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)
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
four students sitting together in a school cafeteria, viewed from behind, with a few students at the food counter and others talking in the background.

The School Food

Friendship Feel-Good Coming of Age Everyday Life School Food Kindness New Beginnings
B1
500 Words - 5 min

Story Audio

Story Reading

Maya was a new student at Green Valley School. It was her first day, and she felt nervous. She didn't know anyone. She didn't know where her classes were. But the biggest problem was lunchtime.

At eleven o'clock, a loud bell rang. All the students walked to the cafeteria. Maya followed them slowly. She didn't know what to expect. Her old school had a small canteen with only sandwiches and fruit. This cafeteria was huge and full of noise.

Maya stood in line with her tray. She looked at the menu on the wall. There were so many choices: pizza, soup, salad, rice, and chicken. She didn't know what to pick. A boy behind her smiled.

"First day?" he asked.

"Yes," Maya said. "How do you know?"

"You look confused," he laughed. "I'm Tom. Try the soup. It's really good today."

Maya thanked him and took a bowl of vegetable soup. She also chose a small salad and a piece of bread. She paid and looked for a table. Every table was full of students talking and laughing. She felt alone again.

"Over here!" Tom called. He was sitting with two other students. "Come sit with us."

Maya walked to the table and sat down. The soup smelled wonderful. She took a spoonful and smiled.

"This is delicious," she said.

"I told you," Tom said proudly. "The chef here used to work in a restaurant. He makes everything from fresh vegetables. My favorite is the pizza on Fridays."

A girl at the table, whose name was Lucy, nodded. "The food here is much better than my old school. There, everything was frozen and tasted strange. Here, they cook real meals every day."

"Do they have vegetarian food too?" Maya asked. She didn't eat meat.

"Of course," Lucy said. "Look, there's always a vegetarian option. Today it's the vegetable soup you already have! Tomorrow, I think it's pasta with tomato sauce."

Maya felt relieved. At her old school, it was difficult to find vegetarian meals. She often just ate bread and cheese.

The friends talked and ate together. Tom told her about the sports teams. Lucy told her about the school clubs. Maya learned a lot in just thirty minutes. She wasn't nervous anymore.

Before the bell rang again, Tom stood up. "Wait, you need to try the apple pie. It's the best dessert here."

He brought back a small piece of pie for Maya. It was warm and sweet, with a crunchy top. Maya took a bite and closed her eyes happily.

"This is amazing," she said. "Maybe this school isn't so scary after all."

Lucy laughed. "Wait until Friday. The pizza will change your life!" She also mentioned that every Monday, the cafeteria served a special international dish from a different country, which made lunch exciting.

Maya smiled. She looked around the busy cafeteria. The noise didn't bother her anymore. She had new friends, and she had good food. Maybe her first day wasn't so bad.

When the bell rang, Maya walked to her next class feeling happy. School food, she thought, could bring people together.

Vocabulary Exercises

Match 

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. nervous             a. food that does not contain meat
2. cafeteria           b. worried or afraid
3. confused            c. a place in a school where students eat
4. delicious           d.  unable to think clearly or to understand
5. vegetarian          e. very tasty
6. relieved            f. no longer worried
7. crunchy             g. making a loud sound when bitten
1. b | 2. c | 3. d | 4. e | 5. a | 6. f | 7. g

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

nervous - delicious - vegetarian - relieved - crunchy - cafeteria - confused

1. Maya felt ______ on her first day at school.
2. All the students went to the ______ for lunch.
3. Maya felt ______ because she did not know what to choose.
4. She thought the vegetable soup was ______.
5. Maya needed a ______ meal because she did not eat meat.
6. She felt ______ when she learned there was always a vegetarian option.
7. The apple pie had a warm and ______ top.
1. nervous | 2. cafeteria | 3. confused | 4. delicious | 5. vegetarian | 6. relieved | 7. crunchy

Odd One Out 

Odd One Out

1. nervous - worried - anxious - confident

2. cafeteria - canteen - restaurant - classroom

3. confused - puzzled - unsure - certain

4. delicious - tasty - wonderful - terrible

5. vegetarian - meat-free - vegetable-based - meaty

6. relieved - calm - reassured - worried

7. crunchy - crispy - soft - crisp
1. confident | 2. classroom | 3. certain | 4. terrible | 5. meaty | 6. worried | 7. soft

Comprehension Exercises

True/False 

Answer with True or False

1. Maya is a new student at Green Valley School.
2. Maya already knows many students at the school.
3. The school cafeteria is large and noisy.
4. Tom recommends the soup to Maya.
5. Maya does not eat meat.
6. Lucy tells Maya that there is always a vegetarian option.
7. Maya leaves school feeling more nervous than before.
1. True | 2. False | 3. True | 4. True | 5. True | 6. True | 7. False

Multiple Choice 

1. Why does Maya feel nervous at the beginning?

a. She does not like food.
b. She is late for school.
c. She is new and does not know anyone.
d. She forgot her lunch.

2. What does Tom recommend?

a. Pizza
b. Soup
c. Salad
d. Rice

3. Who invites Maya to sit with the group?

a. Lucy
b. The chef
c. Tom
d. Her teacher

4. Why does Maya need vegetarian food?

a. She does not like soup.
b. She does not eat meat.
c. She is allergic to bread.
d. She only likes fruit.

5. What does Tom say is his favorite food on Fridays?

a. Soup
b. Salad
c. Pasta
d. Pizza

6. What dessert does Tom bring Maya?

a. Chocolate cake
b. Apple pie
c. Ice cream
d. Fruit salad

7. How does Maya feel when she goes to her next class?

a. Angry
b. Nervous
c. Happy
d. Lonely
1. c | 2. b | 3. c | 4. b | 5. d | 6. b | 7. c

Ordering 

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ Tom recommends the vegetable soup.
2. ___ Maya arrives at Green Valley School.
3. ___ Tom invites Maya to sit with his friends.
4. ___ Maya chooses a bowl of vegetable soup.
5. ___ Lucy explains the vegetarian options.
6. ___ Tom brings Maya a piece of apple pie.
7. ___ Maya walks to her next class feeling happy.
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. Maya is nervous because she is new.
2. The cafeteria is very large.
3. Tom is friendly to Maya.
4. Maya enjoys the vegetable soup.
5. Maya does not eat meat.
6. The apple pie is warm and sweet.
7. Maya feels happy at the end.
1. "It was her first day, and she felt nervous." 2. "This cafeteria was huge and full of noise." 3. "Over here!" Tom called. "Come sit with us." 4. "This is delicious," she said. 5. "She didn't eat meat." 6. "It was warm and sweet, with a crunchy top." 7. "Maya walked to her next class feeling happy."

Grammar Exercises

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

Past Simple

1. Maya ______ at Green Valley School. (arrive)
2. She ______ nervous on her first day. (feel)
3. Tom ______ her to try the soup. (tell)
4. Maya ______ a bowl of vegetable soup. (choose)
5. Lucy ______ her about the vegetarian options. (tell)
6. Tom ______ Maya a piece of apple pie. (bring)
7. Maya ______ to her next class feeling happy. (walk)
1. arrived | 2. felt | 3. told | 4. chose | 5. told | 6. brought | 7. walked

Choose one 

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. Maya walked (to / under / between) the cafeteria.
2. She stood (in / on / from) line with her tray.
3. Tom sat (with / under / from) two other students.
4. Maya sat (at / between / from) the table.
5. Tom talked (about / under / between) the sports teams.
6. Maya walked (to / under / between) her next class.
7. The cafeteria was full (of / from / under) students.
1. to | 2. in | 3. with | 4. at | 5. about | 6. to | 7. of 
Choose A, AN, or THE

1. Maya was ___ new student.
2. She walked to ___ cafeteria.
3. Tom recommended ___ soup.
4. Maya chose ___ small salad.
5. She saw ___ bird in a cage.
6. Tom brought her ___ piece of apple pie.
7. Maya walked to ___ next class.
1. a | 2. the | 3. the | 4. a | 5. a | 6. a | 7. the

Transformation 

Change to the Past Tense

1. Maya feels nervous on her first day.
2. She walks to the cafeteria.
3. Tom recommends the soup.
4. Maya chooses a small salad.
5. Lucy explains the vegetarian options.
6. Tom brings Maya an apple pie.
7. Maya walks to her next class.
1. Maya felt nervous on her first day. 2. She walked to the cafeteria. 3. Tom recommended the soup. 4. Maya chose a small salad. 5. Lucy explained the vegetarian options. 6. Tom brought Maya an apple pie. 7. Maya walked to her next class. 
Make the Sentences Negative

1. Maya knows everyone at school.
2. The cafeteria is small.
3. Tom ignores Maya.
4. Maya eats meat.
5. Lucy says there is no vegetarian food.
6. Maya dislikes the apple pie.
7. Maya feels nervous at the end.
1. Maya does not know everyone at school. 2. The cafeteria is not small. 3. Tom does not ignore Maya. 4. Maya does not eat meat. 5. Lucy does not say there is no vegetarian food. 6. Maya does not dislike the apple pie. 7. Maya does not feel nervous at the end. 
Turn the Sentences into Questions

1. Maya is a new student.
2. She feels nervous.
3. Tom recommends the soup.
4. Maya chooses a salad.
5. Lucy eats vegetarian food.
6. Tom brings Maya an apple pie.
7. Maya feels happy at the end.
1. Is Maya a new student? 2. Does she feel nervous? 3. Does Tom recommend the soup? 4. Does Maya choose a salad? 5. Does Lucy eat vegetarian food? 6. Does Tom bring Maya an apple pie? 7. Does Maya feel happy at the end?

Find the Adjectives 

Find the adjectives in each phrase.

1. new student
2. first day
3. huge cafeteria
4. loud noise
5. vegetable soup
6. warm apple pie
7. happy student
1. new 2. first 3. huge 4. loud 5. vegetable 6. warm 7. happy

Find the Adverbs 

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. Maya walked slowly to the cafeteria.
2. Tom smiled warmly at Maya.
3. She looked around carefully.
4. Maya answered politely.
5. The students talked loudly.
6. She happily ate the apple pie.
7. Maya walked confidently to her next class.
1. slowly 2. warmly 3. carefully 4. politely 5. loudly 6. happily 7. confidently

Speaking Activities

Discussion 

Do you think Maya's first day at school was successful?
Yes, I think Maya's first day was successful because she made new friends, enjoyed the food, and became less nervous. 
What makes the cafeteria seem friendly?
The students are friendly, Tom invites Maya to sit with him, and the food gives them something to talk about.

What Would You Do? 

1. Would you talk to a new student at your school?

2. Would you invite a new student to sit with you?

3. Would you try the vegetable soup?

4. Would you try the apple pie?

5. Would you join a school club?

6. Would you play on a school sports team?

7. Would you try an international dish from another country?

Rate the Story 

1. How friendly is Tom?

1 = Not friendly
5 = Extremely friendly

2. How nervous is Maya at the beginning?

1 = Not nervous
5 = Extremely nervous

3. How good does the cafeteria food sound?

1 = Not good
5 = Extremely good

4. How welcoming is the cafeteria?

1 = Not welcoming
5 = Extremely welcoming

5. How delicious does the apple pie sound?

1 = Not delicious
5 = Extremely delicious

6. How interesting is the story?

1 = Not interesting
5 = Extremely interesting

7. How happy is Maya at the end?

1 = Not happy
5 = Extremely happy

Writing Exercise

Change the Ending 

Write a new ending for the story. Keep the story the same until Maya walks to her next class, but change what happens next.
When Maya reached her next class, she saw Tom and Lucy waiting outside. They told her that they had the same class. Maya smiled and felt even happier. During the lesson, they sat together and talked quietly. At lunchtime, they planned to eat together again. Maya realized that Green Valley School was going to be a good place for her.

Dialogue 

Write a dialogue between Maya and Tom when they first meet in the cafeteria.
Tom: First day? Maya: Yes. How do you know? Tom: You look a little confused. Maya: I don't know what to choose. Tom: Try the vegetable soup. It's really good today. Maya: Thanks. I don't eat meat, so that sounds perfect. Tom: Great! Come sit with us after you get your food. Maya: Thank you. That's very kind of you.