Here are numerous simple short stories. These short stories are for all people to read. We all enjoy reading short stories. After the introduction of computer and the invention of internet, many people come to internet to spend their leisure time. Reading short stories online is the best pastime for many people around the world.
This reading comprehension story, 'My Friend Peter,' is for beginning-level English language learners (ELL). It reviews names of places and languages. Read the short story two or three times, and then take the quizzes to check your understanding.
Tips for Reading Comprehension
To aid your understanding, read selections more than once. Follow these steps:
- Try to understand the gist (general meaning) the first time you read.
- Try to understand words from the context the second time you read.
- Look up words you don't understand the third time you read.
Story: 'My Friend Peter'
My friend's name is Peter. Peter is from Amsterdam, in Holland. He is Dutch. He is married and has two children. His wife, Jane, is American. She is from Boston, in the United States. Her family is still in Boston, but she now works and lives with Peter in Milan. They speak English, Dutch, German, and Italian!
Their children are pupils at a local primary school. The children go to school with other children from all over the world. Flora, their daughter, has friends from France, Switzerland, Austria, and Sweden. Hans, their son, goes to school with students from South Africa, Portugal, Spain, and Canada. Of course, there are many children from Italy. Imagine, French, Swiss, Austrian, Swedish, South African, American, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Canadian children all learning together in Italy!
Multiple-Choice Comprehension Questions
The answer key is provided below.
1. Where is Peter from?
a. Germany
b. Holland
c. Spain
d. Canada
2. Where is his wife from?
a. New York
b. Switzerland
c. Boston
d. Italy
3. Where are they now?
a. Madrid
b. Boston
c. Milan
d. Sweden
4. Where is her family?
a. United States
b. England
c. Holland
d. Italy
![Story Story](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123759559/905693642.png)
5. How many languages does the family speak?
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 6
6. What are the children's names?
a. Greta and Peter
![English English](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123759559/128295811.png)
b. Anna and Frank
c. Susan and John
d. Flora and Hans
7. The school is:
a. international
b. big
c. small
d. difficult
True or False Comprehension Questions
The answer key is provided below.
1. Jane is Canadian. [True / False]
2. Peter is Dutch. [True / False]
3. There are many children from different countries at the school. [True / False]
4. There are children from Australia at the school. [True / False]
5. Their daughter has friends from Portugal. [True / False]
Multiple-Choice Comprehension Answer Key
1. B, 2. C, 3. C, 4. A, 5. B, 6. D, 7. A
True or False Answer Key
1. False, 2. True, 3. True, 4. False, 5. False
Additional Understanding
This reading helps you practice adjective forms of proper nouns. People from Italy are Italian, and those from Switzerland are Swiss. People from Portugal speak Portuguese, and those from Germany speak German. Notice the capital letters on the names of people, places, and languages. Proper nouns, and words made from proper nouns, are capitalized. Let's say the family in the story has a pet Persian cat. Persian is capitalized because the word, an adjective, comes from a name of a place, Persia.
1. Sara Went Shopping
2. Man Injured at Fast Food Place
3. A Life-Saving Cow
4. Driver Loses Mabel, Finds Jail
5. Jerry Decided To Buy a Gun
6. Freeway Chase Ends at Newsstand
7. Better To Be Unlucky
8. Food Fight Erupted in Prison
9. Wanted To Know How His Pig's Doing
10. Goats Being Hired
11. A Missing Cat
12. Book Him
13. Water Under the Sink (Part One)
14. Water Under the Sink (Part Two)
15. Theft Occurs Everywhere
16. Eggs and a Bunny
17. Hotel Says Goodbye to Clean Couple
18. $100 Deposit
19. Books Don't Grow on Trees
20. A Murder-Suicide
21--40
41--60
61--80
81--100
2. Man Injured at Fast Food Place
3. A Life-Saving Cow
4. Driver Loses Mabel, Finds Jail
5. Jerry Decided To Buy a Gun
6. Freeway Chase Ends at Newsstand
7. Better To Be Unlucky
8. Food Fight Erupted in Prison
9. Wanted To Know How His Pig's Doing
10. Goats Being Hired
11. A Missing Cat
12. Book Him
13. Water Under the Sink (Part One)
14. Water Under the Sink (Part Two)
15. Theft Occurs Everywhere
16. Eggs and a Bunny
17. Hotel Says Goodbye to Clean Couple
18. $100 Deposit
19. Books Don't Grow on Trees
20. A Murder-Suicide
21--40
41--60
61--80
81--100
Extra Stories
01--2021--40
41--55