Helping Hands – A Story About Asking for and Offering Help
Instructions:
Read the short story below about a group of neighbors helping each other. Then, answer the comprehension questions and complete the discussion task.
Vocabulary
- Move in – to start living in a new place.
- Give (someone) a hand – to help someone.
- Carry (something) up/down – to lift and move something up or down.
- Appreciate – to be thankful for something.
- Let me grab (someone) – to go and get someone to help.
- Set up – to arrange or install something (e.g., Wi-Fi, furniture).
Helping Hands
Lena had just moved into a new apartment. She was excited, but she had a big problem—her sofa was too heavy to carry up the stairs alone. She looked around the building and saw her neighbor, Tom, unlocking his door.
“Excuse me, would you mind giving me a hand with my sofa?” she asked.
Tom smiled. “Of course! Let me grab my friend Jake. It’ll be easier with three people.”
A few minutes later, the three of them worked together to carry the sofa upstairs. “Thanks so much! I really appreciate it,” Lena said when they were done.
“No problem at all,” Jake replied. “If you ever need anything, just let us know.”
The next day, Lena wanted to thank them. She baked some cookies and knocked on Tom’s door.
“Hey, I just wanted to say thanks again for your help yesterday. Would you like some cookies?”
“That’s really kind of you!” Tom said, taking a cookie. “By the way, do you need any help setting up your Wi-Fi? I had trouble with mine at first.”
“Oh, actually, yes! I can’t seem to connect my laptop.”
Tom nodded. “No worries, I’ll show you how to fix it.”
By the end of the day, Lena had a working internet connection and two new friends.
Comprehension Questions
- What problem does Lena have at the beginning of the story?
- How does Tom help her?
- What does Lena do to thank her neighbors?
- What offer does Tom make at the end of the story?
- How does Lena benefit from asking for help?
Discussion Task
Think about a time when you asked for or offered help. Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about what happened. Use some of these phrases:
- “Could you help me with…?”
- “Would you like me to…?”
- “I’d be happy to…”
- “I appreciate it, but…”