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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
A woman with short hair standing and viewed from behind

The Short Hair

Family Coming of Age Identity Everyday Life Life Lessons Courage Freedom New Beginnings Self-Discovery Confidence Transformation
B1
500 Words - 5 min

Story Audio

Story Reading

Maria always had long hair. It was dark brown and reached her waist. Since she was a little girl, people said her hair was beautiful. Her mother brushed it every night. Maria felt proud of her long hair, but sometimes it was heavy and hot in summer.

One day, Maria turned twenty-five. She looked in the mirror and thought about her life. She had a new job and new dreams. She wanted a change, something different, lighter, and free. So she made a decision. She was going to cut her hair short.

Her best friend, Sofia, could not believe it. "Are you sure?" Sofia asked. "Your hair is part of who you are." Maria smiled and said, "Maybe it's time for a new part of me."

The next Saturday, Maria walked into a hair salon in the city center. Her heart was beating fast. The hairdresser, a friendly woman named Carla, asked, "How short do you want it?" Maria took a deep breath and said, "Very short. Like a boy's haircut."

Carla smiled and started to work. Maria closed her eyes. She heard the scissors cutting piece after piece of her long hair. It fell to the floor like dark leaves in autumn. After thirty minutes, Carla said, "Open your eyes."

Maria looked in the mirror. She did not recognize herself at first. Her neck felt cold and light. Her face looked different, more open, more confident. She touched her short hair with her hand. It felt strange but exciting.

"Wow," she whispered softly. "I look like a completely new person."

When Maria got home, her mother saw her and gasped. "What did you do?" her mother asked, shocked. "Your beautiful hair!" Maria explained calmly, "Mom, I still have hair. It's just shorter. And I love it."

Her mother did not understand at first. But over the next few days, she noticed something. Maria was happier. She smiled more and walked with more energy.

At work, Maria's colleagues were surprised too. Some said she looked younger. Others said she looked stronger. Her boss even said, "You look ready for new challenges." Maria felt that this was true. The short hair was not just about her appearance. It was about a new chapter in her life.

A month later, Sofia visited Maria for coffee. "I have to admit," Sofia said, "the short hair really suits you. You look happy." Maria laughed and touched her hair again. "It's not just the hair," she said. "It's how I feel inside. I feel braver now."

From that day, Maria understood something important. Sometimes a small change on the outside can help you find a big change on the inside. Her short hair became a symbol of courage, freedom, and the start of a new, exciting life.

Now, when Maria feels unsure about a decision, she remembers that Saturday morning at the salon. She remembers the scissors and the moment she opened her eyes. Change can be scary at first, but it can also bring wonderful, unexpected surprises into a person's whole life and heart.

Vocabulary Exercises

Match 

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. waist                 a. feeling pleased about something that you own or have done
2. proud                 b. the part of the body between the ribs and hips
3. confident             c. sure of yourself and your abilities
4. haircut               d. the style in which someone's hair is cut
5. shocked               e. very surprised or upset
6. courage               f. not planned or predicted
7. unexpected            g. the ability to face something difficult without fear
1. b | 2. a | 3. c | 4. d | 5. e | 6. g | 7. f

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

waistt - shocked - courage - unexpected - proud - confident - haircu

1. Maria's long hair reached her ______.
2. She felt ______ of her beautiful hair.
3. Her new appearance made her feel more ______.
4. Maria decided to get a very short ______.
5. Her mother was ______ when she saw Maria's new hair.
6. Her short hair became a symbol of ______.
7. The change brought ______ surprises into her life.
1. waist | 2. proud | 3. confident | 4. haircut | 5. shocked | 6. courage | 7. unexpected

Odd One Out 

Odd One Out

1. proud - pleased - happy - ashamed

2. confident - brave - sure - nervous

3. shocked - surprised - amazed - calm

4. courage - bravery - confidence - fear

5. beautiful - attractive - lovely - ugly

6. short - small - little - enormous

7. change - difference - transformation - sameness
1. ashamed | 2. nervous | 3. calm | 4. fear | 5. ugly | 6. enormous | 7. sameness

Comprehension Exercises

True/False 

Answer with True or False

1. Maria had long dark brown hair that reached her waist.
2. Maria wanted to keep her hair long forever.
3. Sofia was surprised when Maria decided to cut her hair.
4. Maria asked Carla for a very short haircut.
5. Maria felt unhappy when she first saw her short hair.
6. Her mother was shocked when she saw Maria's new haircut.
7. Maria felt braver and happier after changing her hair.
1. True | 2. False | 3. True | 4. True | 5. False | 6. True | 7. True

Multiple Choice 

1. How long had Maria had long hair?

a. Since she was twenty-five
b. Since she was a little girl
c. Since she started working
d. Since she met Sofia

2. Why did Maria want to cut her hair?

a. She wanted to look older.
b. Her mother told her to cut it.
c. She wanted a change in her life.
d. Sofia wanted a new haircut.

3. Who cut Maria's hair?

a. Sofia
b. Her mother
c. Her boss
d. Carla

4. How did Maria feel when she first saw her short hair?

a. Strange but excited
b. Angry and disappointed
c. Sad and worried
d. Tired and bored

5. How did Maria's mother react at first?

a. She laughed.
b. She was shocked.
c. She was excited.
d. She ignored the haircut.

6. What did Maria's boss say about her new appearance?

a. She looked younger.
b. She looked different.
c. She looked ready for new challenges.
d. She looked tired.

7. What did the short hair become a symbol of?

a. Wealth and success
b. Beauty and youth
c. Courage and freedom
d. Work and friendship
1. b | 2. c | 3. d | 4. a | 5. b | 6. c | 7. c

Ordering 

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ Maria decides to cut her long hair.
2. ___ Maria visits the hair salon.
3. ___ Carla cuts Maria's hair.
4. ___ Maria's mother sees the new haircut.
5. ___ Maria's colleagues react to her new appearance.
6. ___ Sofia visits Maria for coffee.
7. ___ Maria understands the meaning of the change.
1. 2 | 2. 3 | 3. 4 | 4. 5 | 5. 6 | 6. 7 | 7. 8

Find the Evidence 

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. Maria had very long hair.
2. Maria wanted something different.
3. Sofia was surprised by Maria's decision.
4. Maria asked for a very short haircut.
5. Maria felt confident after cutting her hair.
6. Her mother was shocked by the change.
7. Maria became happier after the haircut.
1. "Her hair was dark brown and reached her waist." | 2. "She wanted a change, something different, lighter, and free." | 3. "Her best friend, Sofia, could not believe it." | 4. "Very short. Like a boy's haircut." | 5. "Her face looked different, more open, more confident." | 6. "Her mother saw her and gasped." | 7. "Maria was happier. She smiled more and walked with more energy."

Grammar Exercises

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

Past Simple

1. Maria ______ long hair. (have)
2. She ______ a decision to cut it. (make)
3. Sofia ______ surprised. (be)
4. Maria ______ into a hair salon. (walk)
5. Carla ______ her hair. (cut)
6. Maria ______ at herself in the mirror. (look)
7. Her mother ______ shocked. (feel)
1. had | 2. made | 3. was | 4. walked | 5. cut | 6. looked | 7. felt

Choose one 

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. Maria looked (in / on / at) the mirror.
2. Her hair reached (to / at / by) her waist.
3. She walked (into / under / between) the salon.
4. Maria sat (in / on / from) the chair.
5. Her hair fell (to / from / under) the floor.
6. Sofia visited Maria (for / by / at) coffee.
7. Maria thought (about / under / between) her life.
1. in | 2. to | 3. into | 4. in | 5. to | 6. for | 7. about 
Choose A, AN, or THE

1. She wanted ___ change.
2. She walked into ___ hair salon.
3. Carla was ___ friendly woman.
4. Maria asked for ___ very short haircut.
5. She saw ___ old picture of herself.
6. ___ short hair became a symbol of courage.
1. a | 2. a | 3. a | 4. a | 5. an | 6. The

Transformation 

Change to the Past Tense

1. Maria has long hair.
2. She wants a change.
3. Sofia asks if she is sure.
4. Maria walks into the salon.
5. Carla cuts her hair.
6. Maria looks in the mirror.
7. Her mother reacts with shock.
1. Maria had long hair. | 2. She wanted a change. | 3. Sofia asked if she was sure. | 4. Maria walked into the salon. | 5. Carla cut her hair. | 6. Maria looked in the mirror. | 7. Her mother reacted with shock. 
Make the Sentences Negative

1. Maria hated her long hair.
2. Sofia supported the decision immediately.
3. Maria wanted to keep her hair long.
4. Carla gave Maria a long haircut.
5. Maria disliked her new appearance.
6. Her mother understood the change immediately.
7. Maria felt less confident after the haircut.
1. Maria did not hate her long hair. | 2. Sofia did not support the decision immediately. | 3. Maria did not want to keep her hair long. | 4. Carla did not give Maria a long haircut. | 5. Maria did not dislike her new appearance. | 6. Her mother did not understand the change immediately. | 7. Maria did not feel less confident after the haircut. 
Turn the Sentences into Questions

1. Maria had long hair.
2. She wanted a change.
3. Sofia was surprised.
4. Maria visited the hair salon.
5. Carla cut her hair.
6. Maria felt confident.
7. Her mother was shocked.
1. Did Maria have long hair? | 2. Did she want a change? | 3. Was Sofia surprised? | 4. Did Maria visit the hair salon? | 5. Did Carla cut her hair? | 6. Did Maria feel confident? | 7. Was her mother shocked?

Find the Adjectives 

Find the adjectives in each phrase.

1. long hair
2. dark brown hair
3. new job
4. friendly woman
5. short hair
6. confident person
7. exciting life
1. long | 2. dark brown | 3. new | 4. friendly | 5. short | 6. confident | 7. exciting

Find the Adverbs 

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. Maria smiled proudly at her new haircut.
2. Carla worked carefully with the scissors.
3. Maria whispered softly.
4. Her mother reacted immediately.
5. Maria explained calmly.
6. Sofia visited her later.
7. Maria walked confidently into the room.
1. proudly | 2. carefully | 3. softly | 4. immediately | 5. calmly | 6. later | 7. confidently

Speaking Activities

What Would You Do? 

1. Would you make a big change to your appearance?
2. Would you cut your hair very short?
3. Would you listen to your friend's opinion?
4. Would you try something new if you were afraid?
5. Would you change something about yourself to start a new chapter?
6. Would you encourage a friend who wanted to make a big change?
7. Would you regret changing your appearance?

Rate the Story 

1. How inspiring is the story?

1 = Not inspiring
5 = Extremely inspiring

2. How surprising is Maria's decision?

1 = Not surprising
5 = Extremely surprising

3. How brave is Maria?

1 = Not brave
5 = Extremely brave

4. How supportive is Sofia?

1 = Not supportive
5 = Extremely supportive

5. How positive is the ending?

1 = Not positive
5 = Extremely positive

Writing Exercise

Change the Ending 

Write a new ending for the story. Imagine that Maria does not like her short hair after a few days. Explain what she does next.
After a few days, Maria began to miss her long hair. She looked in the mirror and felt that the short haircut did not suit her as much as she had hoped. Instead of feeling disappointed, she decided to accept the change and wait for her hair to grow again. She realized that the most important thing was not her hairstyle, but the courage she had found inside herself.

Dialogue 

Write a dialogue between Maria and Sofia when Sofia first sees Maria's short hair.
Sofia: "Wow, Maria! You really cut it!" Maria: "Yes! I wanted to try something completely different." Sofia: "I have to admit, I'm surprised. Do you like it?" Maria: "I love it. It feels strange, but I feel lighter and more confident." Sofia: "You really do look happier." Maria: "That's what matters most. It isn't just about the hair."