Story
The Lost Ticket
Language focus: Present simple tense; basic verbs (lose, find, look); simple nouns
Before you read
- Do you use tickets?
- Do you lose things?
- What do you do when you lose something?
The story A1
Maya has a ticket.
She goes to the train.
She cannot find it.
She looks in her bag.
She finds it.
Key words
ticket
noun
a piece of paper or card to travel
"Maya has a ticket."
lose
verb
to not have something because you cannot find it
"She loses her ticket."
bag
noun
something you carry things in
"She looks in her bag."
Comprehension
- 1 What does Maya have?
- 2 Where does she go?
- 3 Where does she find the ticket?
Discussion
- 1 Do you check your bag often?
Personal reflection
- 1 What do you often lose?
Activities
- Act out looking for something
- Name items in your bag
- Draw a ticket and label it
Writing task
Write 3 sentences. Start: 'I lose my ... I look ... I find ...'
Language focus: Past simple tense; problem-solving verbs; sequencing words (first, then, finally)
Before you read
- Have you ever lost something important?
- What did you do?
- Did you find it again?
The story A2
Maya arrived at the train station early one morning.
She reached into her bag to get her ticket, but it was not there.
First, she checked all her pockets carefully.
Then, she opened her bag and looked inside again.
Finally, she found the ticket inside a small notebook.
She felt relieved and quickly boarded the train.
Key words
relieved
adjective
feeling happy because a problem is solved
"She felt relieved when she found it."
pocket
noun
a small space in clothes for carrying things
"She checked her pockets."
carefully
adverb
in a way that avoids mistakes
"She looked carefully in her bag."
Comprehension
- 1 Where was Maya?
- 2 What did she do first?
- 3 Where was the ticket?
Discussion
- 1 Where do you keep important things?
Personal reflection
- 1 Tell your partner about something you lost and found.
Activities
- Write steps using first, then, finally
- Discuss how to stay organised
- Share stories about losing items
Writing task
Write a short paragraph about losing something. How did you find it?
Language focus: Past simple vs past continuous; sequencing events; expressing emotions
Before you read
- Why is organisation important when travelling?
- What problems can happen if we lose something important?
- How do you stay organised?
The story B1
Maya was preparing to board her train when she realised her ticket was missing. She had just taken it out earlier, but now it was nowhere to be found.
While she was checking her bag, she began to feel nervous. The train was due to leave soon, and she did not want to miss it.
She searched every pocket and even emptied her bag onto a nearby bench. Despite her efforts, the ticket was still missing.
Eventually, she found it inside a notebook where she had placed it without thinking. She quickly gathered her things and boarded the train just in time.
The experience reminded her to keep important items in one place to avoid unnecessary stress.
Key words
nervous
adjective
feeling worried about something
"She felt nervous about missing the train."
effort
noun
trying hard to do something
"She made a big effort to find it."
remind
verb
to make someone remember something
"The experience reminded her to be careful."
organised
adjective
arranged in a neat and logical way
"She wanted to be more organised."
Comprehension
- 1 When did Maya realise her ticket was missing?
- 2 What did she do to find it?
- 3 What lesson did she learn?
Discussion
- 1 What strategies help you stay organised?
Personal reflection
- 1 Have you ever nearly missed something important? What happened?
Activities
- Retell the story in your own words
- Discuss organisation habits
- Create a checklist for travel
Writing task
Write about a time you lost something important. What did you do and what did you learn?
Language focus: Complex structures; reflective language; abstract nouns (organisation, anxiety, responsibility)
Before you read
- How important is organisation in modern life?
- What role does stress play when things go wrong?
- Can small mistakes have big consequences?
The story B2
Maya had always considered herself an organised traveller, yet on that particular morning, things did not go as planned. As she approached the train platform, she reached for her ticket, only to realise it was missing. A brief moment of confusion quickly turned into anxiety as she retraced her steps mentally.
She began searching through her belongings, growing increasingly frustrated as each pocket and compartment revealed nothing. The departure time was approaching, and the pressure of the situation made it difficult to think clearly.
After several minutes of searching, she paused and took a breath. It was then that she remembered placing the ticket inside her notebook for safekeeping. Upon checking, she found it exactly where she had left it.
Relieved but slightly embarrassed, she boarded the train just before it departed. The incident served as a reminder that organisation is not only about good intentions, but also about consistency and clear habits.
From that day on, Maya made a conscious effort to keep essential items in a designated place, recognising that even small lapses in attention can lead to unnecessary stress.
Key words
anxiety
noun
a feeling of worry or nervousness
"She felt anxiety when she could not find the ticket."
frustration
noun
a feeling of annoyance when things go wrong
"Her frustration grew as she searched."
consistency
noun
doing something the same way over time
"Organisation requires consistency."
designated
adjective
chosen for a specific purpose
"She kept items in a designated place."
Comprehension
- 1 Why did Maya feel anxious at the station?
- 2 What helped her finally find the ticket?
- 3 What long-term change did she make?
Discussion
- 1 Do you agree that organisation depends on habits rather than intentions? Why or why not?
Personal reflection
- 1 Describe a situation where stress made it harder for you to solve a problem.
Activities
- Debate: Are small mistakes avoidable or inevitable?
- Write the story from a train conductor’s perspective
- Discuss personal organisation systems
Writing task
Write a reflective essay (150–200 words) on how small organisational habits can prevent larger problems in daily life.