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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: making a polite complaint

    Yara Speaks Up at the Playground

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Yara is a girl who loves the playground. Every afternoon, she goes there with her little brother. They like to sit on the bench and eat a snack. One day, Yara sits down on the bench. She opens her bag and takes out some fruit. Two older boys are sitting nearby. They are playing loud music on a speaker. The music is very loud. Yara cannot hear her brother speak. She feels a little upset. She does not want to be rude. But the noise is too much. She takes a deep breath. She decides to say something polite.

    She thinks carefully about her words. Yara walks over to the boys. She smiles at them. She says, "Excuse me, I am sorry to bother you." One boy looks up at her. He does not say anything at first. Yara speaks again. She says, "Could you please turn the music down a little?" She adds, "My brother and I are trying to eat our snack." The boy looks at his friend. His friend shrugs his shoulders. Then the first boy says, "Oh, sorry about that." He turns the music down. Yara says, "Thank you so much. That is very kind of you." She smiles and goes back to the bench. Her brother smiles too. He is happy the noise is gone. Yara sits back down on the bench.

    She feels good inside. She was polite, and it worked. Her brother says, "You were so brave, Yara!" Yara laughs a little. She says, "It was not so hard. I just asked nicely." They finish their snack together. The afternoon is now quiet and pleasant. The boys keep the music low. Everyone at the playground feels comfortable. Yara learns something important that day. She learns that a polite complaint can solve a problem. You do not need to be angry. You just need to be calm and kind. Yara feels proud of herself. It is a good afternoon at the playground.

    Key vocabulary

    complaint (noun)a statement that something is wrong or not satisfactory“Yara makes a polite complaint about the loud music.”
    polite (adjective)having good manners and being respectful to others“Yara is polite when she talks to the boys.”
    bother (verb)to disturb or cause trouble for someone“She says, "I am sorry to bother you."”
    noise (noun)an unpleasant or very loud sound“The noise from the speaker is too loud for Yara.”
    brave (adjective)not afraid to do something difficult or scary“Yara's brother says she is brave for speaking up.”
    calm (adjective)not excited, angry, or upset; peaceful“Yara stays calm when she talks to the boys.”
    pleasant (adjective)nice and enjoyable“The afternoon is quiet and pleasant after the music is turned down.”
    proud (adjective)feeling happy because you did something well“Yara feels proud of herself at the end of the day.”

    Useful phrases

    • Excuse me — a polite way to get someone's attention“Yara says, "Excuse me," before she makes her complaint.”
    • I am sorry to bother you — a polite phrase used when you may be disturbing someone“She says, "I am sorry to bother you," to show she is respectful.”
    • Could you please — a polite way to make a request“She asks, "Could you please turn the music down?"”
    • turn something down — to reduce the volume or level of something“The boy turns the music down after Yara asks.”
    • Thank you so much — a warm and grateful way to say thank you“Yara says, "Thank you so much" when the boy helps her.”
    • speak up — to say what you think or feel, especially when it is difficult“Yara decides to speak up about the loud music.”
    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly to help yourself feel calm“Yara takes a deep breath before she talks to the boys.”
    • ask nicely — to make a request in a polite and friendly way“Yara says, "I just asked nicely," and it worked.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJK
    1SPABELLMTBN
    2CGRVTQLNSNZ
    3COAOCMAHOLY
    4KRMTUSJICOA
    5BRTPADSZAVS
    6EEEELEJBLDM
    7WKLHKAJEMZW
    8NPHWTSIGWTG
    9TMYFOODNZKA
    10ASYMOLBRTBU
    11POLITEPMJSO

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does Yara go every afternoon?

      • A) To the playground
      • B) To school
      • C) To the library
      • D) To the shops
    2. Why is Yara upset at the beginning of the story?

      • A) The bench is broken
      • B) The music is too loud
      • C) She cannot find her snack
      • D) Her brother is crying
    3. What does Yara say first to the boys?

      • A) "Excuse me, I am sorry to bother you."
      • B) "Thank you so much."
      • C) "Turn that music off!"
      • D) "Could you please be quiet?"
    4. What does the word "polite" mean?

      • A) Feeling sad and upset
      • B) Angry and loud
      • C) Talking very quickly
      • D) Having good manners and being respectful
    5. What does the boy do after Yara makes her request?

      • A) He turns the music up louder
      • B) He calls his friends
      • C) He turns the music down
      • D) He walks away
    6. What does Yara's brother say to her after she speaks to the boys?

      • A) "Let's go home, Yara."
      • B) "That was not very nice, Yara."
      • C) "You were so brave, Yara!"
      • D) "I am hungry, Yara."
    7. Which phrase means "to reduce the volume of something"?

      • A) Ask nicely
      • B) Take a deep breath
      • C) Speak up
      • D) Turn something down
    8. Yara shouts at the boys to stop the music. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) True
      • C) False
      • D) Not mentioned
    9. What does Yara learn at the end of the story?

      • A) That music is always bad
      • B) That a polite complaint can solve a problem
      • C) That boys are never kind
      • D) That playgrounds are too noisy
    10. How does Yara feel at the end of the story?

      • A) Angry and tired
      • B) Sad and lonely
      • C) Proud and happy
      • D) Scared and nervous

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    bother: G10 ↖ · brave: A5 ↗ · calm: I4 ↓ · complaint: A2 ↘ · noise: J2 ↙ · pleasant: B8 ↗ · polite: A11 → · proud: B1 ↘

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: making a polite complaint

    Yara Finds Her Voice at the Playground

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Yara had been looking forward to a quiet afternoon at the playground bench with her younger brother, where they could sit, relax, and enjoy their snacks together. However, not long after they settled down, two older boys nearby switched on a portable speaker and began playing music at a volume that made it nearly impossible to hold a conversation. Yara felt a familiar tension building inside her, the kind that comes when something is bothering you but you are unsure whether to say anything. She glanced at her brother, who had given up trying to talk and was staring down at his food with a frown. Yara was not the sort of person who enjoyed confrontation, yet she knew that ignoring the problem would not make it disappear. She took a slow, steady breath, reminded herself to stay calm, and made up her mind to approach the boys politely.

    Yara stood up, walked over to where the boys were sitting, and waited for a natural pause before gently getting their attention. "Excuse me," she said with a warm smile, "I am really sorry to interrupt, but would you mind turning the music down just a little?" She explained that she and her brother were trying to chat and enjoy their break, and that the volume was making it difficult. One of the boys looked slightly caught off guard, while the other glanced at his friend as if waiting to follow his lead. After a brief moment, the first boy nodded and said, "Yeah, of course, no problem at all," and immediately lowered the volume. Yara thanked them genuinely, telling them she really appreciated it, before returning to the bench feeling noticeably lighter. Back on the bench, Yara's brother looked at her with wide eyes and said, "I can't believe that actually worked!" Yara laughed and told him that most people respond well when you approach them with respect rather than frustration.

    The rest of the afternoon passed peacefully, with quiet conversation, finished snacks, and even an occasional friendly nod exchanged between Yara and the boys. Reflecting on what had happened, Yara realized that making a complaint does not have to mean creating conflict, as long as you choose your words with care. It had taken a moment of courage to speak up, but the outcome had been far better than simply sitting in silence and feeling resentful. She left the playground that evening with a quiet sense of confidence, knowing that being assertive and being kind are not opposites at all.

    Key vocabulary

    confrontation (noun)a situation in which people or groups face each other in an angry or difficult way“Yara is not someone who enjoys confrontation, but she knows she has to say something.”
    interrupt (verb)to stop someone from continuing what they are saying or doing“Yara apologizes for having to interrupt the boys.”
    genuine (adjective)real, sincere, and honest“Yara thanks the boys in a genuine way, and they can tell she really means it.”
    assertive (adjective)confident in expressing your needs or opinions without being aggressive“By the end of the story, Yara understands that being assertive and being kind can go together.”
    resentful (adjective)feeling bitter or angry about something that seems unfair“Yara did not want to sit in silence and feel resentful, so she decided to act.”
    tension (noun)a feeling of anxiety, stress, or unease in a situation“Yara feels a familiar tension building as the music grows louder.”
    volume (noun)the level of sound produced by something such as a speaker or television“The boys lower the volume of their music after Yara speaks to them.”
    conflict (noun)a serious disagreement or argument between people“Yara realizes that making a complaint does not have to mean creating conflict.”

    Useful phrases

    • Would you mind doing something — a very polite way of asking someone to do something“Yara asks, "Would you mind turning the music down just a little?"”
    • caught off guard — surprised by something you were not expecting“One of the boys looks slightly caught off guard when Yara approaches them.”
    • follow someone's lead — to copy what another person does or decides“One boy waits to follow his friend's lead before responding.”
    • make up your mind — to reach a decision about something“Yara makes up her mind to approach the boys politely.”
    • respond well to — to react in a positive way to something“Yara tells her brother that most people respond well to respect.”
    • speak up — to express your opinion or concern, especially when it feels difficult“It takes courage to speak up, but Yara is glad she did.”
    • choose your words with care — to think carefully about what you say so that it has the right effect“Yara learns that a polite complaint works best when you choose your words with care.”
    • no problem at all — a friendly way of saying you are happy to help or agree to something“The boy says, "No problem at all," and lowers the music.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1SHSTVTFQEWKTDMY
    2OQFBOXISEEPFACQ
    3PYBDLQPQNUWSOHZ
    4AZOTUENIRRSNLVL
    5KUABMCURJEFUUXL
    6SALBENEARRCQFME
    7MZNSETUTOIFATGS
    8BTQGNRINTFTVNUR
    9XPAIOVTNCUWNEZE
    10DMVLEAOVIKKYSCD
    11KZISTICULMYZEAY
    12JLSISLUPFCNXROF
    13MUONOJVONWYDVOU
    14VNEBKEJWOWKNWYX
    15ZTSJCNNPCXWYQUK

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Yara and her brother go to the playground bench?

      • A) To meet some friends
      • B) To watch the boys play
      • C) To relax and enjoy their snacks
      • D) To listen to music
    2. What does the word "resentful" mean in this story?

      • A) Feeling calm and satisfied
      • B) Feeling excited and hopeful
      • C) Feeling bitter or angry about something unfair
      • D) Feeling confused and distracted
    3. How does Yara get the boys' attention before speaking?

      • A) She asks her brother to call them over
      • B) She claps her hands loudly
      • C) She waves her arms at them
      • D) She waits for a natural pause and says "Excuse me"
    4. What does "caught off guard" mean?

      • A) Deciding to ignore a problem
      • B) Refusing to listen to someone
      • C) Being surprised by something unexpected
      • D) Feeling angry about something
    5. Which word best describes the way Yara makes her complaint?

      • A) Assertive
      • B) Shy
      • C) Aggressive
      • D) Careless
    6. Yara's brother was surprised that her approach worked. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    7. What lesson does Yara reflect on at the end of the story?

      • A) That older people should always give way to younger ones
      • B) That a polite complaint does not have to create conflict
      • C) That loud music is always rude
      • D) That playgrounds should have rules
    8. What does "volume" refer to in this story?

      • A) The size of the speaker
      • B) The level of sound produced
      • C) The number of people at the playground
      • D) The length of the music
    9. Yara left the playground feeling frustrated and unsatisfied. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) True
    10. What does Yara tell her brother about why the boys responded well?

      • A) Because the boys were already planning to stop the music
      • B) Because her brother asked them first
      • C) Because she used a loud voice
      • D) Because she approached them with respect rather than frustration

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    assertive: M2 ↙ · conflict: I15 ↑ · confrontation: N2 ↙ · genuine: D8 ↗ · interrupt: D9 ↗ · resentful: M12 ↑ · tension: B15 ↗ · volume: E1 ↓

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/yara-speaks-up-at-the-playground-2026-06-07