Maria needed some cash for the weekend. She walked to the ATM near her apartment. The machine looked normal from the outside. She put her card into the slot. The screen asked for her PIN code. Maria typed her four numbers carefully. She wanted to withdraw fifty euros. The machine made a strange noise. Then the screen went completely black. Maria waited for something to happen. Nothing happened for two minutes. She started to feel worried. Her card was still inside the machine. Maria pressed the cancel button many times. The machine did not respond at all. She looked around for help. An older man was walking past. 'Excuse me, can you help me?' Maria asked. The man came closer to look. 'This machine often has problems,' he said. 'You should call the bank immediately.' Maria found the phone number on the machine. She called the emergency line. A friendly voice answered the phone. Maria explained what happened. 'Your card is safe,' the woman said. 'The machine will send it back tomorrow.' 'But I need cash right now,' Maria said. 'There is another ATM two streets away,' the woman replied. Maria thanked her and ended the call. She walked to the other ATM quickly. This machine was much newer. Maria had to use a different card. Luckily, she always carried two bank cards. This time everything worked perfectly. She got her fifty euros without any problem. Maria felt relieved and happy. The next day, she went back to the first ATM. The machine was working again. She pressed a button and her card came out. Maria checked that everything was normal. From that day, she always used the newer ATM.
English Story (A2)The ATM Problem
This A2 English story is designed for elementary learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Maria's card gets stuck in a broken ATM. She calls the bank and learns she can get it back the next day. She uses another ATM nearby with a different card and gets her cash.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What happened when Maria typed her PIN code?
2
What did the older man tell Maria to do?
3
How did Maria get her cash in the end?
4
