Problem Solution Comprehension - Roadside Restaurant

The following short story outlines a traveller's problem. He then attempts to explain the solution. This is followed by 5 comprehension questions with answers and their location within the passage:

I left the beach hungry, just as the sun was setting and took the same walking route, more or less, back toward my hotel in the suburbs of Danang. On the way I passed a lot of cafes and restaurants, but none  interested me until I got to a major road crossing and a makeshift pavement restaurant. As I stopped at the intersection the middle aged lady in charge seemed keen on serving me though with no apparent English, spoken or written. She pointed to the limited  Vietnamese menu and I responded by shrugging my shoulders, hoping to indicate that I didn’t know what any of the items on offer were. She was unfazed, put up three fingers which I assumed to indicate the price (30,000 dong), and decided for me what I would eat. I sat down at one of the empty tables while she prepared my food. Soon she delivered a steaming bowl of noodles with a variety of meat – some roughly cut beef, a grey tasty meatball and some slices of I don’t know what. All were good, tasty and satisfying. My hunger disappeared without a spoken word required. She accepted the 30k as though it was the clearly agreed price and I continued on my way to the hotel feeling satisfied not only with the meal but with the ease at which it had been negotiated.

What made this transaction so easy when neither of us understood the other’s language? It was probably the fact that I was clearly looking for food, moving slowly and closely enough to attempt communication, and that both of us were willing to overcome the language barrier to make a deal. In other words there was a lot of context to support the transaction and barriers to communication were weaker than the desire of both parties to reach an agreement.

We understood  each other’s intentions because of our proximity, location, our presumed roles and the expected outcomes of those types of interaction. Although I didn’t get to choose my meal, I expected and was happy to get a bowl of noodles of some description.

If I had been passing by,  even on a motorcycle, the vehicle speed would have been a major barrier to communication. The moment where we both established our roles and understood the assignment would easily have slipped by in the blink of an eye. I would have blended into the stream of traffic and not stood out as a potential customer. I would have had to recognize a good reason to intentionally stop the vehicle at that restaurant to initiate the interaction while negotiating traffic at the same time: an unlikely outcome.

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Here are five comprehension questions along with their answers and locations within the text:

Question 1: Why did the narrator stop at the makeshift pavement restaurant? 

Question 2: How did the narrator communicate their lack of knowledge about the menu items to the middle-aged lady? 

Question 3: What did the middle-aged lady do to indicate the price of the meal? 

Question 4: What did the narrator find satisfying about the meal and the transaction? 

Question 5: What would have been a major barrier to communication if the narrator had been on a motorcycle? 

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Answers:

Question 1: Why did the narrator stop at the makeshift pavement restaurant? 

Answer: The narrator stopped at the makeshift pavement restaurant because they were hungry and had passed many other cafes and restaurants that did not interest them. 

Location: "I left the beach hungry...back toward my hotel...until I got to a major road crossing and a makeshift pavement restaurant."

Question 2: How did the narrator communicate their lack of knowledge about the menu items to the middle-aged lady? 

Answer: The narrator communicated their lack of knowledge by shrugging their shoulders to indicate they didn’t know what the menu items were. 

Location: "She pointed to the limited Vietnamese menu and I responded by shrugging my shoulders, hoping to indicate that I didn’t know what any of the items on offer were."

Question 3: What did the middle-aged lady do to indicate the price of the meal? 

Answer: The middle-aged lady put up three fingers, which the narrator assumed indicated the price of 30,000 dong. 

Location: "She was unfazed, put up three fingers which I assumed to indicate the price (30,000 dong)..."

Question 4: What did the narrator find satisfying about the meal and the transaction? 

Answer: The narrator found the meal satisfying because it was tasty and filled their hunger, and they were also pleased with how easily the transaction was completed despite the language barrier.

 Location: "All were good, tasty and satisfying. My hunger disappeared without a spoken word required...feeling satisfied not only with the meal but with the ease at which it had been negotiated."

Question 5: What would have been a major barrier to communication if the narrator had been on a motorcycle? 

Answer: A major barrier to communication would have been the vehicle speed, which could have made it difficult for the narrator to stop and establish their role as a potential customer. 

Location: "If I had been passing by, even on a motorcycle, the vehicle speed would have been a major barrier to communication."

Problem-Solution Short Story - Physical Strength (EFL Material)

Here is a short problem-solution based story with comprehension questions and answers for intermediate level EFL students and above. The comprehension questions are at the end of the story with answers listed after the questions. 

The Weary Warehouse Worker

Nate sat at the desk in the back of his father’s hardware store, staring at the dwindling inventory on the computer screen. The figures were stark—sales declining, debts mounting, and his father's weary face reflecting the strain of keeping their business afloat. The store, once vibrant with customers and stocked shelves, now felt hollow and struggling.

His father, James, emerged from the storeroom, struggling under the weight of a box of plumbing supplies. Nate hurried over, concern etched on his face as he helped him with the box. "Dad, you shouldn't be lifting these heavy things," Nate urged, frustration and helplessness tightening his voice. James managed a tired smile, leaning heavily on the counter. 

"Nate, I can't just sit by and watch everything fall apart. This store…it's been our life."

Nate nodded, his heart heavy with the burden of their failing business. At sixteen, he was more accustomed to playing video games and schoolwork than to the physical demands of manual labor. His father had always been the backbone of the store—strong, resilient, and tireless. But age and illness had taken their toll, leaving James unable to manage the heavy lifting that was now beyond him. Nate could do little but watch as his father struggled with tasks that had once been routine. They couldn't afford to hire someone to do the lifting, and Nate, with his meager earnings from odd jobs, could barely cover his own expenses, let alone help with the store's financial woes.

One sweltering afternoon, a man entered the store, his confident stride catching Nate's attention. "Hey there! Need a hand with anything?"

Nate looked up. "Actually, we could use some help around here."

The man extended a hand. "I'm Greg. I'm a physical trainer, and it seems you could use some muscle around here."

Nate shook his hand. "I'm Nate. Muscle is exactly what we need right now." 

Greg grinned. "Well, then this is perfect timing. I'm looking to get some business references for my new training business. How about we help each other out?" 

Nate nodded eagerly. "That sounds great! What do you need from me?"

Greg explained, "I'll train you here, using the heavy supplies as weights. In return, you can give me a solid reference for my training services. Deal?"

Nate couldn't believe his luck. "Deal. When do we start?"

And so, Greg became a regular presence in the store. Each evening  he would guide Nate through strength based workouts—lifting boxes of tools, hauling bags of cement, and building up Nate's strength, stamina and technique. Greg's encouragement and expertise became a lifeline for Nate, pushing him past his limits and building the strength he needed to support his father and their struggling business.

Weeks passed, and Nate's transformation was undeniable. His once-slender frame filled out with muscle, and his confidence grew alongside his physical strength. His father watched from the sidelines with a mixture of pride and relief, seeing his son step into the role that had once been his own.

One brisk autumn morning, as Nate effortlessly loaded a truck with supplies, his father approached him with a rare smile. "Son, I don't know what we’d have done without Greg. The orders are picking up again, and I haven't felt this hopeful in years."

Nate grinned, wiping his hands on his apron. "Greg's been amazing. He's not just helping me get stronger; he's helping us save the store."

James nodded with pride. "I can see that. You've become the backbone of this place, just like I always knew you could."

With Greg's continued guidance, Nate tackled every physical challenge that came his way. He even managed repairs that would have previously required his father's strength and expertise. The store, once teetering on the brink of collapse, began to thrive once more.

One evening, as Nate locked up the store, Greg approached him with a solemn expression. "Nate, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Nate looked up. "What is it, Greg? Is everything okay?"Greg nodded slowly. "Everything's fine, Nate. It's just…I think my work here is done. You're much stronger now—strong enough to handle anything that comes your way."

Nate frowned. "But what about our training? What about—"Greg held up a hand, a reassuring smile on his face. "You don't need me anymore, Nate. You've proven that you can do this on your own. And besides, I've got other clients who need my help much more."

Nate slowly nodded. "Thank you, Greg. You’ll have that glowing recommendation you asked for by tomorrow. I can't even begin to repay you for everything you've done for us."

Greg clapped him on the shoulder. "You already have, Nate. You've reminded me why I do what I do—to help people become stronger, not just in body, but in spirit."

As Greg walked away, Nate stood in the doorway of the hardware store, a newfound sense of purpose within him. 

The next day the store hummed with activity. Customers coming and going, their laughter and conversations filling the air. He glanced over at his father, who was busy assisting an elderly couple with their purchase, a contented smile on his face.

Nate knew that their journey wasn't over—that there would be more challenges ahead, more obstacles to overcome. But as he looked around at the store that had been his family's legacy for generations, he felt a surge of pride and determination.

With each passing day, Nate continued to strengthen not only his body but also his resolve. And as the seasons changed and the years passed, the hardware store thrived under his watchful eye—a testament to the enduring power of family, perseverance, and the strength found in unexpected places.

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Comprehension Questions

Here are five comprehension questions based on the text. These questions cover key events, character motivations, and emotional developments throughout the narrative.

1. What was the initial state of the hardware store?

2. How did Greg propose to help Nate and his father?

3. What positive changes did Nate experience after training with Greg?

4. Why did Greg decide that his work with Nate was done?

5. What emotions did Nate feel as he stood in the doorway of the hardware store at the end of the story?

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Answers:

What was the initial state of the hardware store?

Answer: The store was experiencing declining sales, mounting debts, and a feeling of struggle. (Location: Beginning of the text)

How did Greg propose to help Nate and his father?

Answer: Greg offered to train Nate using heavy supplies as weights in exchange for a reference for his training services. (Location: Near the middle of the text)

What positive changes did Nate experience after training with Greg?

Answer: Nate's physical transformation included gaining muscle and growing in confidence. (Location: Near the end of the text)

Why did Greg decide that his work with Nate was done?

Answer: Greg felt Nate had become strong enough to handle challenges on his own, and he had other clients needing his help. (Location: Near the end of the text)

What emotions did Nate feel as he stood in the doorway of the hardware store at the end of the story?

Answer: Nate felt a newfound sense of purpose, pride, and determination. (Location: End of the text)