Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
My name is Mia. I am 19 years old. I live in a small town in England. Last Monday, I started a new English class at my local community centre.
On the first day, I felt very nervous. I did not know anyone in the class. I sat down at a table near the window. Then a boy sat next to me. His name was Tom.
Tom smiled at me and said, “Hello! My name is Tom. What is your name?” I smiled back and said, “Hi! I am Mia. Nice to meet you!” Tom said, “Nice to meet you too, Mia. Where are you from?” I said, “I am from Poland. And you?” Tom said, “I am from here — England!”
We talked for a few minutes before the class started. Tom told me he liked football and music. I told him I liked reading and cooking. We were different, but we had a good conversation.
After class, Tom said, “See you next week, Mia!” I felt happy. It is not so difficult to meet new people. You just need to smile and say hello!
Exercise 1
Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: What does Maria say when she meets someone new?
Answer: She says "Hello, my name is Maria."
Meeting New People
Every day, people around the world meet new people — at school, at work, or in their neighbourhood. Meeting someone new can feel exciting, but it can also feel a little scary. How do you start a conversation? What do you say first? In this lesson, you will read about two young people who meet for the first time and learn some simple ways to say hello and make a new friend.
Before you read, think about these questions:
- What do you usually say when you meet someone new?
- Where is a good place to meet new people?
Reading Passage
My name is Mia. I am 19 years old. I live in a small town in England. Last Monday, I started a new English class at my local community centre.
On the first day, I felt very nervous. I did not know anyone in the class. I sat down at a table near the window. Then a boy sat next to me. His name was Tom.
Tom smiled at me and said, "Hello! My name is Tom. What is your name?" I smiled back and said, "Hi! I am Mia. Nice to meet you!" Tom said, "Nice to meet you too, Mia. Where are you from?" I said, "I am from Poland. And you?" Tom said, "I am from here — England!"
We talked for a few minutes before the class started. Tom told me he liked football and music. I told him I liked reading and cooking. We were different, but we had a good conversation.
After class, Tom said, "See you next week, Mia!" I felt happy. It is not so difficult to meet new people. You just need to smile and say hello!
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| nervous | adjective | feeling a little scared or worried about something | I felt nervous on my first day at school. |
| community centre | noun phrase | a building where local people meet for classes and activities | We play tennis at the community centre every Saturday. |
| smiled | verb (past tense) | moved your mouth to show you are happy or friendly | She smiled when she saw her friend. |
| nice to meet you | phrase | a friendly thing to say when you meet someone for the first time | "Hello! I am Anna." "Nice to meet you, Anna!" |
| conversation | noun | a talk between two or more people | We had a long conversation about our favourite films. |
| different | adjective | not the same as another person or thing | We like different kinds of music. |
| local | adjective | in or near the place where you live | I go to my local supermarket every week. |
| difficult | adjective | not easy; needs effort or thought | The exam was very difficult for me. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming the Passage
Before reading every word, skim the passage quickly. Look at the first sentence of each paragraph. This tells you the main idea. For example, the first paragraph tells you Mia's name, age, and where she lives. You do not need to read every word to find this information.
Scanning for Specific Information
Scan means to look quickly for one piece of information. For example, if a question asks "Where is Tom from?", move your eyes quickly through the text and look for the word Tom or the word from. You do not need to read everything — just find the key word.
Understanding the Order of Events
This passage is a story, so events happen in order. First, Mia arrives at class. Then Tom sits next to her. Then they talk. Finally, class ends. Ask yourself: What happens first? What happens next? This helps you understand the whole story.
Using Context Clues
If you do not know a word, look at the words around it. For example, if you do not know nervous, the sentence says "I felt very nervous. I did not know anyone in the class." This tells you nervous is a feeling connected to an uncomfortable situation.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Confusing Mia and Tom's Details
The passage gives information about both Mia and Tom. Be careful not to mix up their details. Mia is from Poland. Tom is from England. Mia likes reading and cooking. Tom likes football and music. Read carefully and ask: Who does this sentence talk about?
The Word "local"
The passage says Mia goes to a "local community centre." Some students think local means small. It does not. Local means near where you live. The text does not tell us if the community centre is big or small.
Feeling Nervous vs. Feeling Scared
Mia says she felt "very nervous." This does not mean she was very scared or that she did not want to go to class. Nervous is a lighter feeling — like butterflies in your stomach. She still went to class and talked to Tom, so she was brave!
The Word "different"
The passage says Mia and Tom "were different." This does not mean they did not like each other. The next sentence says they "had a good conversation." Being different does not mean you cannot be friends.
Time Words
Pay attention to words like last Monday, on the first day, and after class. These words tell you when things happen. Do not confuse the order of events in the story.
Quick Summary
In this lesson, you read a short story about Mia, a young woman from Poland who meets Tom, a young man from England, at an English class. They introduce themselves, talk about their interests, and make a new connection. The story shows that meeting new people is not so difficult — a simple smile and a "hello" are great ways to start. You also learned eight important words and useful reading strategies to help you understand the text better.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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