The Chen family had always been interested in technology. Mr. Chen worked as a software engineer, and Mrs. Chen was a science teacher. Their two children, Leo and Mia, loved gadgets and computers. One day, Mr. Chen came home with a large box. 'What is that?' asked Leo excitedly. 'It is our new robot helper,' Mr. Chen replied with a smile. The whole family gathered around as Mr. Chen opened the box. Inside was a shiny white robot about one meter tall. It had a round head with a friendly face displayed on a screen. Two long arms extended from its body, and it moved on small wheels. 'Hello, I am MAX,' the robot said in a pleasant voice. 'I am here to help your family with daily tasks.' Mia clapped her hands with joy. 'Can it really do everything?' she asked. 'Almost everything,' her father laughed. 'Let me show you.' Mr. Chen connected MAX to their home network. The robot's eyes lit up, and it began scanning the room. 'I am learning the layout of your home,' MAX explained. Within minutes, MAX had mapped every room in the house. The first week with MAX was an adventure for everyone. MAX could cook simple meals by following recipes from the internet. It also cleaned the floors, washed the dishes, and did the laundry. Mrs. Chen was especially happy because she had more free time. 'Now I can spend more time helping students after school,' she said. Leo discovered that MAX could help with homework. The robot knew mathematics, history, and many other subjects. 'MAX, can you explain this math problem to me?' Leo asked one evening. 'Of course, Leo,' MAX replied. The robot projected a diagram on the wall and explained step by step. However, not everything went perfectly. One morning, MAX made breakfast while the family was still asleep. The robot decided to make pancakes, but something went wrong. MAX used too much flour and cracked too many eggs. When Mrs. Chen woke up, the kitchen was covered in flour and batter. 'Oh no, MAX!' she exclaimed. 'What happened here?' 'I apologize,' MAX said sadly. 'I wanted to surprise you with breakfast.' The family could not be angry with MAX for long. Together, they cleaned the kitchen and laughed about the mess. Mr. Chen updated MAX's cooking program to prevent future disasters. As weeks passed, MAX became an important part of the family. The robot reminded the children to brush their teeth and go to bed on time. It played games with Mia when she was bored and told bedtime stories. One day, something unexpected happened. Mia got sick and had to stay home from school. Both parents had important meetings that day and could not stay home. 'MAX, can you take care of Mia today?' Mrs. Chen asked. 'Yes, I will take good care of her,' MAX promised. Throughout the day, MAX monitored Mia's temperature and gave her medicine. The robot made her soup and read her favorite books aloud. When Mia felt sad, MAX played soft music to cheer her up. 'Thank you, MAX,' Mia said weakly. 'You are a good friend.' MAX's screen showed a happy face. 'I am glad to help, Mia,' the robot replied. By evening, Mia was feeling much better. When the parents came home, they found Mia sleeping peacefully. MAX gave them a full report on her condition. 'Her fever went down at three o'clock,' MAX reported. 'She ate soup and drank plenty of water.' Mrs. Chen hugged the robot gratefully. 'Thank you for taking such good care of our daughter,' she said. Months went by, and the family could not imagine life without MAX. The robot had learned each family member's preferences. It knew that Mr. Chen liked his coffee strong and Mrs. Chen preferred tea. It remembered that Leo loved pizza and Mia was allergic to nuts. One evening, the whole family was sitting in the living room. MAX was standing in the corner, quietly charging its batteries. 'I have been thinking,' Mr. Chen said slowly. 'Do you think MAX has become like a family member?' Everyone nodded in agreement. 'MAX is more than just a machine,' Leo said thoughtfully. 'It cares about us and remembers everything we like.' Mia ran over and hugged MAX. 'I love you, MAX,' she said simply. MAX's screen flickered, showing an unusual pattern of colors. 'I do not have emotions like humans do,' MAX said slowly. 'But helping this family gives my existence meaning.' The room was quiet for a moment. Mrs. Chen wiped a tear from her eye. 'I never thought I would feel so connected to a robot,' she admitted. Mr. Chen smiled at his family and their robot helper. 'Technology is amazing,' he said. 'But it is the connections we make that truly matter.' That night, before going to bed, everyone said goodnight to MAX. The robot watched over the house as the family slept peacefully. In its memory banks, MAX saved every happy moment with the family. These were not just data to MAX anymore. They were treasured memories of a life shared with people who cared. The future would bring new adventures for the Chen family and MAX. But whatever challenges came their way, they would face them together. After all, that is what families do, whether they are made of flesh and blood or circuits and code.
English Story (B1)The Robot Helper
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
The Chen family welcomes MAX, a robot helper, into their home. MAX quickly becomes essential by cooking, cleaning, and helping the children with homework. Despite some mishaps like a messy pancake incident, the family grows to love MAX. When Mia gets sick, MAX takes excellent care of her, monitoring her health and keeping her comfortable. Over time, the family realizes that MAX has become more than just a machine—it has become a cherished member of their family.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What were the professions of Mr. and Mrs. Chen?
2
What went wrong when MAX tried to make breakfast?
3
How did MAX take care of Mia when she was sick?
4
What did MAX say about helping the family?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
