Approximately A2 · 62 words

A New Phone

An old phone is slow, but a birthday gift brings a surprise. Follow the events in the past.

Read at your own pace. Use the English meanings below, then answer the questions. The level is a teaching guide, not an assessment. Original stories include some British spellings and settings.

A mobile phone

The story

My phone is very old.

It is slow and the screen is small.

I want a new phone.

But a new phone is expensive.

Last week it was my birthday.

My parents gave me a box.

The box was small and light.

I opened it. It was a new phone!

I said thank you many times.

Now I take photos of everything.

English meanings

Save words to your review deck.

screen
The part of a phone that shows pictures and text.
expensive
Costing a lot of money.
light
Not heavy; easy to lift or carry.

Check your understanding

Choose an answer for each question, then open its explanation. You can try again as often as you like.

1. What is wrong with the old phone?
Show answer and story evidence

It is slow and has a small screen

The story gives both its speed and its screen size as problems. Read the guide

The story says: “It is slow and the screen is small.”

2. Who gave the speaker a box?
Show answer and story evidence

The parents

The parents are the people who give the gift. Read the guide

The story says: “My parents gave me a box.”

3. What was inside the box?
Show answer and story evidence

A new phone

Opening the box reveals the new phone. Read the guide

The story says: “I opened it. It was a new phone!”