Read the short story below. Then answer the comprehension questions. The story stays visible on the left — you can scroll back any time. All verbs in the story are in the Past Simple, and many words come from the Grade 6 Vocabulary Unit.
The Gold Medal
Many years ago, a young swimmer named David wanted to win a gold medal at the big competition. Before the competition, David trained very hard. He went to the pool every day after school and swam for many hours. The training was difficult, but David never stopped.
One morning, David’s coach told him, “You need to be strong — not only in the water, but also in your mind.” David listened carefully. He understood that winning was hard work, and he could not give up.
On the day of the competition, David was very nervous. He came to the pool early. The place was full of people — families, friends, and other swimmers. David saw another swimmer, a tall person from a different country. The man looked very confident.
When the race began, David jumped into the water. He swam fast. At first, the other swimmer was in front. David could see him from the side. David decided to try his best. He swam harder and harder. He passed the other swimmer and finally arrived first.
Everyone cheered. David was the winner! He climbed onto the podium and received a beautiful gold medal. His family hugged him. His coach smiled and said, “I knew you could do it.”
That night, David had fun at a big party with his friends. They told jokes and ate a lot of food. David was very tired, but very happy. He knew that all his hard work made this moment possible.
Many years later, David became a famous explorer and still remembered that day — the day he won his first gold medal.