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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: following complicated instructions

    Zoe and the Gym Machine

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Zoe was on a trip and she stayed at a big hotel. The hotel had a gym on the third floor. Zoe wanted to exercise in the morning. She went to the gym at seven o'clock. The gym was clean and quiet. There were many machines in the room. Zoe looked at one large machine in the corner. It had a big screen on the front. She walked over to it and pressed a button. A list of instructions appeared on the screen. Zoe read the first instruction. It said, "Press the green button to start." Zoe looked for a green button. She found it on the left side of the machine. She pressed it and the machine turned on.

    The screen showed the next instruction. It said, "Choose your program from the menu." Zoe looked at the menu. There were ten different programs on the list. She did not know which one to choose. She read the names of the programs carefully. One program was called "Beginner Cardio." Zoe thought that was a good choice for her. She pressed that option on the screen. Then the screen said, "Enter your weight using the number pad." Zoe looked for the number pad. She found small buttons with numbers on the right side. She pressed the numbers slowly and carefully. Then she pressed the "Confirm" button. The machine made a short sound. The next instruction was harder to follow. The screen said, "Hold the side handles and step onto the moving belt carefully." Zoe held the handles tightly.

    She put one foot on the belt. The belt was moving slowly. She put her other foot on the belt too. She started to walk. It felt strange at first. But after one minute, it felt better. Then a new message appeared. It said, "Adjust your speed using the plus and minus buttons." Zoe pressed the plus button two times. The belt moved faster. She smiled. She finished her workout after thirty minutes. She felt very happy and proud. "That was not so difficult!" she said to herself.

    Key vocabulary

    instructions (noun (plural))steps that tell you how to do something“Zoe read the instructions on the screen carefully.”
    machine (noun)a piece of equipment with moving parts that does a job“There was a large exercise machine in the corner of the gym.”
    program (noun)a set plan of activities or exercises“She chose the beginner program on the machine.”
    confirm (verb)to say or show that something is correct or agreed“She pressed the button to confirm her weight.”
    handle (noun)a part of an object that you hold with your hand“Zoe held the handles tightly to stay safe on the machine.”
    belt (noun)a flat, moving surface on a treadmill that you walk or run on“The belt on the treadmill moved slowly at first.”
    adjust (verb)to change something slightly to make it better or correct“She adjusted the speed by pressing the plus button.”
    workout (noun)a period of physical exercise“Zoe finished her workout after thirty minutes.”

    Useful phrases

    • turn on — to start a machine or device“She pressed the green button to turn on the machine.”
    • look for — to try to find something“Zoe looked for the green button on the side of the machine.”
    • at first — in the beginning“Walking on the belt felt strange at first.”
    • step onto — to put your foot on something and stand on it“She stepped onto the moving belt carefully.”
    • to herself — said quietly so only she could hear“"That was not so difficult!" she said to herself.”
    • number pad — a small set of buttons with numbers used to enter information“She used the number pad to enter her weight.”
    • feel proud — to feel happy about something you have done well“Zoe felt proud after she finished her workout.”
    • follow instructions — to do what the steps or directions tell you to do“It took time, but Zoe followed all the instructions on the screen.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1YTSUJDAVHANDLE
    2IMUFUSROKOFIGE
    3KCLLNZWMVFNNMK
    4OTLEBOENESJEAW
    5MAQKRRWNTWHVSX
    6RAGKGDIRXFUSXB
    7IOOFUHUQPYWXIK
    8AUDQCCMTDIXPYM
    9TYQATFLRATFNAY
    10VDMIYSSYIGWRVV
    11FJOTSXHDDFGDPJ
    12ANCKDPWARONAHJ
    13SSGSEVDLRTSOID
    14QSMKAIRPBQSMCZ

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where was the gym in the hotel?

      • A) On the second floor
      • B) On the fourth floor
      • C) On the third floor
      • D) On the first floor
    2. What time did Zoe go to the gym?

      • A) Eight o'clock
      • B) Nine o'clock
      • C) Six o'clock
      • D) Seven o'clock
    3. What did Zoe press to start the machine?

      • A) A yellow button
      • B) A red button
      • C) A blue button
      • D) A green button
    4. Which program did Zoe choose?

      • A) Advanced Cardio
      • B) Beginner Cardio
      • C) Strength Training
      • D) Cool Down
    5. What does the word "adjust" mean in the story?

      • A) To find something
      • B) To stop something completely
      • C) To change something slightly
      • D) To break something
    6. How did Zoe enter her weight into the machine?

      • A) She used a touchscreen
      • B) She typed on a keyboard
      • C) She used a number pad
      • D) She spoke her weight aloud
    7. How did Zoe feel when she first stepped onto the moving belt?

      • A) Bored and sleepy
      • B) Excited and happy
      • C) Strange and unsure
      • D) Angry and tired
    8. How long was Zoe's workout?

      • A) One hour
      • B) Forty minutes
      • C) Thirty minutes
      • D) Twenty minutes
    9. Zoe pressed the plus button to make the belt go faster. True or False?

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned
    10. What does the word "confirm" mean?

      • A) To delete information
      • B) To start again
      • C) To show that something is correct
      • D) To look for a button

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    adjust: G1 ← · belt: E4 ← · confirm: M14 ↖ · handle: I1 → · instructions: L2 ↙ · machine: C10 ↗ · program: H14 ↗ · workout: G3 ↙

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: following complicated instructions

    Zoe and the Treadmill Challenge

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Zoe had always considered herself a fairly active person, but she had never used a hotel gym before. On the second morning of her stay, she decided to make use of the small fitness center on the third floor. The gym was well-equipped but almost empty, which suited her perfectly. She approached a modern treadmill near the window and noticed that it had a large interactive touchscreen mounted on the front. A message on the screen read, "To begin, please complete the following setup steps in order." Zoe raised an eyebrow, as she had expected something far simpler. Nevertheless, she was determined to figure it out.

    The first instruction told her to select a fitness profile by pressing her age group, her fitness level, and her preferred intensity. Zoe worked through each step methodically, tapping the screen and waiting for each selection to be confirmed before moving on. The second instruction, however, caused her some confusion. It read, "Calibrate your stride length by walking in place for ten seconds before mounting the belt." She was not entirely sure what "calibrate" meant in this context, but she followed the action as described. When she finally stepped onto the moving belt and gripped the side handles, the machine beeped and displayed a personalized workout plan on the screen. "Well, that actually worked," she said aloud, clearly surprised.

    As the session progressed, Zoe found herself needing to respond to further on-screen prompts, including adjusting her incline and modifying her target heart rate zone. Each time a new instruction appeared, she paused briefly to read it before acting, which meant the workout felt more like a problem-solving exercise than a simple jog. By the end of the thirty-minute session, she had successfully navigated every step of the process. She stepped off the treadmill feeling genuinely accomplished. "I never thought following a set of instructions could be this satisfying," she admitted to her reflection in the mirror. She made a mental note to visit the gym again the following morning.

    Key vocabulary

    interactive (adjective)allowing direct communication or action between a person and a machine“The treadmill had a large interactive touchscreen that responded to her touch.”
    calibrate (verb)to adjust or set a device accurately by following a specific process“The machine asked her to calibrate her stride length before starting.”
    methodically (adverb)in a careful and orderly way, following a clear system“Zoe worked through each step methodically, one at a time.”
    intensity (noun)the level of effort or difficulty in an activity“She selected a medium intensity for her morning workout.”
    prompt (noun)a message or signal on a screen that tells you to do something“She responded to each on-screen prompt carefully before continuing.”
    incline (noun)the angle of a slope on a treadmill, making it feel like walking uphill“Zoe adjusted the incline to make her workout more challenging.”
    accomplished (adjective)feeling a sense of success after completing something difficult“She stepped off the treadmill feeling genuinely accomplished.”
    navigate (verb)to find your way through something complex or unfamiliar“She had successfully navigated every step of the setup process.”

    Useful phrases

    • make use of — to use something that is available to you“Zoe decided to make use of the hotel gym before breakfast.”
    • work through — to deal with or complete something step by step“She worked through each instruction on the screen patiently.”
    • in this context — in this particular situation or setting“She was not sure what the word meant in this context.”
    • as described — exactly in the way that was explained or written“She followed the action as described in the instructions.”
    • make a mental note — to decide to remember something without writing it down“She made a mental note to return to the gym the next day.”
    • as the session progressed — as the period of activity continued and moved forward“As the session progressed, the instructions became more demanding.”
    • figure it out — to find the answer or solution to something by thinking carefully“The screen was confusing, but Zoe was determined to figure it out.”
    • said aloud — spoke in a normal voice so it could be heard“"Well, that actually worked," she said aloud, surprised by her success.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1IKGZUXFSRMJEOC
    2NNDRCQWJWQTAVW
    3TOIEDRSMZAEAYG
    4EHNEHRVRRTNLEW
    5NUTYTSKBLQLTIR
    6SIEZMAIDRAXONX
    7IVRNNLGLCHKYCF
    8TZAGAGBIPHNALT
    9YBCCIMDWVMOWIJ
    10PQTEFOTANAOGNB
    11EBIGHFCCGKNCEK
    12NXVTLBXCCEPLCM
    13FXETJRGTXAQXWA
    14ZMQHTPMORPIEZY

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why did Zoe raise an eyebrow when she saw the treadmill screen?

      • A) She could not read the screen clearly
      • B) She did not want to exercise that morning
      • C) She had expected the setup to be much simpler
      • D) She thought the machine was broken
    2. What does the word 'methodically' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Loudly and confidently
      • B) In a careful and orderly way
      • C) In a careless and rushed manner
      • D) Quickly and without thinking
    3. What did the second instruction ask Zoe to do?

      • A) Enter her age and fitness level
      • B) Select a heart rate zone
      • C) Walk in place to calibrate her stride length
      • D) Adjust the incline of the treadmill
    4. What does 'calibrate' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) To clean a piece of equipment
      • B) To adjust a device accurately using a specific process
      • C) To choose a program from a menu
      • D) To stop a machine from moving
    5. What appeared on the screen after Zoe stepped onto the belt?

      • A) A map of the gym
      • B) A request to restart the setup
      • C) A personalized workout plan
      • D) An error message
    6. Zoe had used a hotel gym many times before her stay. True or False?

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not stated
    7. How did Zoe feel at the end of her thirty-minute session?

      • A) Genuinely accomplished
      • B) Nervous and unsure
      • C) Bored and disappointed
      • D) Frustrated and tired
    8. What does the phrase 'make use of' mean?

      • A) To repair something that is broken
      • B) To use something that is available
      • C) To avoid using something
      • D) To ask someone for help
    9. Zoe compared her workout to a problem-solving exercise. True or False?

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True
    10. What did Zoe decide at the end of the story?

      • A) To look for a simpler machine next time
      • B) To return to the gym the following morning
      • C) To avoid the gym for the rest of her stay
      • D) To complain about the machine to the hotel staff

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    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.

    accomplished: N13 ↖ · calibrate: D9 ↗ · incline: M5 ↓ · intensity: A1 ↓ · interactive: C3 ↓ · methodically: B14 ↗ · navigate: K11 ↖ · prompt: J14 ←

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/zoe-and-the-gym-machine-2026-09-19