Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: preparing for an important meeting
Yuki's Big Meeting
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
Yuki woke up early on a quiet morning. Today was a very important day. Yuki had a meeting with a professor at the university. The meeting was about a research project. Yuki wanted to join the professor's team. Yuki felt nervous but also excited. Yuki got out of bed and took a shower. Then Yuki chose some neat, clean clothes. Yuki wanted to look professional. After getting dressed, Yuki ate a small breakfast. It was hard to eat because of the nerves. Yuki put some important papers into a bag. Yuki also packed a notebook and two pens. Yuki checked the time and left the apartment. The university campus was only a short walk away. Yuki arrived at the campus thirty minutes early. The trees on campus looked beautiful in the morning light.
Yuki walked slowly and tried to stay calm. Yuki found a bench near the library and sat down. Yuki opened the notebook and read some notes. The notes were about the research project. Yuki practiced some answers to possible questions. "I am interested in this topic because it is useful," Yuki said quietly. A friend named Sam walked past and stopped. "Hey, Yuki! You look busy. What are you doing?" Sam asked. "I have an important meeting today," Yuki said. "I am preparing for it." Sam smiled and said, "You will do great! Just be yourself." "Thank you, Sam. That helps a lot," Yuki replied. Yuki felt a little better after talking to Sam. At ten o'clock, Yuki walked to the professor's office. Yuki knocked on the door politely.
"Come in," said a voice from inside. Yuki opened the door and smiled. "Good morning. Thank you for meeting with me," Yuki said. The professor was friendly and asked Yuki to sit down. Yuki gave the professor the prepared papers. The professor looked at them and nodded. Then the professor asked some questions about the project. Yuki answered each question carefully. Yuki used the notes from the morning practice. The meeting lasted about twenty minutes. At the end, the professor smiled. "I am impressed, Yuki. Welcome to the team," the professor said. Yuki left the office feeling happy and proud.
Key vocabulary
| nervous (adjective) | feeling worried or afraid about something“Yuki felt nervous before the important meeting.” |
| professional (adjective) | looking or acting in a serious and proper way for work“Yuki wanted to look professional for the professor.” |
| research (noun) | a careful study to find new information about a topic“The research project was about a very interesting topic.” |
| prepare (verb) | to get ready for something“Yuki wanted to prepare well for the meeting.” |
| bench (noun) | a long seat, often found outside in parks or on campuses“Yuki sat on a bench near the library.” |
| politely (adverb) | in a way that shows good manners and respect“Yuki knocked on the door politely.” |
| impressed (adjective) | feeling admiration because something is very good“The professor was impressed with Yuki's answers.” |
| nod (verb) | to move your head up and down to show agreement“The professor looked at the papers and nodded.” |
| proud (adjective) | feeling happy about something you did well“Yuki felt proud after the successful meeting.” |
| calm (adjective) | relaxed and not worried or angry“Yuki tried to stay calm before the meeting.” |
Useful phrases
- join the team — to become a member of a group that works together“Yuki wanted to join the team and help with the project.”
- stay calm — to keep yourself relaxed and not get worried“Yuki tried to stay calm while waiting for the meeting.”
- be yourself — to act naturally and not pretend to be different“Sam told Yuki, "Just be yourself and you will do well."”
- look busy — to appear to be doing a lot of work or activity“"You look busy today," Sam said to Yuki.”
- do great — to perform very well at something“Sam said, "You will do great in your meeting!"”
- at the end — when something finishes; the final part“At the end of the meeting, the professor smiled.”
Word search
Find all 10 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W | L | F | H | Y | U | T | M | D | W | X | I | N | W |
| 2 | X | K | R | C | Y | P | E | Z | L | E | Q | H | N | D |
| 3 | F | H | S | N | L | M | S | L | J | A | D | O | N | Q |
| 4 | N | A | H | E | E | V | V | A | V | G | C | Y | I | Q |
| 5 | U | E | H | B | T | R | W | N | N | M | N | M | K | R |
| 6 | R | J | R | E | I | R | S | O | F | E | P | R | X | M |
| 7 | D | K | H | V | L | T | E | I | Z | R | I | W | N | E |
| 8 | Q | B | C | E | O | Z | V | S | E | D | Y | Y | P | F |
| 9 | P | S | R | E | P | U | Q | S | C | N | U | R | J | G |
| 10 | D | Z | A | X | B | N | S | E | F | Y | E | O | E | G |
| 11 | G | N | E | F | T | E | G | F | W | P | H | H | R | S |
| 12 | Y | L | S | S | D | Q | S | O | A | S | O | Z | T | P |
| 13 | U | Y | E | C | V | C | H | R | R | I | I | G | Q | Z |
| 14 | W | H | R | P | T | I | E | P | A | F | F | C | G | Z |
Comprehension quiz
Why did Yuki have a meeting with the professor?
- A) To return a library book
- B) To complain about a class
- C) To join the professor's research team
- D) To ask about exam results
What does the word 'nervous' mean in the story?
- A) Feeling angry at someone
- B) Feeling worried or afraid about something
- C) Feeling hungry in the morning
- D) Feeling tired and sleepy
Yuki arrived at the campus two hours early. True or false?
- A) True
- B) Not stated
- C) False
- D) Not mentioned
Where did Yuki sit to review notes on campus?
- A) On a bench near the library
- B) In the library
- C) In the professor's office
- D) In a classroom
What does the word 'impressed' mean in the story?
- A) Feeling confused about a topic
- B) Feeling admiration because something is very good
- C) Feeling scared of someone
- D) Feeling bored by something
What did Sam tell Yuki to do?
- A) Arrive earlier than planned
- B) Just be yourself
- C) Cancel the meeting
- D) Study harder for the meeting
Yuki forgot to bring the important papers. True or false?
- A) True
- B) False
- C) Not mentioned
- D) Not stated
What does 'politely' mean in the story?
- A) In a fast and careless way
- B) In a funny and silly way
- C) In a way that shows good manners and respect
- D) In a very loud way
How long did the meeting last?
- A) About one hour
- B) About twenty minutes
- C) About ten minutes
- D) About five minutes
The professor told Yuki to come back another day. True or false?
- A) False
- B) True
- C) Not stated
- D) Not mentioned
Answer key (A2 (Elementary))
1. C 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. B 6. B 7. B 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.
bench: D5 ↑ · calm: K4 ↖ · impressed: M4 ↙ · nervous: A4 ↘ · nod: M3 ← · politely: E9 ↑ · prepare: M8 ↙ · professional: H14 ↑ · proud: N12 ↖ · research: C14 ↑