Key Vocabulary
| Word | Definition | Usage (Sentence) |
|---|---|---|
| impress | To make someone admire or respect you. | He tried to impress the teacher by answering all the questions. |
| pretended | To behave as if something is true when it is not. | The children pretended they were pirates on a big ship. |
| exaggerated | To make something seem larger or better than it really is. | He exaggerated the size of the fish he caught; it wasn’t that big. |
| complicated | Involving many different and confusing parts. | The instructions for the game were too complicated to understand. |
| details | Individual facts or items of information. | The police asked for all the details of the accident. |
| anxious | Feeling worried, nervous, or uneasy. | She felt anxious about her final exam. |
| invent | To create a story or explanation that is not true. | When he was late, he had to invent a good excuse. |
| pressure | The feeling of stress because of demands from others. | He is under a lot of pressure at work right now. |
| situation | The set of circumstances in which one finds oneself. | It was an embarrassing situation when he forgot her name. |
| awkward | Causing feelings of embarrassment or inconvenience. | There was an awkward silence after he told the bad joke. |
| avoid | To stay away from someone or something. | I try to avoid driving during rush hour. |
| guilty | Feeling unhappy because you have done something wrong. | I felt guilty for eating the last piece of cake. |
| confess | To admit that you have done something wrong. | He decided to confess to his parents that he broke the window. |
| disappointed | Sad or displeased because something did not happen as expected. | I was disappointed that our team lost the game. |
| apologized | To say that you are sorry for something you have done. | She apologized for being late to the meeting. |
| forgave | To stop feeling angry towards someone for an offense. | He forgave his friend for forgetting his birthday. |
| relieved | Feeling happy because something unpleasant has not happened. | I was relieved to find out my flight was not cancelled. |
| valuable | Very useful or important. | My grandfather gave me some valuable advice about life. |
| lesson | An experience which teaches you something. | Losing my wallet taught me a hard lesson about being more careful. |
| honesty | The quality of being truthful. | Honesty is a very important quality in a friendship. |
The Story
Sarah wanted to impress her friends. When they asked about her weekend, she pretended she was going to a fancy concert. It was a small lie, but she hoped it would make her seem more interesting. She exaggerated a little, describing a famous band she knew they all liked.
The lie immediately became more complicated. Her friends asked for details about the tickets and where the concert was. Sarah felt anxious and had to invent more stories. The pressure to keep the lie going was making her uncomfortable.
On Monday, her friends wanted to see photos. Sarah made an excuse, saying her phone’s battery died. The situation became very awkward when they suggested going to the same band’s next concert together. She had to avoid the conversation, and she started to feel very guilty.
She couldn’t handle the feeling anymore. The next day, she decided to confess everything. She told her friends the truth about her quiet weekend at home. At first, they were quiet, and she could see they were disappointed, not because she didn’t go to a concert, but because she wasn’t honest with them.
Sarah apologized sincerely for lying. After a moment, her friends forgave her. They explained that they liked her for who she was, not for what she did. Sarah felt incredibly relieved. She learned a valuable lesson about the importance of honesty in a friendship.
Comprehension Quiz
Type the correct long-form answer (e.g., “Yes, it is” or “No, they are not”). You’ll get instant feedback!
Correct Answers Key
1. No, she did not.
2. Yes, she did.
3. No, it was not.
4. No, she did not.
5. No, she did not.
6. Yes, it did.
7. No, they did not.
8. No, they were not.
9. Yes, she did.
10. Yes, they did.
