A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Read the Comments| Identify what each commenter is doing in the conversation.
True or False| Check understanding.
Put Events in Order| Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
Multiple Choice| Check understanding.
Vocab Match| Connect words to meanings.
Discussion Builder| Choose connecting expressions for discussion ideas.
Discussion Questions| Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
Answers| Answer key for the printed tasks.
My Roommate Brought Too Many People
Think Ahead: What problem do you think the roommate causes?
a) He invites people over but refuses to clean afterward.
b) He brings strangers into the home without permission.
c) He lets guests stay for weeks without paying rent.
More people than expected.
Ask: (1) Who do you live with? (2) Do you like parties?
VOCAB LIST
Shared(adj.) — Used by more than one person.
Lock(v.) — To close with a key so people cannot enter.
Roommate(n.) — A person who shares a home with you.
Guests(n.) — People who visit someone else's home.
Strangers(n.) — People you do not know.
Ruin(v.) — To make something not good anymore.
Hangout(n.) — A relaxed meeting with friends.
Space(n.) — An area that belongs to someone.
Reading
My Roommate Brought Too Many People
I live in a shared house with three roommates, and we usually text each other before guests come. Last night, my roommate Charles said a few friends were coming, so I said okay. But when I came home, the house was full of strangers, and I felt angry right away.
Inside, loud music was playing, and people were drinking in the kitchen. Some people were even sitting on my bed. I asked Charles what was happening. He said the hangout got bigger, and it was going to end soon.
I told the people in my room to leave, then I locked my door. About an hour later, someone knocked and asked to use my bathroom. I said no, because we already have a shared bathroom. Then Charles knocked and said I was making things strange for his guests.
This morning, he said I should say sorry for ruining the party mood. One roommate agrees with him, but another says it was not okay. I think my room is my own space. Was I wrong to lock my own door?
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: What problem do you think the roommate causes?
a) He invites people over but refuses to clean afterward.
b) He brings strangers into the home without permission.
c) He lets guests stay for weeks without paying rent.
Ask: (1) Who do you live with? (2) Do you like parties?
Shared(adj.)
— Used by more than one person.
Roommate(n.)
— A person who shares a home with you.
Strangers(n.)
— People you do not know.
Hangout(n.)
— A relaxed meeting with friends.
Lock(v.)
— To close with a key so people cannot enter.
Guests(n.)
— People who visit someone else's home.
Ruin(v.)
— To make something not good anymore.
Space(n.)
— An area that belongs to someone.
More people than expected.
Poster
Milo
I live in a shared house with three roommates, and we usually text each other before guests come. Last night, my roommate Charles said a few friends were coming, so I said okay. But when I came home, the house was full of strangers, and I felt angry right away.
Inside, loud music was playing, and people were drinking in the kitchen. Some people were even sitting on my bed. I asked Charles what was happening. He said the hangout got bigger, and it was going to end soon.
I told the people in my room to leave, then I locked my door. About an hour later, someone knocked and asked to use my bathroom. I said no, because we already have a shared bathroom. Then Charles knocked and said I was making things strange for his guests.
This morning, he said I should say sorry for ruining the party mood. One roommate agrees with him, but another says it was not okay. I think my room is my own space. Was I wrong to lock my own door?
Read the Comments
Read the Comments
SunnySideUp
You can lock your room. But Charles should ask before bringing more people.
This comment
b. Balances locking his room with asking permission for guests
TeaAndToast
That sounds upsetting. Maybe talk to Charles calmly and explain how this affected you.
This comment
c. Suggests calmly explaining how the party affected him
NoisyParrot
Make clear guest rules now. If not, this problem will happen again.
This comment
a. Urges him to set clear guest rules
a. Urges him to set clear guest rules
b. Balances locking his room with asking permission for guests
c. Suggests calmly explaining how the party affected him
First, listen for the main idea without worrying about unfamiliar words. Ask yourself: What is the main message? Listen again for important details, then try the activities below.
,
Read the text first to understand the ideas and notice unfamiliar words. Then listen while following the text. Pay attention to how the words sound and how the speaker groups them together. Listen again without reading if you can.
.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
I live in a shared house with three roommates, and we usually text each other before guests come. Last night, my roommate Charles said a few friends were coming, so I said okay. But when I came home, the house was full of (1) , and I felt angry right away.
Inside, loud music was playing, and people were drinking in the kitchen. Some people were even sitting on my (2) . I asked Charles what was happening. He said the hangout got bigger, and it was going to end soon.
I told the people in my room to leave, then I (3) my door. About an hour later, someone knocked and asked to use my bathroom. I said no, because we already have a (4) bathroom. Then Charles knocked and said I was making things strange for his guests.
This morning, he said I should say sorry for ruining the party mood. One roommate agrees with him, but another says it was not okay. I think my room is my own (5) . Was I wrong to lock my own door?
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
Explanation
True or False
1. Charles told the poster that only a few friends were coming.
TRUEFALSETrue
2. The poster let strangers stay on his bed all night.
TRUEFALSEFalse
3. One roommate agrees with Charles.
TRUEFALSETrue
Put Events in Order
Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.
1Charles told the poster that a few friends were coming.
2The poster came home and saw strangers in the house and on his bed.
3The poster told people to leave his room and locked the door.
4The next morning, the roommates disagreed about whether what Charles did was okay.
Put Events in Order
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (4):
The poster told people to leave his room and locked the door.
Charles told the poster that a few friends were coming.
The next morning, the roommates disagreed about whether what Charles did was okay.
The poster came home and saw strangers in the house and on his bed.
Charles told the poster that a few friends were coming.
The poster came home and saw strangers in the house and on his bed.
The poster told people to leave his room and locked the door.
The next morning, the roommates disagreed about whether what Charles did was okay.
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Explanation
Multiple Choice
1. Where were some people sitting?
a) In the shared bathroom
b) In the kitchen
c) On the poster's bedCorrect
2. What did someone ask about an hour later?
a) To leave his room
b) To use the poster's bathroomCorrect
c) To end the hangout soon
3. What does the poster say about his room?
a) It is for Charles's guests.
b) It is a shared bathroom.
c) It is his own space.Correct
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition, or select a word and then select its definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Sharede) Used by more than one person.
2. Strangersd) People you do not know.
3. Spacec) An area that belongs to someone.
4. Lockb) To close with a key so people cannot enter.
5. Guestsa) People who visit someone else's home.
a)People who visit someone else's home.
b)To close with a key so people cannot enter.
c)An area that belongs to someone.
d)People you do not know.
e)Used by more than one person.
Discussion Builder
1) Result 2) Reason 3) Result
Q: What guest rules are important in a shared house?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Charles said only a few friends were coming, but the house became full of strangers. the poster felt angry.
Also, / But, / So,
Charles said only a few friends were coming, but the house became full of strangers. So, the poster felt angry.
Someone asked to use his private bathroom. He said no they could use the shared bathroom.
and / because / but
Someone asked to use his private bathroom. He said no because they could use the shared bathroom.
Q: What guest rules are important in a shared house?
A: Another person's bedroom is private, people should not go into it.
so / because / and
Another person's bedroom is private, so people should not go into it.
Discussion Questions
Should the poster say sorry to Charles? Why or why not?
Did the poster do the right thing by locking his door? Why or why not?
What should Charles do after this problem?
How do you feel when strangers come to your home?
Have you ever lived with roommates? What was it like?
What guest rules are important in a shared house?
Is it better to live alone or with other people?
Do you like loud music? Why or why not?
Discussion Questions
Should the poster say sorry to Charles? Why or why not?
Did the poster do the right thing by locking his door? Why or why not?
What should Charles do after this problem?
How do you feel when strangers come to your home?
Have you ever lived with roommates? What was it like?
What guest rules are important in a shared house?
Is it better to live alone or with other people?
Do you like loud music? Why or why not?
Answers·My Roommate Brought Too Many People / Level 2
Think Ahead: b
Read the Comments:
SunnySideUp: b. Balances locking his room with asking permission for guests
TeaAndToast: c. Suggests calmly explaining how the party affected him
NoisyParrot: a. Urges him to set clear guest rules
Read the Comments