ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
1 / A1
Published
Title
A School Bus in Trouble
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-10-24-a-school-bus-in-trouble/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Put Events in Order, Multiple Choice

Language: Vocab Match, New Sentences

Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

(1) How did you get to school as a child? Did you walk? Did you take a bus?

(2) What do you do when you feel scared? Do you ask someone for help?

Inside a yellow school bus, children look toward a driver leaning forward with one hand against his forehead. The front door is open.
An unexpected stop.

Vocab List

in trouble (phr.) — having a problem and needing help
scream (v.) — to make a loud, high sound because you are scared or hurt
take a break (v. phrase) — to stop working for a short time to rest
pull (v.) — to move something toward you with your hands
sick (adj.) — not well
emergency brake (n. phrase) — a part of a bus or car used to stop it when there is danger
scared (adj.) — afraid that something bad will happen
hurt (v.) — to cause someone pain
Reading

Ebro Ahmed was outside his family’s shop when he saw a school bus in trouble. The yellow bus was moving down the street with its door open.

It was Monday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ahmed, 27, was taking a break. He had a soccer ball and his phone with him.

Then he saw the driver. The man was sick and needed help. There were 19 children on the bus, and they were scared.

Ahmed ran to the bus and jumped on. The children were screaming. He pulled the emergency brake, and the bus stopped. No one was hurt.

Another bus took the children home. The driver went to the hospital and later went home to rest.

A School Bus in Trouble

Level 1 Article Source: theguardian.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Inside a yellow school bus, children look toward a driver leaning forward with one hand against his forehead. The front door is open.
An unexpected stop.

Ebro Ahmed was outside his family’s shop when he saw a school bus in trouble. The yellow bus was moving down the street with its door open.

It was Monday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ahmed, 27, was taking a break. He had a soccer ball and his phone with him.

Then he saw the driver. The man was sick and needed help. There were 19 children on the bus, and they were scared.

Ahmed ran to the bus and jumped on. The children were screaming. He pulled the emergency brake, and the bus stopped. No one was hurt.

Another bus took the children home. The driver went to the hospital and later went home to rest.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:13  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Ebro Ahmed was outside his family’s shop when he saw a school bus in trouble. The yellow bus was (1) down the street with its door open.

It was Monday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ahmed, 27, was taking a (2) . He had a soccer ball and his phone with him.

Then he saw the driver. The man was sick and needed help. There were 19 children on the bus, and they were (3) .

Ahmed ran to the bus and jumped on. The children were screaming. He pulled the emergency brake, and the bus (4) . No one was hurt.

Another bus took the children home. The driver went to the hospital and later went home to rest.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: Why do people help someone they don't know?

    A:

  2. Q: Do you like traveling by bus? Why or why not?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: Why do people help someone they don't know?

    A: People help strangers they care about other people.

    because / although

    People help strangers because they care about other people.

  2. Q: Do you like traveling by bus? Why or why not?

    A: I don't like traveling by bus, I think it's usually safe.

    but / so

    I don't like traveling by bus, but I think it's usually safe.

Discussion Questions
  1. What would you like to say to Ahmed?
  2. Is it OK to put yourself in danger to help someone? Why or why not?
  3. Why do people help someone they don't know?
  4. Do you like traveling by bus? Why or why not?
  5. What do you do when you feel sick at work or school?
  6. What do you like to do when you take a break?

Discussion Questions

  1. What would you like to say to Ahmed?
  2. Is it OK to put yourself in danger to help someone? Why or why not?
  3. Why do people help someone they don't know?
  4. Do you like traveling by bus? Why or why not?
  5. What do you do when you feel sick at work or school?
  6. What do you like to do when you take a break?

Answers A School Bus in Trouble / Level 1

Listening: (1) moving, (2) break, (3) scared, (4) stopped

Main Idea: A man acted quickly to keep children safe on a bus in trouble.

True or False:

  1. True. He was outside the shop during a break when he saw the bus moving down the street.
  2. False. Ahmed pulled the emergency brake. The driver was sick and needed help.
  3. True. Ahmed stopped the bus with the emergency brake, and no one was injured.
  4. False. Another bus took the children home. The driver went to the hospital.

Multiple Choice: a, b

Put Events in Order:

  1. Ahmed saw a school bus moving with its door open.
  2. Ahmed jumped onto the bus.
  3. Ahmed pulled the emergency brake.

Vocabulary:

  1. in trouble: having a problem and needing help
  2. take a break: to stop working for a short time to rest
  1. scared: afraid that something bad will happen
  2. emergency brake: a part of a bus or car used to stop it when there is danger

New Sentences: 1. sick; 2. scared; 3. pull; 4. hurt

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast.

  1. because
  2. but

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