Reader 14
The Hotel Room
Andre arrived at his hotel shortly after the scheduled check-in time. He had a meeting with his work team in one hour, so he wanted to leave his bag in his room and change his clothes first.
The front desk worker smiled. “Welcome. May I have your name, please?”
“Andre Lewis,” he replied. “I have a reservation for one room.”
The worker typed his name into the computer and then frowned. “I see your reservation, but your room isn’t ready yet. The cleaning staff needs about forty more minutes.”
Andre looked at his watch. “That throws off my plan. I have to meet my team soon.”
“I understand,” the worker said. “Let me sort this out.”
She made a quick phone call and checked the computer again. “We have another room available on the same floor. It has the same type of bed and all the features you requested. I can check you into that room now.”
Andre looked relieved. “That would work. Thank you.”
The worker prepared a new key card and handed it to him. “Thank you for being patient while I fixed the problem. The elevators are around the corner.”
Andre thanked her again and headed toward the elevators. He now had enough time to prepare for his meeting.
VOCABULARY
Write the words or expressions from the story that are new to you or that you want to review.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share your thoughts. Use details from the story to support your answers.
Why is a forty-minute wait a significant problem for Andre? Explain how the timing and his plans help the reader understand his reaction.
How does Andre’s explanation help the front desk worker choose a suitable solution? What might she not have understood if he had only said he was unhappy?
What makes the replacement room an effective solution? Use details from the story to explain how it meets both Andre’s immediate need and his original expectations.
LISTEN
Listen to the recording and respond in complete sentences.
What did the speaker say?
Do you agree or disagree with the speaker? Why?
