In a small village by the sea, there was a story about hidden treasure in Sunstone Cove. The treasure was guarded by a grumpy crab named Captain Pinch, who didn’t like visitors. One sunny morning, three friends—Milo, Tessa, and Pedro—decided to look for the treasure and see if the stories were true.

With maps from a sketchy website, the trio went to Sunstone Cove. They brought a magnifying glass, a metal detector, and a bag of peanut butter sandwiches. “What if Captain Pinch is a huge crab?” Tessa asked excitedly. “Or a tiny crab with a big hat?” Milo joked. Pedro laughed and said, “Whatever it is, I’m not sharing my lunch!”

As they walked along the beach, they saw an old sign that said, “Beware of the Snapping Crustacean!” A shadow appeared, and Captain Pinch came out, his claws big like shoeboxes. “Why are you here?” he snapped. Tessa stumbled back, but Milo explained they were looking for the treasure. “We come in peace!” he said. The crab looked interested but still wary. “Solve my riddle, and I might let you pass,” he said.

The riddle was, “I have keys but open no locks, I have space but no room, I have a face but no eyes. What am I?” After thinking and joking about pizza and doughnuts, Pedro finally shouted, “A computer!” Captain Pinch was surprised and laughed. “Correct! I didn’t think anyone would get that!” They all laughed together, making the crab less grumpy.

Captain Pinch decided to guide them to the treasure. They learned that he was lonely and wanted friends. They shared peanut butter sandwiches, and even Captain Pinch took a bite. They found the treasure under a big rock with shiny gold coins and jewels. Instead of taking the treasure, they used it to build a playground in their village. Captain Pinch became the playground’s guardian, making sure everyone had fun with his funny, crabby jokes.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Milo, Tessa, and Pedro use to help them find the treasure in Sunstone Cove?

2. How did Captain Pinch react when the friends first approached him?

3. What was the riddle that Captain Pinch asked the friends, and how did Pedro solve it?

4. What did the friends learn about Captain Pinch after they solved his riddle?

5. How did the friends and Captain Pinch celebrate after they found the treasure?

6. What did the friends decide to do with the treasure they found under the rock?

7. In what way did Captain Pinch change after meeting Milo, Tessa, and Pedro?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village by the sea, there was a story about hidden (1)______ in Sunstone Cove. The treasure was guarded by a grumpy crab named Captain Pinch, who didn’t like visitors. One sunny morning, three friends—Milo, (2)______, and Pedro—decided to look for the treasure and see if the stories were true.

With maps from a (3)______ website, the trio went to Sunstone Cove. They brought a magnifying glass, a metal (4)______, and a bag of peanut butter sandwiches. “What if (5)______ Pinch is a huge crab?” Tessa asked excitedly. “Or a tiny crab with a big hat?” Milo joked. Pedro laughed and said, “Whatever it is, I’m not sharing my lunch!”

As they (6)______ along the beach, they saw an old sign that said, “Beware of the Snapping Crustacean!” A (7)______ appeared, and Captain Pinch came out, his (8)______ big like shoeboxes. “Why are you here?” he snapped. Tessa stumbled back, but Milo explained they were looking for the treasure. “We come in peace!” he said. The crab looked interested but still wary. “Solve my riddle, and I might let you pass,” he said.

The riddle was, “I have keys but open no locks, I have space but no room, I have a face but no eyes. What am I?” After thinking and (9)______ about pizza and (10)______, Pedro finally shouted, “A computer!” Captain Pinch was (11)______ and laughed. “Correct! I didn’t think anyone would get that!” They all laughed together, (12)______ the crab less grumpy.

Captain Pinch decided to (13)______ them to the treasure. They learned that he was lonely and wanted friends. They shared peanut butter (14)______, and even Captain Pinch took a bite. They found the treasure under a big rock with shiny gold coins and jewels. Instead of taking the treasure, they used it to build a (15)______ in their village. Captain Pinch (16)______ the playground’s guardian, making sure everyone had fun with his funny, crabby jokes.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is the most exciting adventure you have ever been on?

2. How would you feel if you met a grumpy creature like Captain Pinch?

3. Do you think it’s important to solve riddles or puzzles? Why or why not?

4. What is a treasure that you would like to find in real life?

5. How do you think the friends felt when they solved Captain Pinch’s riddle?

6. Do you like sharing food with others? Why or why not?

7. What would you do if you discovered a hidden treasure?

8. Do you think it’s better to keep treasure for yourself or share it with others? Why?

9. How would you feel if you were lonely like Captain Pinch?

10. Do you think having a playground in your village is important? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. grumpy
2. sketchy
3. magnifying
4. detector
5. stumbled
6. wary
7. riddle
8. doughnuts
9. surprised
10. guide
11. lonely
12. shiny
13. jewels
14. guardian
15. playground

Meanings:
(A) A puzzle or tricky question
(B) A place where children can play with equipment like swings and slides
(C) In a bad mood; easily annoyed
(D) Feeling something unexpected
(E) Tripped or lost balance
(F) Sweet, fried pastries with a hole in the middle
(G) Precious stones used in jewelry
(H) Reflecting light; bright
(I) Feeling alone and without friends
(J) Someone who protects or watches over something
(K) Making something look larger than it is
(L) Cautious and watchful
(M) To show the way
(N) A device that finds metal objects
(O) Not completely safe or reliable
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the crab that guards the treasure?
(a) Captain Claw
(b) Captain Snap
(c) Captain Pinch
(d) Captain Crunch

2. What did the friends bring with them on their treasure hunt?
(a) A magnifying glass
(b) A shovel
(c) A fishing rod
(d) A camera

3. What was the warning sign they saw on the beach?
(a) No Swimming Allowed!
(b) Treasure Hunters Keep Out!
(c) Crabs Crossing Ahead!
(d) Beware of the Snapping Crustacean!

4. What riddle did Captain Pinch ask the friends?
(a) “I have keys but open no locks, I have space but no room, I have a face but no eyes. What am I?”
(b) “What has a heart that doesn’t beat?”
(c) “What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?”
(d) “What has to be broken before you can use it?”

5. Who solved Captain Pinch’s riddle?
(a) Tessa
(b) Milo
(c) Pedro
(d) Captain Pinch himself

6. What did the friends decide to do with the treasure they found?
(a) Keep it for themselves
(b) Build a playground
(c) Sell it for money
(d) Give it to Captain Pinch

7. How did Captain Pinch feel after the friends solved his riddle?
(a) Angry and upset
(b) Happy and less grumpy
(c) Confused and silent
(d) Indifferent and bored

8. What food did the friends share with Captain Pinch?
(a) Pizza
(b) Fruit salad
(c) Crab cakes
(d) Peanut butter sandwiches

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Instead of donating the treasure for a playground, the friends decide to keep it all for themselves.
2. They bring a magnifying glass, a metal detector, and peanut butter sandwiches on their treasure hunt.
3. Captain Pinch challenges the friends to solve a riddle before allowing them to pass.
4. After failing to solve the riddle, the friends argue with Captain Pinch and refuse to share their sandwiches with him.
5. Captain Pinch is a grumpy crab who guards the hidden treasure in Sunstone Cove.
6. The story takes place in a bustling city located far from the sea, far from a place called Sunstone Cove.
7. Three friends named Milo, Tessa, and Pedro decide to search for the treasure one sunny morning.
8. The riddle posed by Captain Pinch is about something that has keys, space, and a face but no locks, floors, or eyes.
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 Milo, Tessa, and Pedro use to help them find the treasure in Sunstone Cove?
They used maps from a sketchy website, a magnifying glass, a metal detector, and a bag of peanut butter sandwiches.

2. How did Captain Pinch react when the friends first approached him?
Captain Pinch was grumpy and asked them why they were there, showing that he was wary of visitors.

3. What was the riddle that Captain Pinch asked the friends, and how did Pedro solve it?
The riddle was, “I have keys but open no locks, I have space but no room, I have a face but no eyes. What am I?” Pedro solved it by shouting, “A computer!”

4. What did the friends learn about Captain Pinch after they solved his riddle?
They learned that Captain Pinch was lonely and wanted friends, which made him less grumpy.

5. How did the friends and Captain Pinch celebrate after they found the treasure?
They celebrated by sharing peanut butter sandwiches together, which made them all laugh.

6. What did the friends decide to do with the treasure they found under the rock?
They decided to use the treasure to build a playground in their village instead of taking it for themselves.

7. In what way did Captain Pinch change after meeting Milo, Tessa, and Pedro?
Captain Pinch became friendlier and took on the role of the playground’s guardian, sharing funny, crabby jokes and ensuring everyone had fun.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) treasure
(2) Tessa
(3) sketchy
(4) detector
(5) Captain
(6) walked
(7) shadow
(8) claws
(9) joking
(10) doughnuts
(11) surprised
(12) making
(13) guide
(14) sandwiches
(15) playground
(16) became
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. grumpy
Answer: (C) In a bad mood; easily annoyed

2. sketchy
Answer: (O) Not completely safe or reliable

3. magnifying
Answer: (K) Making something look larger than it is

4. detector
Answer: (N) A device that finds metal objects

5. stumbled
Answer: (E) Tripped or lost balance

6. wary
Answer: (L) Cautious and watchful

7. riddle
Answer: (A) A puzzle or tricky question

8. doughnuts
Answer: (F) Sweet, fried pastries with a hole in the middle

9. surprised
Answer: (D) Feeling something unexpected

10. guide
Answer: (M) To show the way

11. lonely
Answer: (I) Feeling alone and without friends

12. shiny
Answer: (H) Reflecting light; bright

13. jewels
Answer: (G) Precious stones used in jewelry

14. guardian
Answer: (J) Someone who protects or watches over something

15. playground
Answer: (B) A place where children can play with equipment like swings and slides
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the crab that guards the treasure?
Answer: (c) Captain Pinch

2. What did the friends bring with them on their treasure hunt?
Answer: (a) A magnifying glass

3. What was the warning sign they saw on the beach?
Answer: (d) Beware of the Snapping Crustacean!

4. What riddle did Captain Pinch ask the friends?
Answer: (a) “I have keys but open no locks, I have space but no room, I have a face but no eyes. What am I?”

5. Who solved Captain Pinch’s riddle?
Answer: (c) Pedro

6. What did the friends decide to do with the treasure they found?
Answer: (b) Build a playground

7. How did Captain Pinch feel after the friends solved his riddle?
Answer: (b) Happy and less grumpy

8. What food did the friends share with Captain Pinch?
Answer: (d) Peanut butter sandwiches
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Instead of donating the treasure for a playground, the friends decide to keep it all for themselves. (Answer: False)
2. They bring a magnifying glass, a metal detector, and peanut butter sandwiches on their treasure hunt. (Answer: True)
3. Captain Pinch challenges the friends to solve a riddle before allowing them to pass. (Answer: True)
4. After failing to solve the riddle, the friends argue with Captain Pinch and refuse to share their sandwiches with him. (Answer: False)
5. Captain Pinch is a grumpy crab who guards the hidden treasure in Sunstone Cove. (Answer: True)
6. The story takes place in a bustling city located far from the sea, far from a place called Sunstone Cove. (Answer: False)
7. Three friends named Milo, Tessa, and Pedro decide to search for the treasure one sunny morning. (Answer: True)
8. The riddle posed by Captain Pinch is about something that has keys, space, and a face but no locks, floors, or eyes. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧