Once upon a time in a cozy little town, there lived three best friends: Max, Ben, and Mia. One chilly winter afternoon, they decided to have a hot chocolate tasting competition at Max’s house. Max’s mom, Mrs. Smith, who was famous for her secret hot chocolate recipe, had agreed to be the judge. The anticipation was in the air as the friends gathered around the kitchen counter.

Ben, the adventurous one of the trio, decided to add a pinch of chili powder to his hot chocolate, in an attempt to create a spicy surprise. Mia, the practical thinker, opted for a splash of peppermint extract. Max, the joker of the group, took Mrs. Smith’s secret recipe and added a dash of hot sauce. The three friends chuckled, their excitement growing with each crazy concoction.

As Mrs. Smith took her first sip, an unexpected twist sent shivers down her spine. She gasped and turned red, a reaction quite different from the usual warm smile. Max’s mischievous grin quickly faded, replaced with a worried look. “Did I accidentally use chili powder instead of cinnamon?!” he exclaimed, in a panic. Ben and Mia exchanged concerned glances, unsure how to fix the unexpected turn of events.

Unbeknownst to Max and his friends, Mrs. Smith was quite the prankster herself. She burst into laughter, revealing that she had cleverly switched her mug with Max’s. Her secret recipe remained untainted, while Max was left with his own fiery mishap. The friends joined in the laughter, realizing that sometimes unexpected surprises can lead to moments of joy and laughter.

In the end, they all agreed that it was the laughter and the shared moments that truly made their hot chocolate experience special. They learned that even when things don’t go as planned, there is always a silver lining waiting to be discovered. From that day on, every time they gathered for a hot chocolate tasting, they were reminded of the importance of embracing the unexpected with a smile.

And so, the three friends continued to explore and create new recipes, each taking turns surprising one another with their unique twists. Their hot chocolate tasting became a tradition in their little town, spreading warmth, laughter, and joy wherever they went. After all, as they discovered, the best ingredients in life are laughter, friendship, and a dash of unexpected surprises.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the three best friends in the story?
2. What did Ben add to his hot chocolate to create a spicy surprise?
3. What did Mia add to her hot chocolate?
4. What did Max add to his hot chocolate?
5. How did Mrs. Smith react after taking her first sip of Max’s hot chocolate?
6. What did Max realize he had accidentally used instead of cinnamon?
7. Why did Mrs. Smith switch her mug with Max’s?
8. What did the friends learn from the experience with the hot chocolate tasting?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time in a cozy little town, there lived three best (1)______: Max, Ben, and Mia. One chilly winter (2)______, they decided to have a hot chocolate tasting competition at Max’s house. Max’s mom, Mrs. Smith, who was famous for her secret hot chocolate recipe, had agreed to be the judge. The anticipation was in the air as the friends gathered around the kitchen counter.

Ben, the adventurous one of the trio, decided to add a pinch of chili powder to his hot chocolate, in an (3)______ to create a spicy surprise. Mia, the (4)______ thinker, opted for a splash of peppermint extract. Max, the joker of the group, took Mrs. (5)______’s secret recipe and added a dash of hot sauce. The three friends chuckled, their excitement growing with each crazy concoction.

As Mrs. Smith took her first sip, an unexpected twist sent (6)______ down her spine. She (7)______ and (8)______ red, a reaction quite different from the usual warm smile. Max’s mischievous grin quickly faded, replaced with a worried look. “Did I accidentally use chili powder instead of cinnamon?!” he exclaimed, in a panic. Ben and Mia exchanged concerned glances, unsure how to fix the unexpected turn of events.

Unbeknownst to Max and his friends, Mrs. Smith was quite the prankster herself. She burst into laughter, (9)______ that she had cleverly switched her mug with Max’s. Her secret recipe remained untainted, while Max was left with his own fiery mishap. The friends joined in the laughter, realizing that sometimes (10)______ surprises can lead to moments of joy and laughter.

In the end, they all (11)______ that it was the laughter and the shared moments that truly made their hot chocolate experience special. They learned that even when (12)______ don’t go as planned, there is always a silver lining waiting to be discovered. From that day on, every time they gathered for a hot chocolate tasting, they were reminded of the importance of embracing the unexpected with a (13)______.

And so, the three friends continued to explore and create new recipes, each taking turns surprising one another with their unique (14)______. Their hot chocolate tasting became a (15)______ in their little town, spreading warmth, (16)______, and joy wherever they went. After all, as they discovered, the best ingredients in life are laughter, friendship, and a dash of unexpected surprises.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite hot beverage and why?
2. Have you ever had a cooking mishap? How did you handle it?
3. How would you feel if someone played a prank on you? Why?
4. Do you like trying new and unusual food combinations? Why or why not?
5. What is your favorite way to create moments of joy and laughter with your friends?
6. How do you handle unexpected surprises in your life? Why?
7. Have you ever participated in a cooking competition? If so, what was your experience like?
8. Do you think it’s important to embrace the unexpected? Why or why not?
9. How do you think the three friends’ tradition of hot chocolate tasting impacted their community? Why?
10. Why do you think laughter and shared moments are important in friendships?
11. What is your favorite childhood tradition? How does it make you feel?
12. Do you think it’s important to have traditions? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. anticipation
2. adventurous
3. concoction
4. mischievous
5. prankster
6. fiery
7. laughter
8. tradition
9. warmth
10. unexpected
11. embraced
12. silver lining
13. ingredients
14. unique
15. joy

Meanings:
(A) A mixture or blend of various ingredients, often in a creative or unusual way
(B) Playfully causing minor trouble or annoyance
(C) The feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen
(D) A long-established custom or belief that has been passed on from one generation to another
(E) Distinctive and not like others
(F) A feeling or quality of being pleasantly hot or comfortable
(G) Willing to take risks or try out new methods, ideas, or experiences
(H) Having a strong, spicy heat
(I) A hopeful or comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty
(J) Not expected or anticipated
(K) The sound or act of laughing
(L) A feeling of great happiness or pleasure
(M) A person who plays practical jokes or tricks
(N) Accepted willingly or enthusiastically
(O) Components or elements that are combined to create something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is the judge of the hot chocolate tasting competition?
(a) Max
(b) Mrs. Smith
(c) Ben
(d) Mia

2. What did Ben add to his hot chocolate?
(a) Peppermint extract
(b) A pinch of chili powder
(c) Hot sauce
(d) Cinnamon

3. What did Max add to his hot chocolate?
(a) A dash of hot sauce
(b) Peppermint extract
(c) A pinch of chili powder
(d) Cinnamon

4. What was Mrs. Smith’s reaction after taking a sip of the hot chocolate?
(a) She burst into laughter
(b) She turned red
(c) She gasped
(d) All of the above

5. What did Mrs. Smith do to Max’s hot chocolate?
(a) She added more hot sauce
(b) She threw it away
(c) She switched mugs with him
(d) She added cinnamon

6. What did the friends learn from the experience?
(a) Hot chocolate is best without any added ingredients
(b) Max’s hot chocolate recipe is the best
(c) Unexpected surprises can lead to joy and laughter
(d) Mrs. Smith is the best judge

7. What did the friends agree made their hot chocolate experience special?
(a) Mrs. Smith’s secret recipe
(b) The unique twists in each recipe
(c) The town they lived in
(d) Laughter and shared moments

8. What did the friends continue to do after the hot chocolate tasting?
(a) Have a tea party
(b) Go on adventures
(c) Play video games
(d) Explore and create new recipes

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The friends stopped exploring and creating new hot chocolate recipes, surprising each other with unique twists.
2. They decided to have a hot chocolate tasting competition at Max’s house.
3. Ben added a pinch of cinnamon powder to his hot chocolate, while Mia added a splash of vanilla extract, and Max added a dash of soy sauce.
4. Their cold chocolate tasting tradition spread warmth, laughter, and joy throughout their town.
5. Max, Ben, and Mia are worst enemies who live in a cozy little town.
6. Mrs. Smith had switched her mug with Max’s, causing Max to unknowingly drink his own fiery concoction.
7. Max’s mom, Mrs. Smith, is famous for her secret hot chocolate recipe and agreed to be the judge.
8. Mrs. Smith revealed her prank and everyone laughed, realizing the importance of embracing unexpected surprises.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who were the three best friends in the story?
Max, Ben, and Mia.

2. What did Ben add to his hot chocolate to create a spicy surprise?
Ben added a pinch of chili powder.

3. What did Mia add to her hot chocolate?
Mia added a splash of peppermint extract.

4. What did Max add to his hot chocolate?
Max added a dash of hot sauce.

5. How did Mrs. Smith react after taking her first sip of Max’s hot chocolate?
Mrs. Smith gasped and turned red, surprising Max and his friends.

6. What did Max realize he had accidentally used instead of cinnamon?
Max realized he had accidentally used chili powder instead of cinnamon.

7. Why did Mrs. Smith switch her mug with Max’s?
Mrs. Smith switched her mug with Max’s as a prank to surprise him.

8. What did the friends learn from the experience with the hot chocolate tasting?
The friends learned that unexpected surprises can lead to moments of joy and laughter, and that it is important to embrace the unexpected with a smile. They also learned that the best ingredients in life are laughter, friendship, and a dash of unexpected surprises.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) friends
(2) afternoon
(3) attempt
(4) practical
(5) Smith
(6) shivers
(7) gasped
(8) turned
(9) revealing
(10) unexpected
(11) agreed
(12) things
(13) smile
(14) twists
(15) tradition
(16) laughter
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. anticipation
Answer: (C) The feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen

2. adventurous
Answer: (G) Willing to take risks or try out new methods, ideas, or experiences

3. concoction
Answer: (A) A mixture or blend of various ingredients, often in a creative or unusual way

4. mischievous
Answer: (B) Playfully causing minor trouble or annoyance

5. prankster
Answer: (M) A person who plays practical jokes or tricks

6. fiery
Answer: (H) Having a strong, spicy heat

7. laughter
Answer: (K) The sound or act of laughing

8. tradition
Answer: (D) A long-established custom or belief that has been passed on from one generation to another

9. warmth
Answer: (F) A feeling or quality of being pleasantly hot or comfortable

10. unexpected
Answer: (J) Not expected or anticipated

11. embraced
Answer: (N) Accepted willingly or enthusiastically

12. silver lining
Answer: (I) A hopeful or comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty

13. ingredients
Answer: (O) Components or elements that are combined to create something

14. unique
Answer: (E) Distinctive and not like others

15. joy
Answer: (L) A feeling of great happiness or pleasure
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is the judge of the hot chocolate tasting competition?
Answer: (b) Mrs. Smith

2. What did Ben add to his hot chocolate?
Answer: (b) A pinch of chili powder

3. What did Max add to his hot chocolate?
Answer: (a) A dash of hot sauce

4. What was Mrs. Smith’s reaction after taking a sip of the hot chocolate?
Answer: (a) She burst into laughter

5. What did Mrs. Smith do to Max’s hot chocolate?
Answer: (c) She switched mugs with him

6. What did the friends learn from the experience?
Answer: (c) Unexpected surprises can lead to joy and laughter

7. What did the friends agree made their hot chocolate experience special?
Answer: (d) Laughter and shared moments

8. What did the friends continue to do after the hot chocolate tasting?
Answer: (d) Explore and create new recipes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The friends stopped exploring and creating new hot chocolate recipes, surprising each other with unique twists. (Answer: False)
2. They decided to have a hot chocolate tasting competition at Max’s house. (Answer: True)
3. Ben added a pinch of cinnamon powder to his hot chocolate, while Mia added a splash of vanilla extract, and Max added a dash of soy sauce. (Answer: False)
4. Their cold chocolate tasting tradition spread warmth, laughter, and joy throughout their town. (Answer: False)
5. Max, Ben, and Mia are worst enemies who live in a cozy little town. (Answer: False)
6. Mrs. Smith had switched her mug with Max’s, causing Max to unknowingly drink his own fiery concoction. (Answer: True)
7. Max’s mom, Mrs. Smith, is famous for her secret hot chocolate recipe and agreed to be the judge. (Answer: True)
8. Mrs. Smith revealed her prank and everyone laughed, realizing the importance of embracing unexpected surprises. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧