Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Kwame is visiting his friend Rosa in Madrid for the first time. He arrives at the train station, but Rosa is not there. He has his phone, so he sends her a message.
Kwame: Rosa! I am at the train station, but I can’t find you. There are so many people here! I can see a big café and a bookshop next to it. Where are you?
Rosa: Oh no! Sorry, Kwame! I am at the WRONG station! You are at Atocha, but I am at Chamartín. Don’t move! Can you see a red sign? It says “Metro”. Go there and take Line 1. Get off at Nuevos Ministerios. I meet you there in 15 minutes!
Kwame: OK! I can see the red sign. But how do I buy a ticket? I don’t have euros!
Rosa: You can pay with your card at the machine. It is easy! Don’t worry. I am so sorry. See you soon!
Kwame: No problem! I am not angry. This is a big adventure! 😄
Kwame finds the metro machine. He buys a ticket with his card and gets on Line 1. Twenty minutes later, he sees Rosa on the platform at Nuevos Ministerios. She is very happy to see him. They laugh about the mix-up and go for coffee.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about a person who is lost in the city carefully. Then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: Where is the person in the story?
Answer: The person is in the city.
Lost in the City: A Reading Lesson for CEFR A1
Have you ever been in a new place and not known where to go? It is a scary feeling! In this lesson, you will read a short text message conversation between two friends. One friend is lost in a big city. Before you read, think about these two questions: 1. What do you do when you are lost? 2. How do you ask for help?
Reading Passage: Where Are You?!
Kwame is visiting his friend Rosa in Madrid for the first time. He arrives at the train station, but Rosa is not there. He has his phone, so he sends her a message.
Kwame: Rosa! I am at the train station, but I can't find you. There are so many people here! I can see a big café and a bookshop next to it. Where are you?
Rosa: Oh no! Sorry, Kwame! I am at the WRONG station! You are at Atocha, but I am at Chamartín. Don't move! Can you see a red sign? It says "Metro". Go there and take Line 1. Get off at Nuevos Ministerios. I meet you there in 15 minutes!
Kwame: OK! I can see the red sign. But how do I buy a ticket? I don't have euros!
Rosa: You can pay with your card at the machine. It is easy! Don't worry. I am so sorry. See you soon!
Kwame: No problem! I am not angry. This is a big adventure! 😄
Kwame finds the metro machine. He buys a ticket with his card and gets on Line 1. Twenty minutes later, he sees Rosa on the platform at Nuevos Ministerios. She is very happy to see him. They laugh about the mix-up and go for coffee.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| station | noun | A place where trains or buses stop for passengers | The train arrives at the station at 9 o'clock. |
| can't find | verb phrase | Not able to see or locate something or someone | I can't find my keys. Do you see them? |
| sign | noun | A board or notice with words or pictures that gives information | The red sign says "Exit" — go that way! |
| metro | noun | An underground train system in a city | We take the metro to get to the city centre fast. |
| get off | phrasal verb | To leave a bus, train, or metro at a stop | Get off at the third stop and turn left. |
| machine | noun | An electronic device that does a job, like selling tickets | You can buy tickets from the machine near the door. |
| mix-up | noun | A mistake or a confused situation | There was a mix-up with our hotel booking. |
| platform | noun | The flat area beside the tracks where you wait for a train | Wait on platform 3 for the next train. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Scanning for Specific Information
This text is a message conversation. You do not need to read every word slowly. Scan for names, places, and numbers. For example, if a question asks "Which metro line does Kwame take?", look quickly for the word Line in the messages. You will find "Line 1" very fast.
Understanding Who Says What
In a conversation text, always check who is speaking before you read the message. The names Kwame and Rosa appear before each message. This helps you understand whose problem it is and who gives the instructions.
Using Context to Understand New Words
If you see a word you don't know, look at the words around it. For example, you may not know the word platform. But the sentence says "he sees Rosa on the platform at Nuevos Ministerios." You know it is a place inside a metro station. That is enough to answer most questions!
Skimming for the Main Idea
Read the first and last paragraph quickly. You can see: Kwame is lost → he gets help → he finds Rosa. That is the main story. Skimming first helps you understand the whole text before you answer detailed questions.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Trap 1: Confusing the Two Stations
The text mentions two different stations: Atocha and Chamartín. A common mistake is to mix them up. Remember: Kwame is at Atocha. Rosa is at Chamartín by mistake. If a question asks "Where is Kwame?", the answer is Atocha — not Chamartín.
Trap 2: The Word "Wrong"
Rosa says "I am at the WRONG station." Some students think this means Kwame is at the wrong station. Read carefully! Rosa uses I am — so Rosa is in the wrong place, not Kwame.
Trap 3: How Kwame Pays
Kwame says he has no euros. Some students think he cannot buy a ticket. But Rosa tells him he can pay with his card. The answer to "How does Kwame buy his ticket?" is by card — not cash, and not with Rosa's help.
Trap 4: Feelings at the End
Kwame uses the word adventure and a smiley face 😄. He is not angry or sad. Some students choose "worried" as the answer because he was lost. But the final messages show he is happy and relaxed. Always read to the end of a text before choosing an answer about feelings.
Quick Summary
In this lesson, you read a text message conversation about Kwame, who gets lost at a train station in Madrid. His friend Rosa helps him find the right metro line and station. The text uses simple, everyday language about transport, directions, and feelings. You practised scanning for names and numbers, understanding who is speaking, and avoiding common reading traps like confusing two similar details.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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