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Beginner English Short Stories: 2000 Most Common Words (A2/B1 Level)
BY CAMILLE HANSON
ENGLISH STORY #15
Story 15: Ava in Mexico
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Beginner English Audio Story 15: Ava in Mexico
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Story 15: Ava in Mexico
Ava was 13 years old and lived in Dallas, Texas. She had never been out of the United States before. Her parents said they were going to take a family trip to Mexico. She was glad about the trip, but she didn’t know what to expect. It was a short flight, but it felt like a big adventure. Her younger brother, Kai, who was 11, couldn’t stop talking about it.
Ava knew some basic Spanish from school. Her best friend, Maria, was from Mexico. Maria loved teaching Ava new words. When a woman at the airport said, “¡Bienvenidos!” Ava smiled proudly. She understood the meaning. It meant, “Welcome.”
On their first day, they visited old Mayan ruins. The stone steps were tall and uneven. Kai wanted to climb on everything. “Stay close,” their dad warned him.
A guide talked about the ancient buildings and the people who lived there long ago. Some of the buildings were many centuries old. Ava listened carefully. She couldn’t believe people had built these huge structures by hand. Kai whispered, “It feels like we’re inside a history book!”
The next day, they went snorkeling. Ava put on her mask and swam in the clear water. She saw colorful fish swimming in groups. A bright yellow one came very close to her face. She laughed into her snorkel. Kai shouted something and pointed. Ava looked and saw a sea turtle. It moved slowly and gently through the water. She felt so happy.
They also tried local foods. Ava ordered chicken tacos and said “gracias” with confidence. Kai tried fresh mango on a stick. Juice ran down his chin. “This is so good,” he said with a grin.
One evening, they watched the sunset at the beach. The sky turned a perfect blend of orange, pink, and purple. They saw many boats in the water. Ava sat in the soft sand and whispered, “Mexico is even better than I imagined.”
Kai nodded. “We have to come back.”
Ava agreed. Her first trip abroad was amazing. She definitely wanted to travel again.
Grammar Tip
It + adjective + to + verb
We use It + adjective + to + verb to talk about how something feels or seems.
It was amazing to see the ruins. It is fun to swim with fish. It feels strange to eat alone.
Just remember: It + adjective + to + verb → shows feelings, opinions, or impressions
Multiple Choice Quiz
Circle the correct answer.
1. Where is Ava from? a) Miami, Florida b) Dallas, Texas c) San Diego, California
2. Who teaches Ava Spanish? a) Her teacher b) Her cousin c) Her best friend, Maria
3. What does Kai want to do at the Mayan ruins? a) Climb on everything b) Sit in the shade c) Read a book
4. What animal do Ava and Kai see while snorkeling? a) A dolphin b) A sea turtle c) A shark
5. What fruit does Kai try? a) Pineapple b) Mango c) Watermelon
Fill in the Blanks
Write the missing word.
1. Mexico is Ava’s first trip ________.
2. The guide teaches them about the old ________ ruins.
3. Ava laughs when a yellow ________ swims close to her face.
4. Ava sits in the soft ________ to watch the sunset.
5. The sunset turns the sky orange, pink, and ________.
Matching
Match the word to the correct meaning. Write the letter (A, B, C, D, or E) on the line.
A. ruins B. snorkel C. sunset D. adventure E. mango
1. Old buildings from the past ___
2. A tube you use to breathe while swimming ___
3. The time when the sun goes down ___
4. A sweet tropical fruit ___
5. A fun and exciting experience ___
Answer Key – Ava in Mexico
Multiple Choice: 1–b, 2–c, 3–a, 4–b, 5–b Fill in the Blanks: 1–abroad, 2–Mayan, 3–fish, 4–sand, 5–purple Matching: 1–A, 2–B, 3–C, 4–E, 5–D
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Learning English doesn’t have to be hard—or boring. With 60 Short Stories for Beginner English Learners (ESL), you’ll enjoy these 60 short, engaging stories designed for high-beginner English learners (A2/B1 Level).
This book gives you 60 engaging English stories designed to help you improve your vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills—all using the 2,000 most common English words.
The stories are short, easy to understand, and come with quizzes, grammar tips, and free audio so you can read, listen, and practice speaking at your own pace.
Start reading today, and watch your English grow naturally—one story at a time!
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