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The Lemonade Stand
A hot day, a good idea, and a happy little success.
It is a hot day, and Carlos and Gina have an idea: make and sell lemonade. Listen as their quiet street slowly fills with thirsty customers. A gentle A1 listening story for new English learners, with seven everyday words for drinks, money, and a summer afternoon, plus short speaking practice.
This is a short story about a hot day. Two children, Carlos and Gina, make a cold drink and sell it on their street. Before you listen, two words to know:
Listen to the whole story once. Focus on the big picture. Then tap the Questions button on the player and choose the best answer — you’ll see right away if it’s correct.
It is a hot day. The sun is big and yellow. Carlos wants a cool drink. He has a good idea.
“Let’s make lemonade!” he says.
His sister Gina smiles. “Yes! Let’s do it.”
They go to the kitchen. Carlos takes six lemons. Gina takes the sugarsugar · sweet white food you add to drinks. They squeezesqueeze · to press something hard to get the juice out the lemons. They mix the juice with water and sugar. The lemonade is yellow and cold.
Now they need a standstand · a small table where you sell things. Carlos finds a small table. Gina finds two cups. Carlos makes a sign. The sign says, “Cold Lemonade. 50 cents.”
They carry the table to the sidewalksidewalk · the path next to a street where people walk. They wait. The street is quiet. No one comes.
“It’s so hot,” says Gina. “I’m thirstythirsty · when you want to drink water too.”
They wait and wait. Then they see a truck. It is the mail truck. Mr. Dale stops the truck. He gets out. His face is red and hot.
“Lemonade!” says Mr. Dale. “I want some!”
Carlos pourspour · to make a drink go from one thing into a cup a big cup. Mr. Dale drinks it fast. He smiles.
“That’s the best lemonade in town,” he says. “I’ll tell my friends.”
Mr. Dale gives Carlos one dollar. “Keep it all,” he says.
Soon more people come. A woman with a baby comes. Two boys on bikes come. An old man comes. Everyone wants cold lemonade. Carlos pours and pours. Gina takes the coinscoins · small round metal money.
The cups are almost gone. The lemonade is almost gone. Carlos and Gina look at each other. They laugh.
“We need more lemons!” says Gina.
At the end of the day, the jar is full of coins. Carlos pours two last cups. He gives one to Gina.
“To us,” he says.
They sit on the step. They drink their cold lemonade. It is a very good day.
Listen again and read along with the transcript. Then tap the Questions button on the player and answer each one.
It is a hot day. The sun is big and yellow. Carlos wants a cool drink. He has a good idea.
“Let’s make lemonade!” he says.
His sister Gina smiles. “Yes! Let’s do it.”
They go to the kitchen. Carlos takes six lemons. Gina takes the sugarsugar · sweet white food you add to drinks. They squeezesqueeze · to press something hard to get the juice out the lemons. They mix the juice with water and sugar. The lemonade is yellow and cold.
Now they need a standstand · a small table where you sell things. Carlos finds a small table. Gina finds two cups. Carlos makes a sign. The sign says, “Cold Lemonade. 50 cents.”
They carry the table to the sidewalksidewalk · the path next to a street where people walk. They wait. The street is quiet. No one comes.
“It’s so hot,” says Gina. “I’m thirstythirsty · when you want to drink water too.”
They wait and wait. Then they see a truck. It is the mail truck. Mr. Dale stops the truck. He gets out. His face is red and hot.
“Lemonade!” says Mr. Dale. “I want some!”
Carlos pourspour · to make a drink go from one thing into a cup a big cup. Mr. Dale drinks it fast. He smiles.
“That’s the best lemonade in town,” he says. “I’ll tell my friends.”
Mr. Dale gives Carlos one dollar. “Keep it all,” he says.
Soon more people come. A woman with a baby comes. Two boys on bikes come. An old man comes. Everyone wants cold lemonade. Carlos pours and pours. Gina takes the coinscoins · small round metal money.
The cups are almost gone. The lemonade is almost gone. Carlos and Gina look at each other. They laugh.
“We need more lemons!” says Gina.
At the end of the day, the jar is full of coins. Carlos pours two last cups. He gives one to Gina.
“To us,” he says.
They sit on the step. They drink their cold lemonade. It is a very good day.
Here are the seven key words from the story. Look at each picture, read the line where the word appears, and say the word out loud.
| Picture | Word | Type | Line from the story | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| squeeze | verb | “They squeeze the lemons.” | To press something hard to get the juice out. | |
| sugar | noun | “Gina takes the sugar.” | Sweet white food you add to drinks. | |
| stand | noun | “Now they need a stand.” | A small table where you sell things. | |
| sidewalk | noun | “They carry the table to the sidewalk.” | The path next to a street where people walk. | |
| pour | verb | “Carlos pours a big cup.” | To make a drink go from one thing into a cup. | |
| thirsty | adjective | “I’m thirsty too.” | When you want to drink water. | |
| coins | noun | “Gina takes the coins.” | Small round metal money. |
Type the right word in each gap. You can use the word bank to help.
Read the clue. Write the word from memory — no word bank this time. The first letter helps you.
You listened, noticed the words, and used them yourself. Come back any time to listen again — repetition is how the words stick.
