Worksheet for teachers and learners: both levels, with quiz and answer key. Free to print and share in class.

    ← Back to story

    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: helping a stranger find their way

    The Lost Visitor

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Priya worked in a big, busy office. Every day, many people came to the building. There were workers, visitors, and delivery people everywhere. The office had five floors and many rooms. It was easy to get lost in the building. Priya sat at her desk on the third floor. She liked her job very much. She was friendly and always smiled at people. One morning, she arrived at work early. She made herself a cup of tea and started her day. The office was already noisy and full of people. She opened her computer and began to read her emails.

    A few minutes later, Priya heard a voice behind her. She turned around and saw a man. He looked worried and confused. He held a piece of paper in his hand. "Excuse me, can you help me?" he asked. "I need to find Room 3B, but I am lost." Priya smiled at him. "Of course, I can help you," she said. She stood up from her chair. She looked at the paper in his hand. It was a letter about a meeting. "Room 3B is on this floor," she told him. "Follow me, please."

    Priya walked with the man down a long hallway. She showed him the numbers on each door. "This is Room 3A," she said. "And the next one is Room 3B." The man smiled and looked very happy. "Thank you so much," he said. "I was very worried about being late." "You are not late," Priya said. "Your meeting starts in ten minutes." The man thanked her again. Priya walked back to her desk. She felt good because she helped someone. It was a nice way to start her morning.

    Key vocabulary

    busy (adjective)full of people and activity“The office is very busy in the morning.”
    visitor (noun)a person who comes to a place for a short time“A visitor came to the office for a meeting.”
    confused (adjective)not able to understand or think clearly“He looked confused because he did not know where to go.”
    worried (adjective)feeling that something bad might happen“She was worried about being late for work.”
    hallway (noun)a long narrow area inside a building with doors on each side“They walked down the hallway to find the room.”
    floor (noun)a level of a building“The meeting room is on the third floor.”
    follow (verb)to go behind or after someone“"Follow me, please," she said.”
    arrive (verb)to get to a place“She arrived at work early today.”
    lost (adjective)not knowing where you are or where to go“The man was lost in the big building.”
    meeting (noun)a time when people come together to talk about something“His meeting starts in ten minutes.”

    Useful phrases

    • get lost — to not know where you are“It is easy to get lost in a big building.”
    • excuse me — a polite way to get someone's attention“"Excuse me, can you help me?" the man asked.”
    • of course — yes, certainly“"Of course, I can help you," Priya said.”
    • follow me — come with me, walk behind me“"Follow me, please," she told the visitor.”
    • thank you so much — a strong way to say thank you“"Thank you so much for your help," he said.”
    • start the day — to begin doing things in the morning“She made tea and started her day.”

    Word search

    Find all 10 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJ
    1QFGHALLWAY
    2RLNILERMWT
    3OOIWAXAOQD
    4TOTDSRLYEL
    5IREPELRSLA
    6SIEUOIUIIE
    7IEMFBFRCVZ
    8VCNHNUDRDE
    9XTLOSTSDOO
    10FVCLLEBYTW

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where did Priya work?

      • A) In a hospital
      • B) In a busy office
      • C) In a small shop
      • D) In a school
    2. On which floor did Priya sit?

      • A) The fifth floor
      • B) The first floor
      • C) The third floor
      • D) The second floor
    3. What does the word "confused" mean in the story?

      • A) Tired and sleepy
      • B) Happy and excited
      • C) Not able to understand clearly
      • D) Angry and upset
    4. What did the man hold in his hand?

      • A) A map
      • B) A phone
      • C) A piece of paper
      • D) A book
    5. Priya was unfriendly to the visitor. True or false?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True
    6. What room was the man looking for?

      • A) Room 5B
      • B) Room 1B
      • C) Room 3B
      • D) Room 3A
    7. What does the word "hallway" mean?

      • A) A big room for meetings
      • B) A long narrow area inside a building
      • C) The outside of a building
      • D) A place to eat lunch
    8. How did Priya feel after helping the man?

      • A) She felt sad
      • B) She felt tired
      • C) She felt angry
      • D) She felt good
    9. The man had a meeting on a different floor. True or false?

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

      • A) To sleep
      • B) To leave a place
      • C) To get to a place
      • D) To lose something

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    arrive: E3 ↘ · busy: E7 ↘ · confused: C10 ↗ · floor: B1 ↓ · follow: D7 ↗ · hallway: D1 → · lost: C9 → · meeting: C7 ↑ · visitor: A8 ↑ · worried: J10 ↖

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: helping a stranger find their way

    A Helping Hand on the Third Floor

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Priya had been working at her office for nearly three years, and she knew the building like the back of her hand. The five-storey building was a maze of corridors, meeting rooms, and shared workspaces, and newcomers often struggled to find their way around. Every morning, Priya would settle into her desk on the third floor, organize her tasks for the day, and dive into her work. She had earned a reputation among her colleagues for being approachable and always willing to lend a hand. On this particular morning, the office was even more hectic than usual because several teams were preparing for an important presentation. People were rushing between floors carrying laptops and folders, and the sound of ringing phones filled the air. Priya had just finished reviewing a report when she noticed someone standing near the elevator, looking completely out of place.

    The man was turning his head in every direction, clutching a printed schedule and frowning at the signs on the walls. Priya could tell immediately that he was not a regular employee — his expression was a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. She decided to approach him rather than wait for someone else to step in. "Hi there, you look like you could use some help," she said warmly. The man let out a relieved sigh and explained that he had been wandering the corridors for nearly fifteen minutes, trying to locate Conference Room 3B for a presentation he was supposed to attend. "I've already taken the wrong elevator twice, and every hallway looks the same to me," he admitted with a nervous laugh. Priya reassured him that he was actually very close to his destination and offered to walk him there herself.

    As they made their way through the corridor, Priya pointed out a few landmarks that would help him navigate the building if he ever returned — the water cooler near the staircase, the large window overlooking the courtyard, and the color-coded signs above each doorway. The man listened carefully and seemed genuinely grateful for the extra effort she was making. When they arrived at Conference Room 3B, he turned to her and said, "I really appreciate this — you've saved me from walking in late and flustered." Priya simply smiled and wished him good luck with his presentation. Walking back to her desk, she reflected on how such a small gesture could make a real difference in someone's day. It reminded her that kindness in a busy workplace didn't require grand actions — sometimes, all it took was a moment of attention and a willingness to help.

    Key vocabulary

    maze (noun)a complex network of paths or passages where it is easy to get lost“The office building felt like a maze to anyone visiting for the first time.”
    hectic (adjective)very busy and full of activity, often in a stressful way“The morning was hectic because everyone was preparing for the presentation.”
    approachable (adjective)friendly and easy to talk to“Priya was known for being approachable and helpful.”
    clutching (verb)holding something tightly, often because of nervousness“He was clutching his schedule and looking at the signs on the walls.”
    frustration (noun)a feeling of being upset because you cannot do or achieve something“His face showed a mixture of frustration and embarrassment.”
    reassure (verb)to say or do something to make someone feel less worried“Priya reassured him that he was very close to the right room.”
    navigate (verb)to find your way around a place“She pointed out landmarks to help him navigate the building.”
    landmark (noun)a recognizable feature that helps you know where you are“The water cooler near the staircase was a useful landmark.”
    flustered (adjective)feeling nervous, confused, and unable to think clearly“He didn't want to arrive at the meeting looking flustered.”
    gesture (noun)a small action that shows a feeling or intention“She reflected on how a small gesture could make a real difference.”

    Useful phrases

    • know something like the back of your hand — to know a place or subject extremely well“Priya knew the building like the back of her hand after working there for three years.”
    • lend a hand — to help someone“She was always willing to lend a hand to her colleagues.”
    • out of place — not fitting in or looking uncomfortable in a situation“The man looked completely out of place near the elevator.”
    • step in — to become involved in a situation in order to help“Priya decided to approach him rather than wait for someone else to step in.”
    • make a difference — to have a positive effect on a situation or person“A small gesture of kindness can make a real difference in someone's day.”
    • let out a sigh — to breathe out slowly, often showing relief or tiredness“The man let out a relieved sigh when Priya offered to help.”

    Word search

    Find all 10 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1VLGEETAGIVANSD
    2BZUCPTEOOETTNI
    3XIHELQPRFVJOBI
    4XJELFUEMUZIBRP
    5MFHBRYTZZTZWUL
    6SLGAXELCAOSWJA
    7OUGHUJARHMWEWN
    8MSVCWYTSTIJMGD
    9GTZASSGFSONCAM
    10VEMOUFWBEUKGKA
    11RRSRBGZFZLRJQR
    12MEFPEVETXXYEEK
    13YDCPQLXXIASDAY
    14LHMAUQCITCEHTZ

    Comprehension quiz

    1. How long had Priya been working at the office?

      • A) About one year
      • B) Nearly two years
      • C) Nearly three years
      • D) More than five years
    2. What does the word "hectic" mean in the story?

      • A) Quiet and peaceful
      • B) Slow and boring
      • C) Very busy and stressful
      • D) Dark and cold
    3. Why was the office busier than usual that morning?

      • A) It was the man's first day
      • B) The building was being renovated
      • C) Several teams were preparing for a presentation
      • D) New furniture was being delivered
    4. What does the phrase "out of place" mean?

      • A) Lost outside the building
      • B) Not fitting in or looking uncomfortable
      • C) Standing in the wrong office
      • D) Being late for a meeting
    5. The man had been wandering the corridors for nearly fifteen minutes. True or false?

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    6. What does the word "clutching" suggest about the man's feelings?

      • A) He was happy and excited
      • B) He was nervous or anxious
      • C) He was relaxed and calm
      • D) He was bored and tired
    7. Priya gave the man a map of the building. True or false?

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    8. Which of these was NOT a landmark Priya pointed out?

      • A) The coffee machine on the second floor
      • B) The color-coded signs above doorways
      • C) The large window overlooking the courtyard
      • D) The water cooler near the staircase
    9. What does the word "reassure" mean in the story?

      • A) To give someone directions on a map
      • B) To ask someone a question
      • C) To make someone feel less worried
      • D) To confuse someone further
    10. What lesson did Priya reflect on at the end of the story?

      • A) That visitors should always arrive early
      • B) That big offices need better signs
      • C) That small acts of kindness can make a real difference
      • D) That she should change her job

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    approachable: D14 ↑ · clutching: D2 ↘ · flustered: B5 ↓ · frustration: C12 ↗ · gesture: M8 ↖ · hectic: L14 ← · landmark: N5 ↓ · maze: J7 ↖ · navigate: L1 ← · reassure: E5 ↘

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/the-lost-visitor-2026-04-15