Oxford American English File -

Lisa was in a hurry. It was 8:15 a.m., and the train to Boston was leaving at 8:22. She ran down the stairs to just as the train arrived. She got on quickly and sat by the window.

Lisa laughed. “Next time,” she said, “I’ll check the screen before I get on.” oxford american english file

(Answers: 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d)

Suddenly, a man across from her smiled. “First time taking the local?” he asked. Lisa nodded. “Don’t worry,” he said. “Get off at the next stop, cross the platform, and take the express back. You’ll only be 20 minutes late.” Lisa was in a hurry

Lisa’s heart stopped. Kingston? That wasn’t on the way to Boston. She looked at the map above the door and her mistake. She was on the local train, not the express. The local train made 15 stops. The express made only three. She got on quickly and sat by the window

Here’s a short piece inspired by the tone, pacing, and vocabulary of Oxford American English File (likely at an intermediate level, e.g., B1–B2). The Wrong Train