There once was a girl named Polly who really wanted a puppy. She dreamed about playing with it and made plans for snuggling together. Her mom and dad didn’t want a pet because it was a lot of work and could make a mess. But Polly wanted to show she could take care of a dog.

She started doing chores like cleaning her room and doing dishes without being asked. She even got up early to help feed animals for people living nearby. After a few months, her parents were surprised by how helpful she was. So, they decided to give her a puppy as a gift. The puppy was small and cute. Polly was very happy and named him Buttercup because he was as sweet as a dessert.

Polly and Buttercup had lots of fun together. She taught him tricks and they went for walks in the park. Everyone liked seeing Buttercup play. But one day, the door opened because of the wind, and Buttercup ran out into the street. Polly was scared and ran after him, worried she might not find him.

Polly didn’t stop looking for Buttercup. She called his name until her voice was tired. Just as she was losing hope, she heard a bark from behind a tall fence. A nice old man found Buttercup in his yard. Polly was so thankful, and she said thank you many times. She made a promise to keep Buttercup safe so he wouldn’t run off again.

Polly learned that she needed to be careful with doors and fences to keep Buttercup safe. She loved her puppy very much and wanted to make sure they would always stay together. Polly and Buttercup continued to have adventures, and Polly became even more responsible with her pet.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Polly want as a pet?
3. Why didn’t Polly’s parents want a pet?
4. What did Polly do to show her parents she could take care of a dog?
5. What happened when the door opened because of the wind?
6. What did Polly learn from this experience?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There once was a girl named (1)______ who really (2)______ed a puppy. She dreamed about playing with it and made plans for snuggling together. Her mom and dad didn’t want a pet because it was a lot of work and could (3)______ a mess. But Polly wanted to show she could take care of a dog.

She started doing chores like cleaning her room and doing dishes without being asked. She even got up early to help feed animals for people (4)______ nearby. After a few months, her parents were surprised by how helpful she was. So, they decided to give her a puppy as a gift. The puppy was small and cute. Polly was very happy and named him (5)______ because he was as sweet as a dessert.

Polly and Buttercup had lots of fun together. She (6)______ him tricks and they went for walks in the park. Everyone liked seeing Buttercup play. But one day, the door (7)______ because of the wind, and Buttercup ran out into the street. Polly was scared and ran after him, worried she might not find him.

Polly didn’t stop (8)______ for Buttercup. She called his name until her voice was tired. Just as she was losing hope, she heard a bark from behind a tall fence. A (9)______ old man found Buttercup in his yard. Polly was so thankful, and she said thank you many times. She made a promise to keep Buttercup safe so he wouldn’t run off again.

Polly learned that she needed to be careful with doors and (10)______ to keep Buttercup safe. She loved her puppy very much and wanted to make sure they would always stay together. Polly and Buttercup continued to (11)______ adventures, and Polly became even more (12)______ with her pet.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a pet? Do you have a pet? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if you really wanted a puppy but your parents didn’t want one? Why?
3. Do you think it’s important to help out with chores at home? Why or why not?
4. What do you think Polly’s parents thought when they saw how helpful she was? Why?
5. How do you think Polly felt when she finally got a puppy as a gift? Why?
6. How would you feel if your pet ran away and you couldn’t find them? Why?
7. What do you think Polly learned from the experience with Buttercup running away? Why is it important to be careful with doors and fences?
8. Do you think having a pet can teach you responsibility? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. puppy
2. chores
3. snuggling
4. surprised
5. dessert
6. tricks
7. worried
8. losing hope
9. thankful
10. promise
11. responsible
12. adventures

Meanings:
(A) A young dog
(B) Exciting and fun experiences or activities
(C) Feeling shocked or amazed by something unexpected
(D) A sweet treat that you eat after a meal
(E) Actions that you teach an animal to do
(F) A commitment to do something or keep something
(G) Starting to believe that something won’t happen or work out
(H) Feeling grateful or appreciative for something
(I) Being reliable and doing what you are supposed to do
(J) Jobs or tasks that need to be done around the house
(K) Feeling anxious or afraid about something bad happening
(L) Cuddling or hugging closely
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Polly really want?
(a) A kitten
(b) A puppy
(c) A goldfish
(d) A hamster

2. Why didn’t Polly’s parents want a pet?
(a) They were allergic to animals
(b) They didn’t have enough money
(c) They didn’t like animals
(d) It was a lot of work and could make a mess

3. What did Polly do to show she could take care of a dog?
(a) Played with her friends
(b) Did chores without being asked
(c) Watched TV all day
(d) Ignored her responsibilities

4. What did Polly name her puppy?
(a) Daisy
(b) Rose
(c) Buttercup
(d) Lily

5. Where did Polly and Buttercup go for walks?
(a) The park
(b) The beach
(c) The mall
(d) The library

6. How did Buttercup end up in the old man’s yard?
(a) He climbed over a fence
(b) He followed another dog
(c) He ran out into the street
(d) He got lost in the park

7. What did Polly learn about doors and fences?
(a) She should leave them open all the time
(b) They were not important
(c) They were too difficult to handle
(d) She needed to be careful with them to keep Buttercup safe

8. How did Polly feel about her puppy?
(a) She loved him very much
(b) She didn’t like him anymore
(c) She was scared of him
(d) She was annoyed by him

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. After a few months of being helpful, Polly’s parents decided to give her a puppy as a gift.
2. Polly really wanted a puppy and dreamed about playing with it.
3. Polly avoided doing chores without being asked to prove she couldn’t take care of a dog.
4. Polly’s parents wanted a pet because it could be little work and not make a mess.
5. One day, Buttercup stayed inside the house and Polly had to relax after him.
6. Polly named her puppy Buttercup because he was as sweet as a dessert.
7. Polly and Buttercup had lots of fun together, learning tricks and going for walks in the park.
8. Polly found Buttercup behind a short fence with the hinderance of an mean young woman, and promised to put him in danger.
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 is the main character in the story?
Polly is the main character in the story.

2. What did Polly want as a pet?
Polly wanted a puppy as a pet.

3. Why didn’t Polly’s parents want a pet?
Polly’s parents didn’t want a pet because it was a lot of work and could make a mess.

4. What did Polly do to show her parents she could take care of a dog?
Polly started doing chores without being asked and helped feed animals for people nearby.

5. What happened when the door opened because of the wind?
When the door opened because of the wind, Buttercup, the puppy, ran out into the street.

6. What did Polly learn from this experience?
Polly learned to be careful with doors and fences to keep Buttercup safe.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Polly
(2) want
(3) make
(4) living
(5) Buttercup
(6) taught
(7) opened
(8) looking
(9) nice
(10) fences
(11) have
(12) responsible
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. puppy
Answer: (A) A young dog

2. chores
Answer: (J) Jobs or tasks that need to be done around the house

3. snuggling
Answer: (L) Cuddling or hugging closely

4. surprised
Answer: (C) Feeling shocked or amazed by something unexpected

5. dessert
Answer: (D) A sweet treat that you eat after a meal

6. tricks
Answer: (E) Actions that you teach an animal to do

7. worried
Answer: (K) Feeling anxious or afraid about something bad happening

8. losing hope
Answer: (G) Starting to believe that something won’t happen or work out

9. thankful
Answer: (H) Feeling grateful or appreciative for something

10. promise
Answer: (F) A commitment to do something or keep something

11. responsible
Answer: (I) Being reliable and doing what you are supposed to do

12. adventures
Answer: (B) Exciting and fun experiences or activities
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Polly really want?
Answer: (b) A puppy

2. Why didn’t Polly’s parents want a pet?
Answer: (d) It was a lot of work and could make a mess

3. What did Polly do to show she could take care of a dog?
Answer: (b) Did chores without being asked

4. What did Polly name her puppy?
Answer: (c) Buttercup

5. Where did Polly and Buttercup go for walks?
Answer: (a) The park

6. How did Buttercup end up in the old man’s yard?
Answer: (c) He ran out into the street

7. What did Polly learn about doors and fences?
Answer: (d) She needed to be careful with them to keep Buttercup safe

8. How did Polly feel about her puppy?
Answer: (a) She loved him very much
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. After a few months of being helpful, Polly’s parents decided to give her a puppy as a gift. (Answer: True)
2. Polly really wanted a puppy and dreamed about playing with it. (Answer: True)
3. Polly avoided doing chores without being asked to prove she couldn’t take care of a dog. (Answer: False)
4. Polly’s parents wanted a pet because it could be little work and not make a mess. (Answer: False)
5. One day, Buttercup stayed inside the house and Polly had to relax after him. (Answer: False)
6. Polly named her puppy Buttercup because he was as sweet as a dessert. (Answer: True)
7. Polly and Buttercup had lots of fun together, learning tricks and going for walks in the park. (Answer: True)
8. Polly found Buttercup behind a short fence with the hinderance of an mean young woman, and promised to put him in danger. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧