

      • A) A bike rental shop
      • B) A school
      • C) A coffee shop
      • D) A hotel
    2. What time did Sana open the shop?

      • A) Seven o'clock
      • B) Nine o'clock
      • C) Eight o'clock
      • D) Ten o'clock
    3. Why did Tom come into the shop?

      • A) To meet Sana
      • B) To rent a bike
      • C) To buy a helmet
      • D) To complain about noise
    4. What was making the loud noise?

      • A) An old fan
      • B) A loud customer
      • C) A broken bike
      • D) A machine outside
    5. What does the word 'rattling' mean in the story?

      • A) Smelling bad
      • B) Very quiet
      • C) Moving very fast
      • D) Making a series of short, hard sounds
    6. What did Sana do to stop the noise?

      • A) She closed the window
      • B) She asked Tom to leave
      • C) She called the police
      • D) She turned off the fan
    7. What did Sana's manager tell her to do?

      • A) Order a new fan
      • B) Move the old fan outside
      • C) Close the shop
      • D) Call Tom back
    8. Sana gave the new customer a helmet before she rode away.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) True
      • D) False
    9. What does 'for good' mean in this story?

      • A) For a short time
      • B) Permanently
      • C) Very well
      • D) For a good reason
    10. Tom lived next door to the bike rental shop.

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

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    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.

    complaint: B3 → · customer: B1 → · explained: K3 ↙ · helmet: A6 ↘ · manager: K10 ↖ · noisy: H10 ↖ · rattling: A4 ↘ · tire: K1 ←

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: dealing with a noise complaint

    Sana Handles the Complaint

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Sana had been working at the bike rental shop for almost two years, and she prided herself on running a smooth, welcoming operation. She arrived early each morning to inspect the bicycles, check the brakes, and make sure the shop floor was tidy before the first customers arrived. One Tuesday morning, however, her routine was interrupted when a man named Tom walked in, looking tense and slightly agitated. "I live next door," he said, crossing his arms, "and I have to tell you, the noise coming from this place is completely unbearable." Sana kept her expression calm and professional, even though she was caught off guard by the sharpness of his tone. She stepped out from behind the counter, gave a polite nod, and replied, "I'm really sorry to hear that, Tom. Let me look into it immediately." She wanted him to feel heard, because she understood that a neighbor's goodwill was just as important as a customer's satisfaction.

    Sana walked through the shop, listening carefully, and it did not take her long to identify the source of the problem. At the back of the storage room, an old industrial fan had developed a fault and was producing a persistent, grinding rattle that vibrated through the shared wall. She switched it off without hesitation, and the sudden silence was a relief to them both. Returning to Tom, she explained what she had found and sincerely apologized for the disturbance. "I appreciate you coming in to let us know," she added, "rather than just getting frustrated on your own." Tom's posture visibly relaxed, and he admitted that he had expected the situation to turn into an argument. Sana reassured him that it would not happen again, and she meant it.

    As soon as Tom left, Sana called her manager and gave a clear account of everything that had happened, recommending that the old fan be replaced as a matter of priority. Her manager agreed without hesitation and praised her for handling the situation so calmly and professionally. Sana ordered a replacement fan that same afternoon and placed a temporary sign near the storage room reminding staff not to use the old equipment. By the time the shop was busy with customers renting bikes for the afternoon, everything felt settled and orderly again. A new customer arrived asking for a bike suitable for a long coastal path, and Sana helped her choose one with confidence and care. As the customer rode off, Sana felt a quiet sense of satisfaction, not just from resolving a difficult moment, but from turning it into an opportunity to strengthen the shop's reputation.

    Key vocabulary

    agitated (adjective)feeling anxious, nervous, or upset about something“Tom walked in looking tense and slightly agitated.”
    persistent (adjective)continuing for a long time without stopping“The fan was producing a persistent, grinding rattle.”
    disturbance (noun)something that interrupts peace, quiet, or normal activity“Sana apologized sincerely for the disturbance caused by the fan.”
    priority (noun)something that is considered more important than other things“Sana recommended replacing the old fan as a matter of priority.”
    reputation (noun)the general opinion that people have about someone or something“Sana wanted to strengthen the shop's reputation by handling problems well.”
    unbearable (adjective)too unpleasant, painful, or difficult to deal with“Tom said the noise coming from the shop was completely unbearable.”
    fault (noun)a problem or defect that stops something from working correctly“The old fan had developed a fault and was making a loud rattling sound.”
    hesitation (noun)a pause before doing or saying something, often due to uncertainty“Sana switched off the faulty fan without hesitation.”

    Useful phrases

    • let me look into it — used to say you will investigate or find out more about a problem“Sana said, "Let me look into it immediately" when Tom complained.”
    • as a matter of priority — urgently; before other things because it is very important“Sana recommended replacing the fan as a matter of priority.”
    • caught off guard — surprised by something you were not expecting“Sana was caught off guard by the sharpness of Tom's tone.”
    • I appreciate you coming in — used to thank someone politely for making the effort to do something“Sana said, "I appreciate you coming in to let us know."”
    • handle the situation — to deal with a problem or difficult event in an effective way“The manager praised Sana for handling the situation calmly.”
    • give a clear account of — to explain something in a detailed and organized way“Sana gave her manager a clear account of what had happened.”
    • turn into an opportunity — to change a negative situation into something positive or useful“Sana turned the noise complaint into an opportunity to improve the shop's reputation.”
    • prided herself on — felt pleased and satisfied about something she did well“Sana prided herself on running a smooth, welcoming operation.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLM
    1ZMXUNBEARABLE
    2TNETSISREPANQ
    3RDCZCQYARPCBK
    4HVIDQDGDANQXO
    5EBISAIIDOBEIB
    6REPUTATIONIYM
    7JUDAVUTEEHTSP
    8GYTNTARAHIIGP
    9MEGETLJBRUHSM
    10DYHIVWUOAONQT
    11RLSOGEIANNMBG
    12YEYWHRFQFXCTO
    13HWZNPLMHGXGEI

    Comprehension quiz

    1. How long had Sana been working at the bike rental shop?

      • A) About six months
      • B) Almost two years
      • C) More than five years
      • D) Just a few weeks
    2. What was the source of the noise that disturbed Tom?

      • A) A broken bicycle
      • B) A customer arguing in the shop
      • C) A delivery vehicle outside
      • D) An old industrial fan
    3. What does 'agitated' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Calm and happy
      • B) Feeling anxious or upset
      • C) Very tired
      • D) Polite and friendly
    4. How did Sana feel when Tom first spoke to her sharply?

      • A) She asked him to leave
      • B) She became angry
      • C) She was caught off guard but stayed calm
      • D) She immediately called her manager
    5. What did Sana do after switching off the fan?

      • A) She moved the fan to another room
      • B) She explained what she found and apologized to Tom
      • C) She called the manager before speaking to Tom
      • D) She told Tom the problem was not her fault
    6. Tom had expected the situation to turn into an argument.

      • A) False
      • B) True
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    7. What does 'persistent' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) Easy to fix
      • B) Continuing for a long time without stopping
      • C) Very loud and sudden
      • D) Coming from outside the building
    8. What did Sana place near the storage room after the incident?

      • A) A new fan
      • B) A lock on the door
      • C) A temporary sign warning staff not to use the old equipment
      • D) A notice for customers
    9. Sana's manager criticized her for not solving the problem faster.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    10. According to the story, why did Sana feel satisfied at the end of the day?

      • A) Because Tom became a regular customer
      • B) Because she sold the most bikes ever
      • C) Because her manager gave her a promotion
      • D) Because she resolved a difficult moment and strengthened the shop's reputation

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    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.

    agitated: H3 ↙ · disturbance: B3 ↘ · fault: I12 ↖ · hesitation: A13 ↗ · persistent: J2 ← · priority: E13 ↗ · reputation: A6 → · unbearable: D1 →

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/sana-and-the-noisy-shop-2026-09-09