In a colorful village called Whimsytown, a group of friends wanted an exciting adventure. Freddy the brave fox, Olga the creative owl, and Benny the clumsy bear were tired of their usual lives. One sunny morning, they met at the bottom of the Silver Hills. They had heard of a world full of surprises and maybe even a hidden treasure beyond those hills.

As they climbed the hills, a clever squirrel named Nutty ran by, his cheeks full of acorns. He stopped and joked, “Are you looking for treasure or trouble?” Benny the bear laughed, “Oh, Nutty, we’re looking for treasure and fun! Who wants to nap when there’s adventure waiting?” Nutty laughed too and decided to join them. After all, what’s an adventure without a few jokes and extra acorns?

When they reached the top of the first hill, they saw a meadow full of flowers dancing in the wind. But at the edge of the meadow stood a huge, grumpy troll named Grizzlebump. He said, “To pass, you must answer my riddle!” Freddy bravely stepped forward. “Go ahead, Grizzlebump, give us your riddle!” The troll asked, “What has keys but can’t open locks?”

The friends thought hard, but then Nutty the squirrel said, “A piano! It has keys but can’t unlock anything!” The troll laughed and said, “Good job, clever squirrel! You may pass, but watch out for the Dancing Daisies ahead!” Happy and laughing, they moved on and found the meadow filled with dancing flowers. As soon as they stepped closer, the flowers made them join a funny dance-off!

The silly dance continued until Benny tripped and fell into a pile of flowers. The flowers laughed and made them dance even more. After a lot of laughter, they finally stopped and found a sparkling pond that reflected the stars, even during the day. They realized this magical pond was the treasure they were looking for. It filled them with joy and felt like the best reward.

As the sun set, they lay down and looked at the glittering pond. They understood that the real treasure was the fun and friendship they shared. Nutty the squirrel smiled and said, “No matter how far we go, the fun we have together is what really matters!” With that, they went back to Whimsytown, happy, full of laughter, and ready for more adventures together.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Freddy, Olga, and Benny want to find beyond the Silver Hills?

2. How did Nutty the squirrel join the group of friends on their adventure?

3. What riddle did the troll Grizzlebump ask the friends, and who solved it?

4. What happened when the friends reached the meadow filled with dancing flowers?

5. How did the friends feel when they discovered the sparkling pond?

6. What lesson did the friends learn about treasure by the end of their adventure?

7. How did the friends feel as they returned to Whimsytown after their adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a colorful village called Whimsytown, a (1)______ of friends wanted an exciting adventure. Freddy the brave fox, Olga the creative owl, and Benny the clumsy bear were (2)______ of their usual lives. One sunny morning, they met at the bottom of the Silver Hills. They had heard of a world full of surprises and maybe even a hidden (3)______ beyond those (4)______.

As they climbed the hills, a clever squirrel named Nutty ran by, his cheeks full of acorns. He stopped and joked, “Are you looking for treasure or trouble?” Benny the bear laughed, “Oh, Nutty, we’re looking for treasure and fun! Who wants to nap when there’s adventure waiting?” Nutty laughed too and decided to join them. After all, what’s an adventure without a few jokes and (5)______ acorns?

When they (6)______ the top of the first hill, they saw a (7)______ full of flowers dancing in the wind. But at the edge of the meadow stood a huge, grumpy troll named Grizzlebump. He said, “To pass, you must answer my riddle!” Freddy bravely (8)______ forward. “Go ahead, Grizzlebump, give us your riddle!” The troll asked, “What has keys but can’t open locks?”

The friends thought hard, but then Nutty the squirrel said, “A piano! It has keys but can’t unlock anything!” The troll laughed and said, “Good job, clever squirrel! You may pass, but watch out for the Dancing Daisies ahead!” Happy and laughing, they moved on and found the meadow filled with dancing (9)______. As soon as they stepped closer, the flowers made them join a funny dance-off!

The (10)______ dance (11)______ until Benny tripped and fell into a pile of flowers. The flowers laughed and made them dance even more. After a lot of laughter, they finally (12)______ and found a sparkling pond that reflected the stars, even during the day. They realized this magical pond was the treasure they were looking for. It filled them with joy and felt like the best reward.

As the sun set, they lay down and looked at the (13)______ pond. They understood that the real treasure was the fun and friendship they shared. Nutty the squirrel (14)______ and said, “No matter how far we go, the fun we have together is what really matters!” With that, they went back to (15)______, (16)______, full of laughter, and ready for more adventures together.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your idea of a perfect adventure?

2. How would you feel if you met a grumpy troll on your journey?

3. Do you like solving riddles? Why or why not?

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

5. How do you think friendship affects our adventures?

6. Do you think it’s important to have fun while trying to achieve something? Why?

7. What is a funny memory you have with your friends?

8. How would you react if you found a magical pond like the one in the story?

9. Do you think it’s better to plan an adventure or just go with the flow? Why?

10. What is your favorite way to celebrate good times with friends?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. adventure
2. creative
3. clumsy
4. treasure
5. clever
6. riddle
7. unlock
8. meadow
9. grumpy
10. bravely
11. reflected
12. magical
13. glittering
14. reward
15. friendship

Meanings:
(A) In a bad mood and easily annoyed
(B) Showing courage and not being afraid
(C) Something valuable that is hidden or hard to find
(D) An exciting or unusual experience
(E) Shining with bright, sparkling light
(F) A field with grass and flowers
(G) Smart and quick to understand
(H) To open something that is locked
(I) Shown as an image in a mirror or on a surface
(J) Having special powers or qualities
(K) A puzzle or question that needs to be solved
(L) Something given in return for good behavior or work
(M) Able to make new and original things
(N) Often falling or making mistakes
(O) A close and trusting relationship between people
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the village where the friends live?
(a) Dreamland
(b) Adventureville
(c) Fun City
(d) Whimsytown

2. Who is the brave fox in the group?
(a) Freddy
(b) Benny
(c) Nutty
(d) Grizzlebump

3. What does Nutty the squirrel carry in his cheeks?
(a) Berries
(b) Acorns
(c) Nuts
(d) Flowers

4. What riddle does Grizzlebump the troll ask?
(a) What has keys but can’t open locks?
(b) What runs but never walks?
(c) What has a heart that doesn’t beat?
(d) What can you catch but not throw?

5. What does Nutty answer to the riddle?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A door
(c) A piano
(d) A map

6. What do the friends find after passing the troll?
(a) A dark cave
(b) A giant tree
(c) A meadow of dancing flowers
(d) A hidden castle

7. What happens when they approach the dancing flowers?
(a) They fall asleep
(b) They join a funny dance-off
(c) They find more treasure
(d) They get lost

8. What do the friends realize is the real treasure at the end of their adventure?
(a) The sparkling pond
(b) The hidden treasure
(c) The dancing flowers
(d) The fun and friendship they share

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The friends decide to explore the Silver Hills in search of treasure and excitement.
2. The magical pond they discover reflects the stars and brings them peace, which they consider their true treasure.
3. Nutty struggles with the troll’s riddle, unable to correctly identify that a piano has keys but can’t open locks.
4. They encounter a friendly troll named Grizzlebump, who welcomes them with a riddle to pass.
5. The main characters include Freddy the fox, Olga the owl, Benny the bear, and Nutty the squirrel.
6. After passing the troll, the friends find themselves in a meadow filled with dancing flowers that make them join a dance-off.
7. By the end of their adventure, the friends realize that the most valuable part of their journey is the fun and friendship they share.
8. The story takes place in a colorful village called Whimsytown, where a group of friends seeks adventure.
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 Freddy, Olga, and Benny want to find beyond the Silver Hills?
They wanted to find an exciting adventure and maybe even a hidden treasure.

2. How did Nutty the squirrel join the group of friends on their adventure?
Nutty joined them after he joked with Benny and decided it would be fun to have extra acorns and laughter on their adventure.

3. What riddle did the troll Grizzlebump ask the friends, and who solved it?
Grizzlebump asked, “What has keys but can’t open locks?” Nutty the squirrel solved it by answering, “A piano!”

4. What happened when the friends reached the meadow filled with dancing flowers?
The flowers made them join a funny dance-off, and they ended up laughing a lot, especially when Benny tripped and fell into a pile of flowers.

5. How did the friends feel when they discovered the sparkling pond?
They felt joyful and realized that the pond was the treasure they were looking for, as it brought them happiness.

6. What lesson did the friends learn about treasure by the end of their adventure?
They learned that the real treasure was the fun and friendship they shared during their adventure.

7. How did the friends feel as they returned to Whimsytown after their adventure?
They felt happy, full of laughter, and excited for more adventures together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) group
(2) tired
(3) treasure
(4) hills
(5) extra
(6) reached
(7) meadow
(8) stepped
(9) flowers
(10) silly
(11) continued
(12) stopped
(13) glittering
(14) smiled
(15) Whimsytown
(16) happy
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. adventure
Answer: (D) An exciting or unusual experience

2. creative
Answer: (M) Able to make new and original things

3. clumsy
Answer: (N) Often falling or making mistakes

4. treasure
Answer: (C) Something valuable that is hidden or hard to find

5. clever
Answer: (G) Smart and quick to understand

6. riddle
Answer: (K) A puzzle or question that needs to be solved

7. unlock
Answer: (H) To open something that is locked

8. meadow
Answer: (F) A field with grass and flowers

9. grumpy
Answer: (A) In a bad mood and easily annoyed

10. bravely
Answer: (B) Showing courage and not being afraid

11. reflected
Answer: (I) Shown as an image in a mirror or on a surface

12. magical
Answer: (J) Having special powers or qualities

13. glittering
Answer: (E) Shining with bright, sparkling light

14. reward
Answer: (L) Something given in return for good behavior or work

15. friendship
Answer: (O) A close and trusting relationship between people
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the village where the friends live?
Answer: (d) Whimsytown

2. Who is the brave fox in the group?
Answer: (a) Freddy

3. What does Nutty the squirrel carry in his cheeks?
Answer: (b) Acorns

4. What riddle does Grizzlebump the troll ask?
Answer: (a) What has keys but can’t open locks?

5. What does Nutty answer to the riddle?
Answer: (c) A piano

6. What do the friends find after passing the troll?
Answer: (c) A meadow of dancing flowers

7. What happens when they approach the dancing flowers?
Answer: (b) They join a funny dance-off

8. What do the friends realize is the real treasure at the end of their adventure?
Answer: (d) The fun and friendship they share
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The friends decide to explore the Silver Hills in search of treasure and excitement. (Answer: False)
2. The magical pond they discover reflects the stars and brings them peace, which they consider their true treasure. (Answer: False)
3. Nutty struggles with the troll’s riddle, unable to correctly identify that a piano has keys but can’t open locks. (Answer: False)
4. They encounter a friendly troll named Grizzlebump, who welcomes them with a riddle to pass. (Answer: False)
5. The main characters include Freddy the fox, Olga the owl, Benny the bear, and Nutty the squirrel. (Answer: True)
6. After passing the troll, the friends find themselves in a meadow filled with dancing flowers that make them join a dance-off. (Answer: True)
7. By the end of their adventure, the friends realize that the most valuable part of their journey is the fun and friendship they share. (Answer: True)
8. The story takes place in a colorful village called Whimsytown, where a group of friends seeks adventure. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧