English Refresher

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English Refresher · CEFR B1 · Unit 4

Travel & Culture

Tell travel stories in the past simple, put a story in order, and study the flashcards. Practice, check your answers, and get a score.

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Speaking

Share a Travel Story

What to do: Work in small groups. Tell a real travel story. There is no score for this part — just speak and listen.
Audio 1Listen to an example story
Listen to a short travel story, then tell your own.

Plan your story (2 minutes)

  • Where did you go, and when? Who were you with?
  • What did you do? What happened? What was the best part?
  • Write only 4–5 key past verbs — no full sentences.

Tell it in order

  • Use sequencers: First… Then… After that… Later… Finally…
  • Add feeling: "The best part was…", "Suddenly…", "Luckily…"
  • Speak for 60–90 seconds. Your group asks follow-up questions.
Follow-up questions: Where exactly did you go? · How did you get there? · What did you eat? · Did anything go wrong? · Would you go back?
Featured Reading

The Wrong Train

Read the full interactive article and do the comprehension quiz.

Read it →
2
Reading

A Trip to Remember

What to do: Read the travel story. Then answer the questions and tap Check Answers.

Two years ago, Sofia and her brother decided to visit Morocco. They flew to Marrakech and stayed in a small hotel near the old market. On the first day, they got lost in the narrow streets, but a friendly shopkeeper helped them find the way.

The next morning, they took a bus to the desert. They rode camels across the sand and watched the sunset over the dunes. That night, they slept in a tent and listened to traditional music around a fire.

The food was one of the best parts of the trip. They tried tajine, fresh bread, and sweet mint tea. Sofia even learned to cook a simple Moroccan dish.

When they flew home a week later, they felt tired but happy. "It was the best trip of my life," Sofia said. "I can't wait to go back."

1. Where did Sofia and her brother go?
2. How did they travel to the desert?
3. What did Sofia learn to cook?
4. What helped them when they got lost?
5. How did they feel when they flew home?
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Listening

A Holiday Conversation

What to do: Listen two times. Then complete the sentences and answer the questions.
Audio 2Anna asks Tom about his holiday

Anna: Hi Tom! How was your holiday?

Tom: It was fantastic, thanks! I went to Vietnam with two friends.

Anna: Wow! What did you do there?

Tom: Lots of things. We visited Hanoi first, and then we traveled south by train. The journey took almost two days!

Anna: That sounds long. Did you enjoy it?

Tom: Yes, the views were incredible. We saw rice fields, mountains, and the sea. The best part was the food — I ate noodles every day.

Anna: Did anything go wrong?

Tom: Well, I lost my phone on the last day. But a kind woman found it and returned it to me. People were so friendly.

Anna: Amazing. Would you go back?

Tom: Definitely. Next time I want to stay longer.

1. Tom went to ______ with two friends.
2. They traveled south by ______.
3. Tom ate ______ every day.
4. What happened on the last day?
5. How did Tom feel about the people?
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Grammar

Past Simple Review

What to do: Write the past simple of the verb in brackets. Watch the irregular verbs!
1. Last year, I ______ to Japan. (go)
2. We ______ the train to Kyoto. (take)
3. The food ______ amazing. (be)
4. We ______ beautiful temples. (see)
5. I ______ to come home. (not / want)
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Sequencing

Order the Story

What to do: A traveler's day is mixed up. Tap the events in the correct order, from first to last. Tap an event in your answer to put it back. Then tap Check Answers.
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Writing

My Travel Story

What to do: Write a travel story (about 80–100 words) about a real or imagined trip. There is no automatic score — use the checklist to check your own work.
Example: "Two years ago, I traveled to Italy with my family. First, we flew to Rome and explored the ancient city. Then we took a train to Florence, where we saw amazing art. After that, we drove to the coast and swam in the sea. The food was incredible — we ate pizza and ice cream every day. It was the best holiday of my life."
0 words

Did you include…

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Vocabulary

Flashcards

What to do: Tap a card to reveal the meaning and an example. Tap again to close it. Great for quick review or quizzing a partner.
a destinationnountap to reveal
a place you are traveling to"Bali is a popular destination."
an itinerarynountap to reveal
a plan of a journey with dates and places"Our itinerary included three cities."
to bookverbtap to reveal
to arrange and pay for something in advance"We booked our flights online."
a landmarknountap to reveal
a famous building or place that is easy to recognize"The Eiffel Tower is a famous landmark."
to exploreverbtap to reveal
to travel around a place to discover what it is like"We explored the old town on foot."
a souvenirnountap to reveal
an object you buy to remember a trip"I bought a small souvenir for my mom."
localadjectivetap to reveal
belonging to the area you are in"We tried the local food."
to get aroundphrasal verbtap to reveal
to travel from place to place in an area"It's easy to get around by bus."
breathtakingadjectivetap to reveal
extremely beautiful or impressive"The view from the mountain was breathtaking."
culture shocknountap to reveal
the confused feeling of being in a very different culture"At first I had a bit of culture shock."

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Score

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