Short English Stories for Beginners with Reading Comprehension Questions
Reading short stories is one of the best ways to improve your English vocabulary, grammar, and understanding.
In this article, you will find simple English stories for beginners with comprehension questions to test your understanding.
Each story includes:
- 🧠 A short and clear text
- 💬 Useful vocabulary
- ❓ Reading comprehension questions
🐱 Story 1: The Lazy Cat
Text:
Tom is a big, orange cat. He loves sleeping all day. His owner, Mary, always tries to make him play, but Tom just yawns and goes back to sleep.
One day, Mary brings a small puppy home. The puppy runs around and barks at Tom. Tom gets angry and finally starts moving! From that day, Tom plays every morning with the puppy.
Vocabulary:
- Lazy = not wanting to work or move
- Yawn = open your mouth when you are tired
- Puppy = a baby dog
Comprehension Questions:
- What color is Tom?
- Who brings the puppy home?
- What does Tom do after the puppy arrives?
🚌 Story 2: The Missed Bus
Text:
Anna wakes up late for school. She runs to the bus stop, but the bus is already gone. She feels sad and starts walking.
After a few minutes, it starts to rain. Suddenly, her neighbor Mr. Smith stops his car and offers her a ride. She thanks him and gets to school on time!
Vocabulary:
- Miss = not catch (the bus, train, etc.)
- Offer = to ask someone if they want something
- Ride = a short trip in a car or bus
Comprehension Questions:
- Why does Anna miss the bus?
- Who helps Anna go to school?
- How does Anna feel at the end of the story?
🐦 Story 3: The Little Bird
Text:
A little bird falls from its nest. It is scared and cries for help.
A kind boy named Leo sees the bird and puts it back in the nest. The mother bird flies back and sings a happy song.
Vocabulary:
- Nest = a bird’s home
- Cry for help = shout because you need help
- Kind = nice, caring
Comprehension Questions:
- What happens to the bird?
- Who helps the bird?
- What does the mother bird do at the end?
🛒 Story 4: At the Supermarket
Text:
Sam goes to the supermarket to buy fruits. He takes apples, bananas, and oranges. At the counter, he realizes he forgot his wallet!
The cashier smiles and says, “It’s okay, you can pay next time.” Sam thanks her and promises to come back tomorrow.
Vocabulary:
- Counter = the place where you pay in a shop
- Wallet = a small case for money
- Promise = say you will definitely do something
Comprehension Questions:
- What does Sam want to buy?
- What problem does he have?
- What does the cashier tell him?
🕰️ Story 5: The Busy Day
Text:
Lisa has a very busy day. She cleans her room, washes the dishes, and does her homework.
At night, she is tired but happy because she finished everything on her list.
Vocabulary:
- Busy = having a lot of things to do
- Finish = to complete something
- Tired = needing rest
Comprehension Questions:
- What does Lisa do during the day?
- How does she feel at the end?
- Why is she happy?
🧠 Reading Practice Tips
✅ Read each story aloud — it helps with pronunciation.
✅ Try to answer the comprehension questions without looking back.
✅ Write a short summary of each story in your own words.
✅ Learn 3 new words from every story every day.
💡 Conclusion
Short stories are a fun and easy way to learn English. They help you understand grammar naturally, learn new vocabulary in context, and improve your reading confidence.
Keep reading every day, and soon you’ll notice how much your English improves!
📖 Short English Stories for Beginners with Reading Comprehension Questions
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