Special Dinner — Present Continuous Story + Five Activities (Level 5)

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Story — “A Special Dinner” (~250 words)

Smiling woman cooking a meal on a stove in a modern kitchen
Featured image: Use present continuous — She is cooking dinner.

Maria is in the kitchen right now, and she is preparing a special dinner for her parents. Her brother David is helping her because their parents are celebrating their wedding anniversary tonight. Maria is chopping vegetables, and David is washing the dishes.

Right now, a big pot is boiling on the stove. Maria is cooking pasta, and she is making a fresh tomato sauce. While the pasta is cooking, David is setting the table. He is putting out plates, glasses, and candles to make everything look beautiful.

At the same time, Maria’s phone is ringing. Her best friend is calling to ask if she wants to go out, but Maria says, “Sorry, I am not going out tonight. I am making dinner for my parents.”

In the living room, their dog Max is sitting near the table and is watching them carefully. He is hoping for some food to fall on the floor!

Finally, Maria is tasting the sauce and is adding a little salt. David is lighting the candles now, and everything is looking perfect. Their parents are arriving soon, and Maria and David are feeling excited.

Picture Prompts — Describe the Actions

Use present continuous to describe each picture.

Woman chopping vegetables on a cutting board in a kitchen
1) ___________
She is chopping vegetables.
Hands stirring a pot on a stove
2) ___________
A pot is boiling on the stove.
Person setting the dinner table with plates and glasses
3) ___________
He is setting the table.
Woman talking on a smartphone in a kitchen
4) ___________
Her phone is ringing.
Dog sitting by the kitchen table
5) ___________
The dog is watching them carefully.
Chef tasting from a spoon over a steaming pot
6) ___________
He is tasting the sauce.

Activity 1 — Cloze (use Present Continuous)

Type the correct present continuous form. Use contractions where natural.

  1. Maria ________ (prepare) a special dinner for her parents.
  2. David ________ (help) her.
  3. Their parents ________ (celebrate) their anniversary tonight.
  4. Maria ________ (chop) vegetables.
  5. David ________ (wash) the dishes.
  6. A big pot ________ (boil) on the stove.
  7. Maria ________ (cook) pasta
  8. and ________ (make) a fresh tomato sauce.
  9. David ________ (set) the table
  10. and ________ (put) out candles.
  11. Maria’s phone ________ (ring).
  12. Her best friend ________ (call).
  13. but Maria says: I ________ (not/go) out tonight.
  14. I ________ (make) dinner for my parents.

Activity 2 — Comprehension (answer in complete sentences)

  1. Who is Maria cooking dinner for?
    She is cooking for her parents.
  2. What is David doing to help Maria?
    He is washing dishes and setting the table.
  3. Why is Maria not going out with her friend?
    Because she is making dinner for her parents.
  4. Where is Max the dog sitting?
    He is sitting near the table.
  5. How is Maria making the dinner look special?
    She is putting out candles (and plates & glasses).

Activity 3 — True / False

  1. Maria is cooking dinner for her friends.
  2. David is washing the dishes.
  3. Maria is making a fresh tomato sauce.
  4. Maria is going out with her friend tonight.
  5. David is lighting the candles.

Activity 4 — Sequence the Events (drag to order)

Drag the sentences into the correct order (1–5). Use the handle ⠿.

  1. ⠿ Maria is chopping vegetables.
  2. ⠿ David is setting the table.
  3. ⠿ Maria’s phone is ringing.
  4. ⠿ Maria is tasting the sauce.
  5. ⠿ Their parents are arriving soon.

Activity 5 — Grammar Focus: Change to Present Continuous (write full sentences)

  1. Maria prepares dinner.
  2. David washes the dishes.
  3. The dog waits for food.
  4. Her friend calls her now.
  5. They feel excited.

Answer Key (Quick Reference)

Activity 1 — Cloze
  1. is preparing
  2. is helping
  3. are celebrating
  4. is chopping
  5. is washing
  6. is boiling
  7. is cooking
  8. is making
  9. is setting
  10. is putting
  11. is ringing
  12. is calling
  13. am not going / I'm not going
  14. am making / I'm making
Activity 3 — True/False
  1. F
  2. T
  3. T
  4. F
  5. T
Activity 4 — Sequencing

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Activity 5 — Grammar Focus
  1. Maria is preparing dinner.
  2. David is washing the dishes.
  3. The dog is waiting for food.
  4. Her friend is calling her now.
  5. They are feeling excited. (They're feeling excited.)

Activity 2 accepts any accurate complete-sentence answers.