First, study any unfamiliar words here:
| 🤝 agreement 🤝 A situation where people share the same idea or decide on the same thing. -We reached an agreement to meet every Friday after class. -They signed an agreement to work together on the project. 🙇 bending 🙇 Moving your body or a part of it so it is not straight. -She was bending down to pick up the pen from the floor. -He hurt his back while bending over to lift a heavy box. 🤕 bumping 🤕 Hitting against someone or something lightly or by accident. -I was bumping into people because the room was so crowded. -She kept bumping the table with her chair. 🌫️ fade 🌫️ To slowly disappear or become less strong. -The colors of the old photo will fade in the sunlight. -His fear began to fade after he tried the ride once. 🕊️ gently 🕊️ In a soft or careful way. -She touched the baby’s hand gently so she wouldn’t wake him. -Close the door gently so it doesn’t make noise. He spoke gently to calm his friend. 🚪 get through 🚪 To succeed in a difficult situation or finish something challenging. -It took me two weeks to get through that long book. -She needed support from her friends to get through the tough exam. 🎯 got to 🎯 Reached a place or a point in time; arrived somewhere. -We got to the park early and found a good seat. -When they got to the end of the line, the ride was closing. 👀 look at 👀 To direct your eyes toward something or someone. -Please look at the map to see where we are going. -He told her to look at the sunset because it was so beautiful. 👀 looked at 👀 The past form of “look at,” meaning you directed your eyes toward something before. -I looked at the clock and realized I was late. -She looked at the photo and smiled. 🤔 made sense 🤔 Was reasonable or easy to understand. -His explanation made sense, so everyone agreed with him. -It made sense to take a break after several hours of studying. 🎗️ sake 🎗️ For the benefit or good of someone or something. -He did it for the sake of his family. -We should be kind for the sake of peace and friendship. 😮💨 sigh 😮💨 A long breath out, often to show tiredness, relief, or sadness. -She let out a sigh when she finally finished her homework. -He gave a sigh of relief after he found his lost keys. 🌐 spread 🌐 To move or reach out over a larger area or among many people. -The news began to spread quickly through social media. -She watched the paint spread over the canvas as she brushed it on. ⚡ sudden ⚡ Happening quickly and unexpectedly. -There was a sudden noise outside that made everyone jump. -His sudden arrival surprised his family.🥤 swallow 🥤 To make food or drink go down your throat. -Be careful not to swallow too fast, or you might choke. -She had to swallow some water before she could speak. 🤩 thrilled 🤩 Very excited and happy. -I was thrilled to get tickets to my favorite band’s concert. -She was thrilled when she got the job offer. 🤏 tightly 🤏 In a firm or secure way, with little space to move. -The child held her mother’s hand tightly in the crowded store. -He closed the jar tightly so nothing would spill. ↪ turned to ↪ Faced a person or thing, or moved your body toward someone or something. -She turned to her friend and asked for help. -He turned to the window to watch the fireworks. 🎡 Ferris Wheel 🎡 A large round amusement park ride that take people high into the air. – The Ferris Wheel is my favorite ride at the fun park. – I wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel, but the line was too long. |
Word Count: 2010
Reading Level: CEFR B2
Theo & The Ferris Wheel 🎡
Theo was at the front gate of the big fun park and took a slow breath. He saw bright lights, tall rides, and a large crowd of excited people. Children ran from ride to ride, laughing and calling out. Teenagers screamed on the roller coaster. Parents pushed baby carts while smiling at their children. Music played, and the smell of buttery corn snacks and sweet cotton candy filled the air. It looked like a perfect day for everyone else, but Theo felt his heart beating quickly in his body.
Theo was a tall, thin young man with curly brown hair and a gentle smile. People thought he seemed calm, but he had a secret: he was terrified of high places. Even standing on the second floor of a building made him feel shaky. Moving stairs in a mall with open sides worried him. Going up a ladder made his hands wet with fear. Whenever he was high off the ground, his stomach felt tight, and his heart raced.
He was at the park because Penelope, a girl he liked for many months, had invited him. Penelope was cheerful, kind, and smart. She had wavy black hair and bright eyes that made Theo feel stronger when she looked at him. When she smiled, he forgot his worries. Theo wanted her to see him as confident, so when she asked him to go to the new fun park, he agreed right away. He did not remember at first that it had a giant Ferris wheel—one of the tallest rides he had ever seen.
When Penelope arrived, she gave a big smile. She wore a light blue dress and comfortable shoes. Theo felt his face grow warm as he said hello, and she gave him a quick hug. Then she held his hand, and they walked into the park together. Theo tried not to think about his fear. For the moment, he was happy to be with Penelope.
They started with smaller rides. Penelope said, “Let’s try the cars where we can hit each other gently!” Theo agreed, glad it was close to the ground. He drove in circles, gently bumping Penelope’s car, and laughed when she did the same to him. After that, they went inside a very scary house. It was dark with strange noises, but Theo felt safer there than on a ride high in the air. They both screamed when a not real monster jumped out, but then they laughed together. Sharing these moments made Theo feel closer to her.
When they came out of the scary house, Penelope watched the giant Ferris wheel. It rose so high it almost touched the sky. The cabins glowed with red, blue, and yellow lights. From below, the people inside looked as small as toy figures. Theo felt a wave of worry as soon as he saw the ride she wanted to try.
“I heard the view at the top is incredible,” Penelope said, smiling. “Do you want to go on it with me?”
Theo tried hard to smile. He could not tell her about his fear. He wanted her to think he was brave. So he said, “Sure, let’s do it.”
They went toward the Ferris wheel, and each step felt heavier. There were not many people waiting, so they got to the front quickly. Penelope was thrilled. She looked up and spoke about how pretty the ride looked under the evening sky. Theo tried to share her excitement, but inside, he was scared. His heart beat faster, and he thought, “Can I really get through this?” But he also told himself he had to try for Penelope’s sake.
Soon, it was their turn. Theo tried to appear calm as the ride worker opened the small gate. He stepped into the cabin and sat down. Penelope sat across from him, bending forward to see the park below. The door clicked shut, and Theo took a small swallow, cleaning his wet hands on his jeans.
The Ferris wheel began to move. At first, it was smooth, and Theo thought, “Maybe this will be okay.” But then they rose higher. He could see the tops of buildings, and the people on the ground were tiny. A strong fear filled him. He breathed in and out, trying not to fall into deeper worry.
Penelope was busy taking photos with her phone. “Look, Theo!” she said, pointing outside. “You can see the river! And the sun is setting behind the hills.”
Theo tried to watch where she pointed, but looking outside made his head feel like it was going around. He held onto the seat tightly. He hoped Penelope would not notice how tense he was.
The wheel stopped at the highest point to let new riders get on below. The cabin moved a bit in the wind. Theo’s stomach flipped as he imagined what could go wrong if a metal piece broke or if a sudden storm arrived. It made sense to remember that Ferris wheels are built to be safe, but he could not calm his fear.
Penelope saw he was quiet. “You aren’t saying much, Theo. Are you okay?” she asked, looking worried.
Theo tried to act like everything was normal. “I’m fine,” he said. “I’m just watching all the lights.”
She gave a small sigh and touched his hand. “I’m really glad you came with me,” she said. “It means a lot.”
Her kind words gave Theo a small push to keep going. He moved his head up and down to show agreement and held her hand tightly. The cabin started moving again. He reminded himself that he was doing this for Penelope and that he could choose not to let fear stop him.
He saw children running, parents in lines, and groups of friends laughing and carrying colorful balloons. The bright lights of the park and the cheerful music from the carousel slowly made Theo relax a little, even though his fear was still there.
Penelope smiled as she pointed to the orange and pink sky. “Look at the sunset!” she said. “It’s so beautiful.” She took a photo of it, then faced Theo and quickly took another photo of him. He was too surprised to show how he felt, but her playful smile made him feel calmer.
They went around a few times. Each time they reached the highest point, Theo felt fear come back, but maybe not as much as before. Penelope kept speaking about the rooftops, the birds flying by, and how the clouds changed shape. Her excitement passed to Theo, and he realized he wanted to share this experience with her, even if he was still afraid.
Penelope’s face became serious for a moment. “Theo, I want to tell you something,” she said. “I really like spending time with you. I feel comfortable around you, and you make me laugh. I like the way you see the world.” She paused, then continued, “I hope we can keep doing fun things like this.”
Theo felt a warm feeling inside. He wanted to tell her how he felt, too, but he was still a bit unsteady. Finally, he took a slow breath and said, “I really enjoy being with you, Penelope. You make everything brighter.” His voice shook a little from the gentle motion of the ride and from worry. Penelope gave him an even bigger smile.
They soon got to the bottom again, and the ride worker opened the door. Theo gave a deep breath. Penelope reached out her arms. “That was so much fun!” she said. “Thank you for going with me.”
Theo smiled, though his legs felt weak. “Of course,” he said, trying not to drop onto a nearby seat. “I would do anything for you.”
They walked around the park once more. They bought some fried sweet snacks at a food stall and shared them. Then Penelope saw a game where people threw a small basketball into a hoop to win a prize. She asked Theo to try. On his third throw, he made it, and the worker handed him a soft teddy bear. He gave it to Penelope, who held it with a happy smile.
“Thank you,” she said. “I will call him ‘Little Theo.’”
Theo laughed and ran his hand through his curly hair. He felt proud for facing the giant Ferris wheel and for winning a prize for Penelope. He understood that acting brave did not mean feeling no fear. It meant doing what mattered even though he was afraid.
Later, Penelope said they should watch the fireworks near the Ferris wheel. They found a small seat and sat down. Soon, bright colors suddenly exploded in the sky. Loud sounds rang out across the park. Red, green, and silver sparks fell like shining rain.
As they enjoyed the show, Penelope faced Theo. “I had a wonderful day,” she said. “I hope we can do something like this again soon.”
Theo cleared his throat. “I would love that,” he answered. He paused, then decided to tell her the truth. “I’m really afraid of heights,” he said quietly. “When you asked me to go on the Ferris wheel, I almost said no.”
Penelope’s eyes went wide. “Why did you not tell me?” she asked, putting her hand on his arm.
He gave a small lift of his shoulders. “I did not want you to think I was weak. But now I see that sharing my fear might have helped me worry less.”
Penelope pressed his arm gently. “I’m proud of you,” she said. “You still did it. If I had known, I would have held your hand the whole time.”
Theo smiled. He realized that beating fear does not mean acting like it is gone. It means you keep going even when you feel afraid. Because of that, he now felt even closer to Penelope.
The fireworks ended with a bright light of gold and pink that lit up the sky. Theo took Penelope’s hand, and she joined her fingers with his. They watched the last bit of spark fade above them. His heart still beat fast, but now he felt happy more than scared.
He spoke in a soft voice. “Thank you for today. I learned something really important.”
Penelope looked at him, her eyes shining in the glow of the park. “What did you learn?” she asked.
He thought for a moment. “I learned that if something is really special, it’s worth facing your fears. And being honest about your worries can actually make you feel stronger.”
Penelope moved her head up and down to show agreement. “That’s a beautiful idea,” she said.
They remained on the seat for a while, speaking quietly about the day. Then they walked to the exit, still holding hands. Around them, people laughed and spoke about the fireworks and their favorite rides. Theo turned to see the Ferris wheel again. It shone in the dark, and he remembered how high they had been. He was still scared of heights, but he felt proud that he rode it for Penelope.
When they reached the park gate, Penelope said, “Next time, let’s go to the beach. We can watch the water, and there won’t be any tall rides.”
Theo chuckled. “That sounds perfect,” he said.
They shared a quick hug, and Penelope walked to her car, holding Little Theo. Theo watched her go, feeling a calm happiness spread through him.
He gave one last glance at the Ferris wheel. The colored lights were still shining against the night sky. He remembered being at the top, how strong his fear had been, and how he had done it anyway because Penelope mattered so much. In that moment, he knew he had taken an important step in fighting his fear.
With a gentle smile, he walked home, thinking about everything that happened. He understood he would still feel afraid in the future, but he also knew he could face his fear when it really mattered. And for Penelope’s sweet smile, it was worth it.
Questions about the story:
Why does Theo go to the fun park?
A. Because he works there
B. Because he loves tall rides
C. Because Penelope invited him
D. Because he has free tickets
Which ride does Penelope really want to go on that makes Theo feel scared?
A. The roller coaster
B. The Ferris wheel
C. The scary house ride
D. The bumper cars
What is Theo’s main fear?
A. He is afraid of heights.
B. He is afraid of water.
C. He is afraid of animals.
D. He is afraid of clowns.
Which game does Theo play to win a prize for Penelope?
A. Throwing a ring onto bottles
B. Shooting a small basketball into a hoop
C. Throwing darts at balloons
D. Spinning a prize wheel
How do Theo and Penelope end their evening at the park?
A. They go on the Ferris wheel one more time.
B. They play more games until the park closes.
C. They watch a fireworks show near the Ferris wheel.
D. They leave immediately after the haunted house.
What important lesson does Theo learn?
A. It is better to hide your fears so no one knows.
B. Sharing your fears can make you feel braver.
C. You can only beat fear by refusing to do anything scary.
D. Going to a fun park is not worth the trouble.
Where do Theo and Penelope plan to go next time?
A. Another tall ride in the park
B. A different haunted house
C. The beach, to watch the waves
D. A fireworks competition
Answers Key:
Why does Theo go to the fun park?
A. Because he works there
B. Because he loves tall rides
C. Because Penelope invited him ✅
D. Because he has free tickets
Which ride does Penelope really want to go on that makes Theo feel scared?
A. The roller coaster
B. The Ferris wheel ✅
C. The scary house ride
D. The bumper cars
What is Theo’s main fear?
A. He is afraid of heights. ✅
B. He is afraid of water.
C. He is afraid of animals.
D. He is afraid of clowns.
Which game does Theo play to win a prize for Penelope?
A. Throwing a ring onto bottles
B. Shooting a small basketball into a hoop ✅
C. Throwing darts at balloons
D. Spinning a prize wheel
How do Theo and Penelope end their evening at the park?
A. They go on the Ferris wheel one more time.
B. They play more games until the park closes.
C. They watch a fireworks show near the Ferris wheel. ✅
D. They leave immediately after the haunted house.
What important lesson does Theo learn?
A. It is better to hide your fears so no one knows.
B. Sharing your fears can make you feel braver. ✅
C. You can only beat fear by refusing to do anything scary.
D. Going to a fun park is not worth the trouble.
Where do Theo and Penelope plan to go next time?
A. Another tall ride in the park
B. A different haunted house
C. The beach, to watch the waves ✅
D. A fireworks competition
Conversation Starters:
Working with a partner or small group, please discuss a few of these questions, and try to reference the content of the story as much as possible. Also, please try to use any grammar or vocabulary that you are studying recently, and take notes when you hear a new word or learn a new way to say something.
- Theo faced his fear of heights for Penelope. Have you ever done something that scared you for someone else? What happened, and was it worth it?
- Penelope didn’t know about Theo’s fear at first. Do you think it’s better to tell people when you are afraid, or is it sometimes okay to keep it a secret? Why?
- Theo learned that bravery is not the absence of fear but doing something despite being afraid. Do you agree with this idea? Why or why not?
- If you could give Theo advice before he got on the Ferris wheel, what would you say to help him feel less nervous?
- Penelope and Theo had fun with games, snacks, and fireworks. What is your idea of a perfect day at an amusement park? Which rides, games, or foods would you choose?
- Theo faced his fear to impress someone he liked. Do you think people should change or challenge themselves for love? When is it a good idea, and when is it not?
- At the end of the story, Theo feels proud of himself. Can you think of a time when you faced a challenge and felt proud afterward? What did you learn from the experience?
If you are completing these conversations for a class activity, please share your group’s most interesting ideas and opinions with the rest of the class.
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