The Miller family had just moved into their new house. It was not an ordinary house; it was a smart home. Everything in the house was connected to the internet. The lights, the heating, and even the refrigerator could be controlled by voice or smartphone. Tom Miller, the father, was very excited about all the technology. 'This is the future of living,' he told his family on their first day. His wife Sarah was a bit skeptical, but she wanted to give it a chance. Their teenage daughter Emma loved the idea of controlling everything from her phone. Their son Max, who was ten years old, was curious about how it all worked. The first morning in the smart home began with a surprise. At exactly six o'clock, the bedroom lights turned on automatically. 'What is happening?' Sarah asked, covering her eyes from the bright light. Tom laughed and explained that the house was programmed to wake them up. 'But it is Saturday,' Sarah said with a sigh. Tom quickly grabbed his phone and changed the weekend schedule. In the kitchen, the coffee machine had already started brewing. 'At least the coffee is ready,' Tom said with a smile. The smart refrigerator displayed a message on its screen. 'You are running low on milk and eggs,' it said. 'That is actually quite helpful,' Sarah admitted. Max came running downstairs, excited to explore the technology. 'Can I talk to the house?' he asked eagerly. 'Of course,' Tom replied, 'just say the wake word: Hey Home.' 'Hey Home, turn on the television!' Max shouted. The television in the living room immediately turned on. Max's eyes grew wide with amazement. Emma came down later, still looking at her phone. 'I have already connected the house to my phone,' she announced proudly. She showed everyone how she could dim the lights with just a tap. The first week in the smart home went smoothly. The family enjoyed the convenience of the automated systems. The heating adjusted automatically based on the weather outside. The robot vacuum cleaner worked every afternoon while they were out. The house even learned their daily routines and habits. But then, strange things started to happen. One evening, the lights in the living room kept flickering on and off. 'Hey Home, stop the lights!' Tom commanded, but nothing happened. The system seemed to have a mind of its own. The next morning, the smart speaker started playing loud music at four o'clock. The whole family woke up confused and annoyed. 'I thought technology was supposed to make our lives easier,' Sarah complained. Tom decided to call the technical support line. After waiting for an hour, he finally spoke to someone. The technician suggested that they restart the main system. Tom followed the instructions carefully, but the problems continued. The smart thermostat started setting the temperature to extreme levels. One day it was too hot, and the next day it was freezing cold. Max started to think the house might be haunted by a digital ghost. Emma discovered that someone had hacked into their home network. 'The security password was too simple,' she explained to her parents. Tom felt embarrassed because he had chosen the password himself. Emma helped the family create a much stronger password and update all devices. After the security update, the smart home began working perfectly again. The family also learned an important lesson about cybersecurity. Weeks passed, and the Millers grew more comfortable with their smart home. Sarah discovered that she could control the oven from her office. This meant dinner could be ready by the time she got home. Max taught his grandmother how to video call through the smart display. Now she could see her grandchildren every day without leaving her house. Emma used the smart home system to help her study more efficiently. She programmed the lights to remind her when it was time to take a break. The family started saving money on their electricity bills. The smart system automatically turned off unused appliances and lights. One evening, they had a small party and invited their neighbors. Tom showed off the voice-controlled lighting system. 'Hey Home, set party mode!' he said proudly. The lights immediately changed to colorful patterns and music started playing. The neighbors were impressed by the technology. 'I want a smart home too,' one of them said. Tom shared advice about choosing the right devices and keeping them secure. As months went by, new features were added to the smart home. A smart doorbell was installed that could recognize family members. It would automatically unlock the door when they arrived home. The garden sprinklers were connected to a weather app. They would only water the plants when there was no rain expected. However, not everything was perfect. Sometimes the family felt like they were losing some human connection. Everyone was always looking at their devices instead of talking to each other. Sarah suggested that they create a technology-free hour every evening. During this time, the house would turn off all screens and smart features. The family would play board games or simply talk about their day. This became their favorite part of living in the smart home. They realized that technology should help them, not replace human interaction. After a year in the smart home, the family reflected on their experience. They had learned many things about technology and about themselves. Tom no longer thought technology was the answer to everything. Sarah appreciated the convenience but valued their family time more. Emma became interested in studying computer science because of the experience. Max wanted to become an inventor and create even smarter homes. The smart home had taught them that balance is the key to a happy life. Technology can make our lives easier and more comfortable. But it should never take the place of real human connection and warmth. The Miller family had found the perfect way to enjoy both.
English Story (B1)The Smart Home
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
The Miller family moves into a fully automated smart home where everything can be controlled by voice or smartphone. While excited about the technology, they face challenges including malfunctioning systems and a security breach when someone hacks their network due to a weak password. Their teenage daughter Emma helps fix the security issue. Over time, they learn to balance technology with human connection by creating a technology-free hour each evening. The story teaches that technology should enhance life, not replace genuine human interaction.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did the smart home start having problems?
2
What did Sarah suggest to improve family life in the smart home?
3
What did Max teach his grandmother to do?
4
What did Emma decide to study because of her experience with the smart home?
Vocabulary
49 words from this story
