There once was a dolphin named Flip who lived in the ocean. Flip was an amazing dancer in the water. All his dolphin friends loved to watch him because he could twist and turn really smoothly. Flip had a big dream: he wanted to be part of the famous Water Ballet Show and be the best dolphin dancer in the ocean.

One day, Flip saw a notice about tryouts for the Water Ballet Show on a coral reef. He got super excited and practiced his dancing even more. But Flip had a problem. He couldn’t jump high enough out of the water for people to see him well. But he didn’t want to give up, so he thought of a wild plan.

Flip asked his friend Squawk, a seagull, to help him out. Squawk was confused at first and thought the idea of a dolphin asking a seagull for help was funny. But when Flip told Squawk he needed him to fly and lift him up in the air, Squawk agreed. They started to practice together for their big act.

When the audition day came, the place was filled with sea creatures waiting to see everyone perform. Flip and Squawk got on stage, and everyone there was curious about what they would do together. Flip started dancing in the water, and then Squawk flew down, grabbed Flip, and lifted him high into the air. It looked really cool!

The judges couldn’t believe it, and everyone watching was super impressed. Even the other performers couldn’t help but admire them. Flip and Squawk’s act won them a spot in the Water Ballet Show. Flip’s dream came true, and he also showed everyone an important lesson: when you work as a team, you can do things that seem impossible. Flip became a star and inspired others in the ocean to chase their dreams and work together.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who was Flip and what was he good at?
2. What was Flip’s big dream?
3. Where did Flip see the notice about the tryouts for the Water Ballet Show?
4. Why couldn’t Flip jump high enough out of the water?
5. Who did Flip ask for help and what was their initial reaction?
6. What did Flip and Squawk practice together for?
7. What happened at the audition and how did the judges and audience react?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

There once was a dolphin named Flip who (1)______ in the (2)______. Flip was an amazing dancer in the water. All his dolphin friends loved to watch him because he could twist and turn really smoothly. Flip had a big dream: he (3)______ to be part of the famous Water (4)______ Show and be the best dolphin dancer in the ocean.

One day, Flip saw a notice about tryouts for the Water Ballet Show on a coral reef. He got super excited and (5)______ his (6)______ even more. But Flip had a problem. He couldn’t jump high enough out of the water for people to see him well. But he didn’t want to give up, so he thought of a wild plan.

Flip (7)______ his friend Squawk, a (8)______, to help him out. Squawk was confused at first and thought the idea of a dolphin asking a seagull for help was funny. But when Flip told Squawk he needed him to fly and lift him up in the air, Squawk agreed. They (9)______ to practice together for their big act.

When the audition day came, the (10)______ was (11)______ with sea creatures waiting to see everyone perform. Flip and Squawk got on stage, and everyone there was curious about what they would do together. Flip started dancing in the (12)______, and then Squawk flew down, grabbed Flip, and lifted him high into the air. It looked really cool!

The judges couldn’t believe it, and everyone watching was super impressed. Even the other (13)______ couldn’t help but admire them. Flip and Squawk’s act won them a spot in the Water Ballet Show. Flip’s dream came true, and he also showed everyone an important lesson: when you work as a team, you can do (14)______ that seem impossible. Flip became a star and inspired others in the ocean to (15)______ their (16)______ and work together.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a dolphin?
2. How would you feel if you were Flip and couldn’t jump high enough for people to see you well?
3. Do you like dancing? Why or why not?
4. What do you think of Flip’s plan to ask Squawk the seagull for help?
5. How would you feel if you were Squawk and Flip asked you for help?
6. Do you think it’s important to work as a team? Why or why not?
7. What dreams do you have for the future?
8. Have you ever had to ask someone for help? How did it make you feel?
9. Do you think it’s important to chase your dreams? Why or why not?
10. How do you think Flip’s story can inspire others in real life?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. dolphin
2. amazing
3. twist
4. notice
5. tryouts
6. coral
7. reef
8. audition
9. creatures
10. curious
11. perform
12. impressed
13. admire
14. impossible
15. inspired

Meanings:
(A) Living beings, especially animals, that are not plants or humans
(B) Wanting to know about something or learn about it
(C) Something that is thought to be too difficult to do or achieve
(D) Really surprising and causing wonder or astonishment
(E) A smart and playful sea animal that is known for its intelligence and friendliness
(F) A kind of rock-like structure in the sea, made by the growth of tiny sea animals
(G) Feeling admiration or respect for something or someone, usually because of how good or special they are
(H) Tests or competitions to see who is good enough to join a team or show
(I) To encourage someone to do something or to give them ideas about what to do
(J) To turn your body around and around, or to wrap something around something else
(K) A trial performance to show your skills and see if you can be part of a show or play
(L) To respect and look up to someone or something, often because of their abilities or qualities
(M) A written or printed announcement that informs people about something
(N) A structure under the sea made by corals, which are small sea creatures
(O) To show your skills or talents in front of an audience
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was Flip’s dream?
(a) To be part of the Water Ballet Show and be the best dolphin dancer
(b) To become a famous singer
(c) To travel the world
(d) To become a professional surfer

2. What was Flip’s problem?
(a) He couldn’t swim fast enough
(b) He couldn’t find enough food in the ocean
(c) He couldn’t make any friends
(d) He couldn’t jump high enough out of the water for people to see him well

3. Who did Flip ask for help?
(a) Bubbles, a clownfish
(b) Splash, a sea turtle
(c) Squawk, a seagull
(d) Whiskers, a seal

4. What did Squawk think of Flip’s idea at first?
(a) Squawk thought it was a bad idea
(b) Squawk thought it was funny
(c) Squawk thought it was a great idea
(d) Squawk didn’t understand what Flip was asking

5. What did Flip and Squawk practice together?
(a) Their big act for the Water Ballet Show
(b) Their singing skills
(c) Their swimming techniques
(d) Their flying abilities

6. What happened when Flip and Squawk performed at the audition?
(a) They made a lot of mistakes and were laughed at
(b) They didn’t get a spot in the Water Ballet Show
(c) They decided not to perform and gave up on their dream
(d) They impressed the judges and the audience

7. What important lesson did Flip and Squawk teach others in the ocean?
(a) It’s better to work alone than with others
(b) When you work as a team, you can do things that seem impossible
(c) Dreams are not worth pursuing
(d) Dancing is the most important skill in the ocean

8. What happened to Flip after the audition?
(a) He decided to give up on dancing
(b) He joined a different show instead
(c) His dream came true and he became a star
(d) He lost interest in performing and focused on swimming instead

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Flip fails to come up with a plan to ask his seagull friend, Squawk, for help.
2. Flip dreams of being part of the famous Water Ballet Show and becoming the best dolphin dancer.
3. Squawk initially finds the idea of a dolphin asking a seagull for help funny.
4. Flip and Squawk’s unique act impresses the judges and earns them a spot in the show.
5. Flip is a dolphin who loves to dance in the water.
6. Flip’s success discourages others in the ocean to chase their dreams and work together.
7. Flip and Squawk do not practice together for their act in the Water Ballet Show.
8. Flip excels at being able to jump high enough out of the water.
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 was Flip and what was he good at?
Flip was a dolphin who was good at dancing in the water.

2. What was Flip’s big dream?
Flip’s big dream was to be part of the famous Water Ballet Show and be the best dolphin dancer in the ocean.

3. Where did Flip see the notice about the tryouts for the Water Ballet Show?
Flip saw the notice about the tryouts for the Water Ballet Show on a coral reef.

4. Why couldn’t Flip jump high enough out of the water?
Flip couldn’t jump high enough out of the water because he needed more height for people to see him well.

5. Who did Flip ask for help and what was their initial reaction?
Flip asked Squawk, a seagull, for help. Squawk was confused at first but agreed to help Flip.

6. What did Flip and Squawk practice together for?
Flip and Squawk practiced together for their big act in the Water Ballet Show.

7. What happened at the audition and how did the judges and audience react?
At the audition, Flip started dancing in the water and Squawk flew down, grabbed Flip, and lifted him high into the air. The judges and audience couldn’t believe it and were super impressed. Flip and Squawk’s act won them a spot in the Water Ballet Show.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) lived
(2) ocean
(3) wanted
(4) Ballet
(5) practiced
(6) dancing
(7) asked
(8) seagull
(9) started
(10) place
(11) filled
(12) water
(13) performers
(14) things
(15) chase
(16) dreams
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. dolphin
Answer: (E) A smart and playful sea animal that is known for its intelligence and friendliness

2. amazing
Answer: (D) Really surprising and causing wonder or astonishment

3. twist
Answer: (J) To turn your body around and around, or to wrap something around something else

4. notice
Answer: (M) A written or printed announcement that informs people about something

5. tryouts
Answer: (H) Tests or competitions to see who is good enough to join a team or show

6. coral
Answer: (F) A kind of rock-like structure in the sea, made by the growth of tiny sea animals

7. reef
Answer: (N) A structure under the sea made by corals, which are small sea creatures

8. audition
Answer: (K) A trial performance to show your skills and see if you can be part of a show or play

9. creatures
Answer: (A) Living beings, especially animals, that are not plants or humans

10. curious
Answer: (B) Wanting to know about something or learn about it

11. perform
Answer: (O) To show your skills or talents in front of an audience

12. impressed
Answer: (G) Feeling admiration or respect for something or someone, usually because of how good or special they are

13. admire
Answer: (L) To respect and look up to someone or something, often because of their abilities or qualities

14. impossible
Answer: (C) Something that is thought to be too difficult to do or achieve

15. inspired
Answer: (I) To encourage someone to do something or to give them ideas about what to do
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was Flip’s dream?
Answer: (a) To be part of the Water Ballet Show and be the best dolphin dancer

2. What was Flip’s problem?
Answer: (d) He couldn’t jump high enough out of the water for people to see him well

3. Who did Flip ask for help?
Answer: (c) Squawk, a seagull

4. What did Squawk think of Flip’s idea at first?
Answer: (b) Squawk thought it was funny

5. What did Flip and Squawk practice together?
Answer: (a) Their big act for the Water Ballet Show

6. What happened when Flip and Squawk performed at the audition?
Answer: (d) They impressed the judges and the audience

7. What important lesson did Flip and Squawk teach others in the ocean?
Answer: (b) When you work as a team, you can do things that seem impossible

8. What happened to Flip after the audition?
Answer: (c) His dream came true and he became a star
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Flip fails to come up with a plan to ask his seagull friend, Squawk, for help. (Answer: False)
2. Flip dreams of being part of the famous Water Ballet Show and becoming the best dolphin dancer. (Answer: True)
3. Squawk initially finds the idea of a dolphin asking a seagull for help funny. (Answer: True)
4. Flip and Squawk’s unique act impresses the judges and earns them a spot in the show. (Answer: True)
5. Flip is a dolphin who loves to dance in the water. (Answer: True)
6. Flip’s success discourages others in the ocean to chase their dreams and work together. (Answer: False)
7. Flip and Squawk do not practice together for their act in the Water Ballet Show. (Answer: False)
8. Flip excels at being able to jump high enough out of the water. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧