Maria was driving her car towards the Polish border. She was going to visit her grandmother in Krakow. The highway was busy with many trucks and cars. Maria had packed her suitcase the night before. She brought gifts for her grandmother and cousins. The journey from Berlin took about five hours. Maria stopped at a gas station to fill up her tank. She also bought a coffee and a sandwich. After the break, she continued driving east. Soon she saw a sign that said 'Border Crossing 5 km'. Maria felt a little nervous. She had crossed borders before, but it always made her anxious. She checked that her passport was in her bag. Her car documents were in the glove compartment. The traffic slowed down as she approached the border. There were several lanes for cars and trucks. Maria chose the lane for EU citizens. She waited in line behind three other cars. The wait was about fifteen minutes. Finally, it was her turn. She drove up to the border control booth. A border officer in a uniform looked at her. 'Good afternoon,' the officer said. 'Good afternoon,' Maria replied with a smile. 'May I see your passport, please?' the officer asked. Maria handed him her German passport. The officer looked at the photo and then at Maria. 'Where are you traveling to?' he asked. 'I am going to Krakow to visit my grandmother,' Maria said. 'How long will you stay in Poland?' the officer asked. 'About one week,' Maria answered. 'Are you carrying any goods to declare?' he asked. 'No, just personal items and some gifts,' Maria said. The officer typed something on his computer. He looked at the screen for a moment. 'Do you have your vehicle registration?' he asked. Maria opened the glove compartment and took out the papers. She handed the registration and insurance documents to him. The officer checked all the documents carefully. 'Everything looks fine,' he said. He handed back all her documents. 'Have a safe trip,' the officer said. 'Thank you very much,' Maria said. The barrier lifted and Maria drove through. She was now in Poland. Maria felt relieved that the crossing was easy. The landscape changed a little on the Polish side. She noticed different road signs in Polish. Maria turned on her GPS to find the best route. The voice said she would arrive in three hours. She called her grandmother to tell her the good news. 'I crossed the border! I will be there soon,' Maria said. Her grandmother was very happy to hear this. 'I am cooking your favorite meal,' her grandmother said. Maria smiled and continued driving. The Polish countryside was beautiful in the autumn. The trees had yellow and orange leaves. Maria was looking forward to spending time with her family. She was glad she had made this trip. The border crossing had been quick and simple.
English Story (A2)At the Border
This A2 English story is designed for elementary learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Maria travels by car from Germany to Poland to visit her grandmother. At the border crossing, she must show her documents and answer questions from the border officer. Despite some nervousness, everything goes smoothly and she continues her journey.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Where was Maria going?
2
How long did Maria wait at the border?
3
What documents did the officer ask for?
4
