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Adventure Ambition Art Breakups Career Childhood Coming of Age Confidence Courage Crime Customer Service Determination Drama Emotional Empathy Everyday Life Family Fantasy Fate Fear Feel-Good First Job Food Freedom Friendship Gratitude Grief Healing Hope Horror Identity Independence Inspirational Job Hunting Justice Kindness Life Lessons Loss Love Marriage Mindfulness Miscommunication Mystery Nature New Beginnings Ocean life Parenthood Patience Personal Growth Relationships Responsibility Romance School Secrets Self-Discovery Siblings Social Issues Suspense Technology Tragedy Transformation Travel Wisdom Work comedy horror
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
LENGTH
25 Words (15 sec) 50 Words (30 sec) 75 Words (45 sec) 100 Words (1 min) 125 Words (1 min 15 sec) 150 Words (1 min 30 sec) 175 Words (1 min 45 sec) 200 Words (2 min) 250 Words (2 min 30 sec) 300 Words (3 min) 350 Words (3 min 30 sec) 400 Words (4 min) 500 Words (5 min) 600 Words (6 min) 1000 Words (10 min) 1500 Words (15 min) 2000 Words (20 min)
CATEGORY
Adventure Ambition Art Breakups Career Childhood Coming of Age Confidence Courage Crime Customer Service Determination Drama Emotional Empathy Everyday Life Family Fantasy Fate Fear Feel-Good First Job Food Freedom Friendship Gratitude Grief Healing Hope Horror Identity Independence Inspirational Job Hunting Justice Kindness Life Lessons Loss Love Marriage Mindfulness Miscommunication Mystery Nature New Beginnings Ocean life Parenthood Patience Personal Growth Relationships Responsibility Romance School Secrets Self-Discovery Siblings Social Issues Suspense Technology Tragedy Transformation Travel Wisdom Work comedy horror
LEVEL
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
ABOUT
WRITE
House key lying on the ground near a park bench

The Lost Key

Loss Fear Hope Social Issues Everyday Life School Childhood Life Lessons
A2
400 Words - 4 min

Story Audio

Story Reading

Liam came home after school. He wanted to open the door. He put his hand in his backpack to find his house key. The key was not there. He felt worried.

He checked the small pocket. He checked the big pocket. He looked inside his lunch bag too. Then he looked on the ground near his front door. The key was not there. Liam did not know what to do.

He stopped and thought about his day. Where did he go? He remembered one thing. After school, he stopped at the playground. He watched his friends play soccer for a little while. Maybe the key fell out of his pocket there.

Liam decided to walk back to the park. It was not very far. He walked fast because he wanted to find his key before dark. When he arrived, he looked around carefully. He looked near the benches. He looked near the swings. He looked on the path too.

At first, he could not see anything. He felt sad. But he did not give up. He looked again, very slowly this time. After a few minutes, he saw something small and shiny under a bench. He walked closer. It was his key!

Liam picked it up and smiled. He was very happy.

A woman was sitting on a bench nearby. She saw Liam and smiled too. She said, "I saw your key earlier. I hoped the owner would come back for it."

Liam said, "Thank you very much! I was worried I lost it forever."

The woman nodded and said, "You're welcome. I'm glad you found it."

Liam did not want to lose his key again. This time, he did not put it in his backpack pocket. Instead, he put it in a small zippered pocket on his jacket. He closed the zipper carefully. Now the key could not fall out.

Liam walked home again, but this time he felt calm and happy. When he reached his front door, he took out his key. He unlocked the door and went inside. He felt very relieved.

That night, Liam thought about what happened. He learned an important lesson. He also told his mother about the kind woman who helped him find it again. From that day on, he always checked his pocket for his key before he left the house. He never wanted to lose it again.

The lost key was found, and Liam was happy.

Vocabulary Exercises

Match 

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. worried              a. feeling calm after a problem is solved
2. pocket               b. a small place in clothing or a bag for keeping things
3. playground           c. feeling nervous or concerned
4. shiny                d. giving a bright reflection of light
5. relieved             e. a place where children can play
6. carefully             f. with attention
1. c | 2. b | 3. e | 4. d | 5. a | 6. f

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

worried - relieved - carefully - lesson - pocket - playground - shiny

1. Liam felt ______ when he could not find his key.
2. He checked the small ______ in his backpack.
3. After school, Liam stopped at the ______.
4. He saw something small and ______ under a bench.
5. Liam felt very ______ when he found his key.
6. He looked ______ around the park.
7. Liam learned an important ______ from the experience.
1. worried | 2. pocket | 3. playground | 4. shiny | 5. relieved | 6. carefully | 7. lesson

Odd One Out 

Odd One Out

1. worried - nervous - concerned - happy

2. pocket - bag - backpack - playground

3. shiny - bright - glowing - dark

4. relieved - calm - relaxed - worried

5. carefully - slowly - cautiously - carelessly

6. playground - park - swings - kitchen

7. lesson - experience - knowledge - key
1. happy 2. playground 3. dark 4. worried 5. carelessly 6. kitchen 7. key

Comprehension Exercises

True/False 

Answer with True or False

1. Liam came home after school.
2. Liam found his key in his lunch bag.
3. Liam remembered stopping at the playground.
4. Liam decided to return to the playground.
5. Liam found the key under a bench.
6. A woman helped Liam find his key.
7. Liam decided to keep his key in a zippered pocket.
1. True | 2. False | 3. True | 4. True | 5. True | 6. True | 7. True

Multiple Choice 

1. What did Liam want to open?
a. His backpack
b. His front door
c. His lunch bag
d. A park gate

2. Where did Liam think he might have lost his key?
a. At school
b. At home
c. At the playground
d. On the bus

3. Why did Liam walk fast to the park?
a. He wanted to play soccer.
b. He wanted to get home before dinner.
c. He wanted to find his key before dark.
d. He wanted to meet the woman.

4. Where did Liam find the key?
a. Under a bench
b. Near the swings
c. On the path
d. Inside his backpack

5. What did the woman say about the key?
a. She found it at school.
b. She saw it earlier.
c. She took it home.
d. She gave it to Liam's mother.

6. Where did Liam put the key after finding it?
a. In his lunch bag
b. In his backpack
c. In his jacket pocket
d. On the bench

7. What lesson did Liam learn?
a. Never go to the playground.
b. Always play soccer after school.
c. Always check his pocket for his key.
d. Never talk to strangers.
1. b | 2. c | 3. c | 4. a | 5. b | 6. c | 7. c

Ordering 

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ Liam finds his key under a bench.
2. ___ Liam comes home after school.
3. ___ Liam walks back to the playground.
4. ___ Liam checks his backpack for his key.
5. ___ A woman talks to Liam.
6. ___ Liam puts the key in his jacket pocket.
7. ___ Liam goes home and opens the door.
1. 2 | 2. 1 | 3. 3 | 4. 4 | 5. 5 | 6. 6 | 7. 7

Find the Evidence 

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. Liam cannot find his key.
2. Liam remembers going to the playground.
3. Liam searches carefully at the playground.
4. Liam finds something under a bench.
5. The woman saw the key earlier.
6. Liam changes where he keeps his key.
7. Liam learns an important lesson.
1. "The key was not there." 2. "After school, he stopped at the playground." 3. "He looked around carefully." 4. "He saw something small and shiny under a bench." 5. "I saw your key earlier." 6. "He put it in a small zippered pocket on his jacket." 7. "He learned an important lesson."

Grammar Exercises

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

Past Simple

1. Liam ______ home after school. (come)
2. He ______ his hand in his backpack. (put)
3. He ______ his key. (check)
4. Liam ______ back to the park. (walk)
5. He ______ something shiny under a bench. (see)
6. Liam ______ up the key. (pick)
7. He ______ home again. (walk)
1. came | 2. put | 3. checked | 4. walked | 5. saw | 6. picked | 7. walked

Choose one 

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. Liam came home (after / under / between) school.
2. He put his hand (in / on / between) his backpack.
3. He looked (near / under / from) his front door.
4. Liam walked back (to / at / between) the park.
5. He looked (under / into / above) the bench.
6. The woman was sitting (on / in / under) a bench.
7. Liam put the key (in / at / from) his jacket pocket.
1. after | 2. in | 3. near | 4. to | 5. under | 6. on | 7. in 
Choose A, AN, or THE

1. Liam wanted to open ___ door.
2. He found ___ key was missing.
3. He walked to ___ playground.
4. He saw ___ small and shiny object.
5. ___ woman was sitting nearby.
6. She saw ___ key earlier.
7. Liam learned ___ important lesson.
1. the | 2. the | 3. the | 4. a | 5. the | 6. the | 7. an

Transformation 

Change to the Past Tense

1. Liam comes home after school.
2. He checks his backpack.
3. He looks on the ground.
4. Liam walks to the park.
5. He finds his key.
6. The woman helps Liam.
7. He puts the key in his jacket.
1. Liam came home after school. 2. He checked his backpack. 3. He looked on the ground. 4. Liam walked to the park. 5. He found his key. 6. The woman helped Liam. 7. He put the key in his jacket. 
Make the Sentences Negative

1. Liam knows where his key is.
2. The key is in his backpack.
3. Liam gives up looking.
4. The woman ignores Liam.
5. Liam finds the key quickly.
6. The key falls out of his jacket.
7. Liam loses his key again.
1. Liam does not know where his key is. 2. The key is not in his backpack. 3. Liam does not give up looking. 4. The woman does not ignore Liam. 5. Liam does not find the key quickly. 6. The key does not fall out of his jacket. 7. Liam does not lose his key again. 
Turn the Sentences into Questions

1. Liam comes home after school.
2. He checks his backpack.
3. Liam remembers the playground.
4. He walks back to the park.
5. He finds the key under a bench.
6. The woman sees the key.
7. Liam puts the key in his jacket.
1. Does Liam come home after school? 2. Does he check his backpack? 3. Does Liam remember the playground? 4. Does he walk back to the park? 5. Does he find the key under a bench? 6. Does the woman see the key? 7. Does Liam put the key in his jacket?

Find the Adjectives 

Find the adjectives in each phrase.

1. small pocket
2. worried feeling
3. long way
4. small and shiny key
5. kind woman
6. important lesson
7. calm and happy traveler
1. small 2. worried 3. long 4. small, shiny 5. kind 6. important 7. calm, happy

Find the Adverbs 

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. Liam walked slowly to the park.
2. He looked carefully around the playground.
3. He looked again very slowly.
4. The woman smiled too.
5. Liam answered politely.
6. He closed the zipper carefully.
7. Liam finally felt relieved.
1. slowly 2. carefully 3. slowly 4. too 5. politely 6. carefully 7. finally

Speaking Activities

Discussion 

Why do you think Liam lost his key?
He probably forgot to put it in a safe place while he was at school or the playground. 
Do you think Liam was worried when he could not find his key?
Yes, he was probably worried because he needed the key to get into his house. 
Was Liam right to return to the playground?
Yes. He remembered stopping there, so it was a good place to search. 
Do you think the woman did the right thing?
Yes. She kept an eye on the key and waited for its owner to return. 
What could Liam have done to avoid losing his key?
He could have kept it in a safe pocket or checked that he still had it before leaving the playground. 
Where would you keep your house key?
I would keep it in a secure, zippered pocket.

Rate the Story 

How realistic is the story?

1 = Not realistic
5 = Very realistic

2. How easy was the story to understand?

1 = Very difficult
5 = Very easy

3. How worried do you think Liam was?

1 = Not worried
5 = Extremely worried

4. How helpful was the woman?

1 = Not helpful
5 = Extremely helpful

5. How carefully did Liam search for his key?

1 = Not carefully
5 = Very carefully

6. How happy was Liam at the end?

1 = Not happy
5 = Extremely happy

7. How useful is the lesson of the story?

1 = Not useful
5 = Very useful

Writing Exercise

Change the Ending 

Write a new ending for the story. Keep the story the same until Liam finds the key, but change what happens after that.
Liam picked up the key and thanked the woman. He started walking home, but then he noticed that the key looked different. It was not his key. He quickly ran back to the bench and searched again. After a few minutes, he found another key under the bench. This time, it was his. Liam thanked the woman again and walked home happily. When he reached his door, he unlocked it and promised himself that he would be more careful with his key in the future.

Dialogue 

Write a dialogue between Liam and the woman after Liam finds the key.
Liam: Excuse me, did you see this key before? Woman: Yes, I saw it under the bench earlier. Liam: Really? I was looking everywhere for it! Woman: I thought the owner might come back. Liam: Thank you so much. I was afraid I had lost it forever. Woman: You're very welcome. Liam: I'm really happy you were here. Woman: I'm glad you found it. Liam: I will be more careful with it next time. Woman: That's a good idea.