In a small, sleepy village tucked between rolling green hills, there stood an ancient wishing well. The townsfolk believed it granted wishes, but also warned of its oddities. Benny, a curious boy with bright eyes and an insatiable imagination, decided it was time to test the well’s powers. He set off after school with his best friend, Sam, who always ribbed him about his endless fascination with mysteries.

As they approached the well, Benny leaned over the crumbling stone edge and whispered, “I wish for a giant chocolate cake!” Much to his surprise, the ground began to rumble, and with a loud *splash*, a colossal cake flopped out of the well, landing right beside him with a gooey thud. It was the biggest cake anyone had ever seen! However, the moment they sliced it, they found it was filled with squishy rubber ducks instead of the delicious chocolate they had hoped for. “What a cake! I guess it quacks under pressure!” Sam chuckled, and although they were disappointed, they couldn’t stop laughing.

Determined to try again, Benny exclaimed next, “I wish for a pet dragon!” The well seemed to gulp as they grew silent, and out popped a baby dragon that dazzled with shimmering, rainbow-colored scales. Its tiny wings flapped excitedly as it took to the air, accidentally knocking over a stack of nearby hay bales. But as the boys laughed, they realized something. This little dragon didn’t breathe fire; instead, it released clouds of confetti that rained down like a disco party! “Well, at least our dragon is a party animal!” Sam said, doubling over in giggles.

After several more unexpected wishes—a waterfall of grape soda, a trampoline that turned into a bouncy castle, and even a life-sized statue of a dancing chicken—the friends finally sat down, exhausted from all the surprises. “Benny, I think the well is having fun with us!” Sam exclaimed between fits of laughter. It was true; their wishes were foolishly funny and utterly unpredictable—a rollercoaster of delightful chaos.

Just when they thought the shenanigans were over, Benny had one last wish. “I wish to understand how this wishing well works!” He peered into the dark depths, hoping for wisdom. Suddenly, an exaggerated voice echoed from below, “You must learn to be careful what you wish for! Wishes can be silly or serious, but the best ones are those you make for others!” The boys looked at each other, their giggles fading as they realized the wisdom in the well’s words.

Inspired by the well’s message, Benny and Sam decided to wish for something special together. “We wish that everyone in the village has fun and a day full of laughter!” They both shouted. Just then, vibrant balloons, confetti, and laughter erupted from the well. The town was filled with joy, and everyone joined in a great celebration, dancing and playing games. As Benny and Sam watched the happiness unfold, they understood the true power of a wish: sharing joy makes it greater than any silly surprise the well could conjure.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Benny wish for first when he approached the wishing well?
2. How did the boys react when they discovered the giant cake was filled with rubber ducks?
3. Describe the baby dragon that Benny wished for and its unique ability.
4. What were some of the other unexpected wishes that Benny and Sam made?
5. What lesson did the well teach Benny and Sam about wishes?
6. How did Benny and Sam’s final wish differ from their previous wishes?
7. What was the outcome of Benny and Sam’s wish for everyone in the village?
8. How did the story illustrate the idea of sharing joy through wishes?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small, sleepy village tucked between rolling green hills, there stood an ancient (1)______ well. The townsfolk believed it granted wishes, but also warned of its oddities. Benny, a curious boy with bright eyes and an insatiable imagination, decided it was time to test the well’s powers. He set off after school with his best friend, Sam, who always ribbed him about his endless (2)______ with mysteries.

As they approached the well, Benny leaned over the crumbling stone edge and whispered, “I wish for a giant chocolate cake!” Much to his surprise, the ground (3)______ to (4)______, and with a loud *splash*, a colossal cake flopped out of the well, landing right beside him with a gooey thud. It was the biggest cake anyone had ever seen! However, the moment they sliced it, they found it was (5)______ with (6)______ rubber ducks instead of the delicious chocolate they had hoped for. “What a cake! I guess it quacks under pressure!” Sam chuckled, and although they were disappointed, they couldn’t stop laughing.

Determined to try again, Benny exclaimed next, “I wish for a pet dragon!” The well seemed to gulp as they grew silent, and out (7)______ a baby dragon that dazzled with shimmering, rainbow-colored scales. Its tiny wings flapped excitedly as it took to the air, accidentally knocking over a stack of nearby hay bales. But as the boys (8)______, they realized something. This little dragon didn’t breathe fire; instead, it released clouds of confetti that rained down like a disco party! “Well, at least our dragon is a party animal!” Sam said, doubling over in (9)______.

After (10)______ more unexpected wishes—a waterfall of grape soda, a trampoline that turned into a bouncy castle, and even a life-sized statue of a dancing chicken—the friends finally sat down, exhausted from all the (11)______. “(12)______, I think the well is having fun with us!” Sam exclaimed between fits of laughter. It was true; their wishes were foolishly funny and utterly unpredictable—a rollercoaster of delightful chaos.

Just when they thought the shenanigans were over, Benny had one last wish. “I wish to understand how this wishing well works!” He peered into the dark depths, hoping for wisdom. Suddenly, an exaggerated voice echoed from below, “You must learn to be careful what you wish for! Wishes can be (13)______ or serious, but the best ones are those you make for others!” The boys (14)______ at each other, their giggles fading as they realized the wisdom in the well’s words.

(15)______ by the well’s message, Benny and Sam decided to wish for something special together. “We wish that everyone in the village has fun and a day full of laughter!” They both shouted. Just then, vibrant (16)______, confetti, and laughter erupted from the well. The town was filled with joy, and everyone joined in a great celebration, dancing and playing games. As Benny and Sam watched the happiness unfold, they understood the true power of a wish: sharing joy makes it greater than any silly surprise the well could conjure.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a wish you have made in your life, and did it come true?

2. How would you feel if you discovered a magical object that granted wishes?

3. Do you think it is wise to wish for something without considering the consequences? Why or why not?

4. What is a time when you or someone you know experienced an unexpected outcome from a decision?

5. Do you like the idea of sharing your wishes with others, like Benny and Sam did? Why or why not?

6. How would you react if your wish turned out to be completely different from what you expected?

7. Do you think the message of the story—that wishes for others can be more meaningful—is important in real life? Why?

8. What is a silly wish you would make if you had the chance?

9. How do you think the concept of wishing can reflect our desires and values in life?

10. Have you ever felt that your imagination led you to unexpected adventures? Can you share an example?

11. Do you believe in the power of positive thinking or wishing? How has that belief affected your life?

12. How would you feel if you had the ability to grant wishes to others? What kind of wishes would you want to grant?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. insatiable
2. crumbling
3. colossal
4. gooey
5. shimmering
6. confetti
7. exhausted
8. shenanigans
9. exaggerated
10. unpredictable
11. rollercoaster
12. chaos
13. wisdom
14. conjure
15. vibrant

Meanings:
(A) Soft and sticky
(B) Overstated or made to seem more important than it is
(C) Breaking or falling apart
(D) Full of energy and life
(E) Extremely large or immense
(F) Mischievous or playful activities
(G) To create or bring into existence as if by magic
(H) Reflecting light in a sparkling way
(I) Small pieces of paper thrown during celebrations
(J) Very tired or worn out
(K) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment
(L) Not able to be predicted or foreseen
(M) Complete disorder and confusion
(N) Impossible to satisfy
(O) A series of sudden and extreme changes
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Benny first wish for at the wishing well?
(a) A pet dragon
(b) A giant chocolate cake
(c) A trampoline
(d) A statue of a dancing chicken

2. What unexpected item was found inside the giant chocolate cake?
(a) Jellybeans
(b) Marshmallows
(c) Gummy bears
(d) Squishy rubber ducks

3. What color were the scales of the baby dragon that Benny wished for?
(a) Blue
(b) Green
(c) Rainbow-colored
(d) Gold

4. What did the baby dragon release instead of fire?
(a) Water
(b) Smoke
(c) Glitter
(d) Clouds of confetti

5. What was Benny’s last wish before he learned the lesson from the well?
(a) To understand how the wishing well works
(b) For a lifetime supply of candy
(c) For a magical adventure
(d) To be the strongest boy in the village

6. What message did the well convey to Benny and Sam?
(a) Always wish for something big
(b) Wishes should only be for yourself
(c) Be careful what you wish for
(d) Wishes are always serious

7. What did Benny and Sam ultimately wish for together?
(a) A day full of laughter for everyone in the village
(b) A new playground
(c) A feast for the townsfolk
(d) A treasure hunt

8. What was the outcome of Benny and Sam’s final wish?
(a) A quiet day in the village
(b) A celebration filled with joy and laughter
(c) A magical creature appeared
(d) A beautiful rainbow in the sky

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. One of Benny’s wishes results in a baby dragon that releases confetti instead of breathing fire.
2. Benny is a curious boy known for his imagination and fascination with secrets.
3. Sam is Benny’s best friend who often teases him about his interests.
4. Benny and Sam ultimately wish for everyone in the village to have fun and endure a day full of laughter.
5. The story takes place in a small village surrounded by rolling green hills.
6. The well imparts a lesson about the nature of wishes, emphasizing the unimportance of wishing for others.
7. The giant chocolate cake that appears is filled with hard rubber ducks instead of chocolate.
8. Benny makes several wishes at the ancient wishing well, including one for a giant chocolate cake.
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. What did Benny wish for first when he approached the wishing well?
Benny wished for a giant chocolate cake.

2. How did the boys react when they discovered the giant cake was filled with rubber ducks?
They were disappointed but couldn’t stop laughing at the unexpected surprise.

3. Describe the baby dragon that Benny wished for and its unique ability.
The baby dragon had shimmering, rainbow-colored scales and could release clouds of confetti instead of breathing fire.

4. What were some of the other unexpected wishes that Benny and Sam made?
They wished for a waterfall of grape soda, a trampoline that turned into a bouncy castle, and a life-sized statue of a dancing chicken.

5. What lesson did the well teach Benny and Sam about wishes?
The well taught them to be careful what they wished for and that the best wishes are those made for others.

6. How did Benny and Sam’s final wish differ from their previous wishes?
Their final wish was selfless, as they wished for everyone in the village to have fun and a day full of laughter, unlike their earlier wishes which were focused on personal desires.

7. What was the outcome of Benny and Sam’s wish for everyone in the village?
The outcome was a vibrant celebration filled with balloons, confetti, and laughter, bringing joy to the entire village.

8. How did the story illustrate the idea of sharing joy through wishes?
The story showed that by wishing for the happiness of others, Benny and Sam created a greater joy that spread throughout the village, highlighting the power of shared happiness.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) wishing
(2) fascination
(3) began
(4) rumble
(5) filled
(6) squishy
(7) popped
(8) laughed
(9) giggles
(10) several
(11) surprises
(12) Benny
(13) silly
(14) looked
(15) Inspired
(16) balloons
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. insatiable
Answer: (N) Impossible to satisfy

2. crumbling
Answer: (C) Breaking or falling apart

3. colossal
Answer: (E) Extremely large or immense

4. gooey
Answer: (A) Soft and sticky

5. shimmering
Answer: (H) Reflecting light in a sparkling way

6. confetti
Answer: (I) Small pieces of paper thrown during celebrations

7. exhausted
Answer: (J) Very tired or worn out

8. shenanigans
Answer: (F) Mischievous or playful activities

9. exaggerated
Answer: (B) Overstated or made to seem more important than it is

10. unpredictable
Answer: (L) Not able to be predicted or foreseen

11. rollercoaster
Answer: (O) A series of sudden and extreme changes

12. chaos
Answer: (M) Complete disorder and confusion

13. wisdom
Answer: (K) The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment

14. conjure
Answer: (G) To create or bring into existence as if by magic

15. vibrant
Answer: (D) Full of energy and life
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Benny first wish for at the wishing well?
Answer: (b) A giant chocolate cake

2. What unexpected item was found inside the giant chocolate cake?
Answer: (d) Squishy rubber ducks

3. What color were the scales of the baby dragon that Benny wished for?
Answer: (c) Rainbow-colored

4. What did the baby dragon release instead of fire?
Answer: (d) Clouds of confetti

5. What was Benny’s last wish before he learned the lesson from the well?
Answer: (a) To understand how the wishing well works

6. What message did the well convey to Benny and Sam?
Answer: (c) Be careful what you wish for

7. What did Benny and Sam ultimately wish for together?
Answer: (a) A day full of laughter for everyone in the village

8. What was the outcome of Benny and Sam’s final wish?
Answer: (b) A celebration filled with joy and laughter
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. One of Benny’s wishes results in a baby dragon that releases confetti instead of breathing fire. (Answer: True)
2. Benny is a curious boy known for his imagination and fascination with secrets. (Answer: False)
3. Sam is Benny’s best friend who often teases him about his interests. (Answer: True)
4. Benny and Sam ultimately wish for everyone in the village to have fun and endure a day full of laughter. (Answer: False)
5. The story takes place in a small village surrounded by rolling green hills. (Answer: True)
6. The well imparts a lesson about the nature of wishes, emphasizing the unimportance of wishing for others. (Answer: False)
7. The giant chocolate cake that appears is filled with hard rubber ducks instead of chocolate. (Answer: False)
8. Benny makes several wishes at the ancient wishing well, including one for a giant chocolate cake. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧