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Twelve Short Stories for Learners of English
EASY READING
for ESL Students
STARTER 2
by Johnny Bread
CANADIAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL
INTRODUCTION
Easy Reading for ESL Students – Starter is a
comprehensive reader designed especially for beginning
and intermediate students of English as a Second
Language. The book was developed and tested by full-time
teachers of English.
There are twelve short stories. Each story is designed to
engage students in a well-rounded language learning
experience. There are vocabulary, comprehension,
speaking, and writing exercises following each story.
The stories are entertaining and have plot twists and
surprise endings. Teachers of English as a Second
Language will enjoy using them to engage students on a
wide range of topics and interests.
The stories are short (around 400 words). Each story and
its exercises can be completed in 60 minutes.
This book is for everybody who wants to improve their
English. It’s fun to learn English by reading interesting
stories.
You can also download a free audio version of the book
read by a professional actor. See page 76.
2
CONTENTS
The Ghosts 4
Finders, Keepers 10
Love Your Neighbor 16
Graffiti 22
A Rose for Eve 28
Beware of the Cat 34
Jerry Goes Shopping 40
A Pardon for Frankie 46
Masha Comes Home 52
The Job Interview 58
The Flight to Freedom 64
The Shaman 70
3
THE GHOSTS
Boris Horsky can’t believe what is happening to him. He
has no family. He has no friends. He has no job, and now
he has no apartment. Boris is on the street. He is a
homeless man. Why? Boris is an alcoholic.
Boris is walking along the street. He has a little
backpack on his back. There is some food, a bottle of wine,
a pot, a blanket, and some tools in his backpack. That’s all
Boris has.
Boris walks through the town, across the fields and then
into the forest. He walks and walks. Soon he gets tired. He
rests for a short time, and then he starts to walk again.
Finally he stops near a little creek. He is deep in the
forest.
“I’m going to build a little shelter here,” he thinks. He
takes some tools out of his backpack and begins to work.
Five hours later he has a place to sleep.
Boris eats, drinks wine, and then he sleeps. It’s summer.
Boris is OK for now.
At midnight Boris wakes up. He can’t sleep. He looks out
of his shelter. It’s a warm summer night. The moon is
shining.
4Suddenly just a few feet from him the earth begins to
open. Three figures come out of the opening and walk
away.
Boris closes his eyes and then opens them again.
“I’m dreaming,” he thinks. “Or I’m drinking too much.”
He doesn’t see anybody now, so he goes to sleep.
The next night, exactly at midnight, it happens again.
“Ghosts,” he thinks. He is scared.
The next morning he goes to town. He goes to the pub
and starts to drink. He talks about the ghosts.
“Old Boris is crazy,” everybody says.
One man believes Boris. He is a policeman.
“You have to show me where this place is,” he says to
Boris.
That night Boris leads ten policemen with dogs to his
shelter. They wait for midnight.
Exactly at midnight the earth opens, and three figures
come out of the opening.
“Put your hands up and don’t move,” a policeman
shouts.
They stop and put their hands up. They are not ghosts.
They are smugglers. They smuggle cigarettes.
The police discover a two-thousand-foot long tunnel
under the ground. The forest is on the border, and the
smugglers use the tunnel to smuggle cigarettes from one
country to another.
The smugglers are arrested.
Boris becomes a hero. He gets a $5,000 reward for
telling the police about the smugglers.
That night Boris sleeps in a hotel. In the morning, he
starts looking for a job. He never drinks alcohol again.
5I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word hint
1. g h o s t . the spirit of a dead person
2. h __ m e __ e s s . without a home
3. f __ g __ r e . the shape of a person
4. h __ r o . someone brave
5. b __ t __ l e . a container for liquids
6. p __ t . a container for cooking
7. b __ a n __ e t . a cover for a bed
8. t __ o __ s . used for repairing things
B. What’s the word?
word hint
1. r e s t . to relax
2. b __ i __ d . to make something
3. c __ o __ e . to shut
4. o __ e n . opposite of to shut
5. d __ e __ m . to see pictures in your sleep
6. b __ l i __ v e . to think something is true
7. s __ o w . to let someone see
8. a __ r e __ t . the police do it to criminals
6II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. Boris is an workaholic.
b. Boris is an alcoholic.
2. a. Boris buys an apartment.
b. Boris has no apartment.
3. a. Boris goes into the forest.
b. Boris goes into the fields.
4. a. Boris builds a shelter.
b. Boris builds a tunnel.
5. a. Boris sees three policemen.
b. Boris sees three figures.
6. a. The police arrest Boris.
b. The police arrest the smugglers.
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 Boris builds a shelter.
1 Boris goes into the forest.
2. ___ Boris sees three figures.
___ Boris talks about the ghosts.
3. ___ The police arrest the smugglers.
___ Boris shows the police where the place is.
4. ___ Boris gets a $5,000 reward.
___ Boris starts looking for a job.
7III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. Boris goes to the forest because e .
2. Boris builds a shelter because ___
3. Boris is scared because ___
4. The smugglers build a tunnel because ___
5. The police arrest the smugglers because ___
6. Boris gets a reward because ___
a. he tells the police about the smugglers.
b. he needs protection when it rains.
c. he thinks he sees ghosts.
d. they are criminals.
e. he wants to build a shelter there.
f. they use it to smuggle cigarettes.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Who is Boris? Into the forest.
2. What doesn’t he have? An alcoholic.
3. What does he have? A shelter.
4. Where does he go? A job.
5. What does he build? Smugglers.
6. Who does he see at night? A backpack.
8IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
fields warm near
border reward crazy
1. Boris goes through the fields to the forest.
2. He builds a shelter ____________ a creek.
3. It’s not cold outside. It’s ____________.
4. The people think Boris is ____________.
5. The forest is on the ____________.
6. Boris gets a $5,000 ____________.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Boris is an abstainer. Right?
No, he isn’t. He’s an alcoholic. .
2. Boris lives in an apartment. Right?
__________________________________________
4. Boris sees three rabbits near his shelter. Right?
__________________________________________
5. People think Boris is smart. Right?
__________________________________________
6. Boris gets a $5,000 fine. Right?
__________________________________________
9FINDERS, KEEPERS
John Hunter wants to build his own house. It’s his
lifelong dream. He works very hard. He is saving money.
After many years he finally has enough money to buy a
piece of land.
Mr. Wilson has a big garden near the forest and the
river. John likes the place very much. He buys half of Mr.
Wilson’s garden. He pays Mr. Wilson $100,000 for the land.
John is very excited.
John begins building his house. He hires a man to help
him dig the foundation. The man’s name is Donald Sutter.
John and Donald are digging the foundation when
Donald’s pickax hits something hard – a piece of metal.
“A bomb!” Donald shouts. He drops the pickax and runs
away.
John looks at the piece of metal. He digs it up. It’s not a
bomb. It’s a metal box. John picks up the box and cleans it.
The initials J.W. are on the box. John opens the box. The
box is full of gold coins.
“Wow!” John shouts. “What’s this!”
Donald runs to see.
10Mr. Wilson is working in his garden. He hears John
shouting. He runs to see, too.
The three men are staring at the coins. It’s a small
fortune.
“It’s my money,” Donald says. “I found it.”
“It’s not your money,” John says. “It’s my money. This is
my land.”
“It’s my money,” Mr. Wilson says. “The initials J.W.
stand for Jasper Wilson. Jasper Wilson was my
grandfather.”
“I found the money!” Donald shouts. He grabs the box.
Then he runs to his truck, quickly gets in and drives away.
Donald hides the box with the gold coins in the closet in
his apartment.
Donald lives with his girlfriend Jane. He doesn’t tell her
about the money. “She doesn’t need to know,” he thinks.
Donald finds out that the coins are worth two million
dollars. He is sure the money belongs to him.
John and Mr. Wilson go to court.
A judge is going to decide if the money belongs to
Donald, John or Mr. Wilson. The three men wait for the
judge’s decision.
“The money belongs to Donald Sutter,” the judge says.
“Finders, keepers.”
“Yes!” Donald shouts
“No!” Mr. Wilson shouts.
“No!” John shouts.
Donald goes home. He feels wonderful. “The judge is
smart,” he thinks. “I found the money, so it’s my money.”
Now, he is going to tell Jane. They are going to celebrate
together. He is going to open a bottle of champagne. He
hopes Jane is home.
Donald arrives home. Jane is not there. He calls her, but
she doesn’t answer her cell phone.
Donald goes to the bedroom and opens the closet. He
wants to see his fortune. For a second he is afraid that
Jane took the box, but the box is there. Donald opens the
box. He stares into the box in disbelief. The money is gone.
There is a piece of paper inside the box. He picks it up
and reads – I found the money. Finders, keepers. Jane.
11I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
Word hint
1. f o u n d a t i o n . it supports a building
2. p __ c k __ x . a large tool for digging
3. m __ t __ l . a hard shiny substance
4. i __ i t __ a l . the first letter of a name
5. c __ i n __ . you can pay with them
6. f __ r t __ n e . a lot of money
7. c __ u __ t . the judges, lawyers, jury
8. j __ d __ e . the official in a court
B. What’s the word?
Word hint
1. b u i l d . to make something
2. s __ v e . to keep money
3. h i __ e . to employ
4. __ i g . to break and move earth
5. s __ o __ t . to speak loudly
6. s __ a __ e . to look at something intensely
7. g __ a b . to take something quickly
8. b __ l __ n g to be the property of someone
12II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. John’s dream is to buy a house.
b. John’s dream is to build his own house.
2. a. John hires Donald to help him find a metal box.
b. John hires Donald to help him dig the foundation.
3. a. Donald Sutter finds a metal box.
b. Donald Sutter finds a bomb.
4. a. Donald gives the money to his girlfriend.
b. Donald doesn’t tell his girlfriend about the money.
5. a. The judge decides the money belongs to Donald.
b. The judge decides the money belongs to John.
6. a. In the end Jane takes the money.
b. In the end the judge takes the money.
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 John hires Donald to help him dig the foundation.
1 John buys a piece of land.
2. ___ Donald finds a metal box.
___ Donald thinks it is a bomb.
3. ___ Donald grabs the box.
___ Donald hides the box in his apartment.
4. ___ Donald finds out Jane took the money.
___ Donald comes home and looks for the money.
13III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. John buys a piece of land because e .
2. John hires Donald because ___
3. Donald runs away because ___
4. Donald thinks the money is his because ___
5. Mr. Wilson thinks the money is his because ___
6. John thinks the money is his because ___
a. he thinks he found a bomb.
b. he needs help to dig the foundation.
c. his grandfather’s initials are on the box.
d. it is his land.
e. he wants to build a house on it.
f. he found it.
B. Answer the questions.
1. What does John want? Jane.
2. Who does he buy the land from? To build a house.
3. Who does he hire? A metal box.
4. What does Donald find? Mr. Wilson.
5. What is inside the metal box? Money.
6. Who gets the money in the end? Donald.
14IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
finders keepers own wonderful
disbelief smart afraid
1. Children say, “ Finders keepers , losers weepers.”
2. John wants to have his ____________ house.
3. Donald thinks that the judge is ____________.
4. Donald gets the money. He feels ____________.
5. Donald is ____________ Jane took the box.
6. Donald looks in the metal box in ____________.
B. Answer the questions.
1. To find money is John’s lifelong dream. Right?
No, it isn’t. To build a house is his lifelong dream. .
2. John buys a piece of land. He is very sad. Right?
____________________________________________
3. Donald finds something. He thinks it’s a pickax. Right?
____________________________________________
4. The coins are worth $2,000. Right?
____________________________________________
5. Donald wants to celebrate with the judge. Right?
____________________________________________
15LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Herman Miller is a rich man. Do you want to know what
he does? He invests his money, and he is one of the best.
He is also a very generous man. He gives a lot of money to
charities.
Herman trusts people. His friend Bernie doesn’t. They
often argue about this.
One day Herman says to Bernie. “I’m going to conduct
an experiment. I want to test people’s generosity. I’m going
to play the role of a homeless man and ask people to let
me eat and sleep in their house. I bet $100,000 I’ll find
somebody who will let me do this.
Bernie laughs. “Nobody will let you eat and sleep in their
house. I bet $100,000 you won’t find anybody.
“OK,” Herman says. “And if somebody lets me, I’ll give
him or her a million dollars.
Herman doesn’t shave for two weeks. Then one Sunday
afternoon, he puts on dirty old clothes and dirty old shoes.
He gets a plastic bag and puts a bottle of cheap wine in it.
He really looks like a homeless man.
“I’m going to try a rich neighborhood,” he says to his
friend Bernie. “Rich people are usually generous.”
16All afternoon Herman walks through the neighborhood.
The people living there feel sorry for him.
“We give to a lot of charities,” they say. “We write
checks for charities every year.” They offer him old clothes,
they offer him food, and they offer him money. But nobody
lets him eat and sleep in their house.
Herman comes home in the evening.
“You see?” Bernie says.
The next Sunday Herman tries a middle-class
neighborhood. All afternoon he walks through the
neighborhood. The people living there feel sorry for him.
“We give money to shelters,” they say. They offer him
food, they offer him some change, and they tell him about
social programs. But nobody lets him eat and sleep in their
house.
Herman comes home in the evening.
“You see?” Bernie says.
The next Sunday, Herman tries a poor neighborhood. All
afternoon he walks through the neighborhood. The people
living there feel sorry for him.
“We are poor,” they say. “We don’t have food or a bed
for you.” They show him where the shelter is, they tell him
where he can sleep, and they tell him where he can find
some work. But nobody lets him eat and sleep in their
house.
“It’s over,” Herman thinks. “Bernie is right.”
Herman is walking along a dirty street. He is walking
past two big cardboard boxes. Suddenly one of the boxes
opens. A homeless man is sitting in the box.
“Come over here my friend,” the homeless man says to
Herman. “You look tired and unhappy. These two boxes
are my home. You can sleep in the other box. And there’s
bread for you if you’re hungry.”
“You see?” Herman says to Bernie. “There are still good
people in our city.”
17I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. n e i g h b o r . somebody next door
2. c h __ r i __ y . to give to the poor
3. e __ p e r i __ e n t . to test something
4. g e __ e r o s __ t y . willingness to give
5. r o __ e . played by an actor
6. c __ a __ s . a group of people
7. s h __ l t __ r . a place to live
8. c h __ n __ e . coins
B. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. r i c h . to have a lot of money
2. g e __ e r __ u s . willing to give money
3. h o __ e l __ s s . without a home
4. d i __ __ y . not clean
5. c __ e __ p . not expensive
6. m i __ d __ e . not the highest or lowest
7. p o __ r . to have no money
8. t __ r __ d . to have little energy
18II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. Herman Miller is a homeless man.
b. Herman Miller is a rich man.
2. a. Herman Miller is generous.
b. Herman Miller is cheap.
3. a. Herman wants to conduct an experiment.
b. Herman wants to conduct an interview.
4. a. Herman plays the role of a rich man.
b. Herman plays a role of a homeless man.
5. a. Everybody lets Herman eat and sleep in their house.
b. One man lets Herman eat and sleep in his house.
6. a. Herman loses the bet.
b. Herman wins the bet.
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 Herman bets $100,000 on the result.
1 Herman decides to conduct an experiment.
2. ___ Herman goes to a rich neighborhood.
___ Herman puts on dirty clothes.
3. ___ Herman goes to a middle class neighborhood.
___ Herman goes to a poor neighborhood.
4. ___ Herman wins $100,000.
___ A homeless man lets sleep Herman in his house.
19III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. Herman is a rich man because e .
2. Herman gives money to charities because ___
3. He wants to conduct an experiment because ___
4. Herman puts on dirty clothes because ___
5. He goes first to a rich neighborhood because ___
6. Herman looks unhappy because ___
a. he wants to look like a homeless man.
b. he is generous.
c. nobody lets him eat and sleep in their house.
d. rich people are usually generous.
e. he invests money, and he is good at it.
f. he wants to test people’s generosity.
B. Answer the questions.
1. What is Herman like? People’s generosity.
2. What does Herman do? He is generous.
3. What does he want to test? In somebody‘s house.
4. How much does Herman bet? A homeless man.
5. Where does he want to sleep? He invests money.
6. Who let him sleep in his house? $100,000.
20IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
argue trusts offer
feel lets shave
1. Herman trusts people. His friend doesn’t.
2. Herman and his friend often ____________ about it.
3. Herman doesn’t __________ for two weeks.
4. People ____________ sorry for Herman.
5. They ____________ him food, old clothes and money.
6. Nobody ____________ him sleep in their house.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Herman Miller steals money. Right?
No, he doesn’t. He invests money. .
2. Herman wants to conduct a meeting. Right?
____________________________________________
3. Herman wants to test people’s beds. Right?
____________________________________________
4. Bernie bets $1,000,000. Right?
____________________________________________
5. Herman puts on new clothes. Right?
____________________________________________
21GRAFFITI
Two little boys are playing in their room. They are twin
brothers. Their names are Christopher and Paul. They are
seven years old. Christopher is drawing a picture. He likes
drawing. He wants to be an artist. Paul is playing with a
police car. He likes police cars. He wants to be a
policeman.
Christopher is drawing a boat. He always draws boats.
There are two sailors in the boat.
“That sailor is me,” Christopher says to his brother.
“Who is the other one?” Paul asks.
“That’s you,” Christopher says.
“Where are we sailing to?” Paul asks.
“We’re sailing around the world,” Christopher answers.
The two brothers live in a children’s home. Their parents
can’t take care of them.
Some people can’t have children, and they want children
from the children’s home. A man and a woman want
Christopher.
The door opens, and the director comes in. The man
and the woman are with him.
22“Christopher,” the director says. “This is Mr. and Mrs.
McGuire. They are taking you to their house. They’re very
nice. They have a lot of toys for you.”
“Is my brother going with me?” Christopher asks.
“No, not this time,” the director says. “Maybe next time.”
Christopher starts crying. He walks up to his brother and
gives him his drawing.
Paul gives Christopher his police car.
“Don’t cry, Chris,” Paul says. “I’m going to find you.”
Paul doesn’t see his brother for twenty years.
Twenty years later a police car is driving slowly along a
Toronto street. It’s around midnight. Two policemen are in
the car. The policeman behind the wheel is Paul
Henderson.
Paul sees a man on the street. The man is painting on a
building.
Paul stops and gets out of the car. He slowly walks to
the man. Paul is looking at the painting. It’s a boat with two
sailors in it.
Paul puts his hand on the man’s shoulder and turns him
around. He looks at the man’s face. He can’t believe it. The
face he sees is his own.
Paul asks the man for his ID. The man gives him his
driver’s license. Paul reads – Christopher McGuire, born on
March 12, 1988. The man has the same birthday as he
does.
Paul looks at the painting again. “That sailor in the boat,”
he asks. “Is that me?”
The man smiles. “Yes, that’s you,” he says. “Are you
going to arrest me, Paul?”
“No, I’m not,” Paul says. “I can’t arrest my own brother.”
The two brothers hug for a long time.
23I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. g r a f f i t i . Illegal drawings on walls
2. t w __ n . he looks like his brother
3. b o __ t . it sails across water
4. s __ i l __ r . he or she works on a ship
5. w __ __ l d . the Earth + everything on it
6. t __ y . children play with it
7. w __ e __ l . we control a car with it
8. s __ o u l __ e r . a part of the human body
B. What’s the word?
Word Hint
1. d r a w . use lines to make a picture
2. a s _ to question
3. a __ s __ e r . opposite of ask
4. t a __ e c a __ e . to watch and help someone
5. p __ i __ t . use colors to make a picture
6. t u __ n . to move your body
7. a __ r __ s t . the police do it to criminals
8. h __ g . to put your arms around
24II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. Paul wants to be a detective.
b. Paul wants to be a policeman.
2. a. Christopher always draws police cars.
b. Christopher always draws boats.
3. a. The two children live with their parents.
b. The two children live in a children’s home.
4. a. Christopher goes to live with a man and a woman.
b. Christopher goes to live with his brother and sister.
5. a. Paul doesn’t see Christopher for two years.
b. Paul doesn’t see Christopher for twenty years.
6. a. Christopher is painting when Paul finds him.
b. Christopher is sailing in a boat when Paul finds him.
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 A man and a woman take Christopher with them.
1 Christopher is playing with his brother.
2. ___ Paul becomes a policeman.
___ Paul is driving a police car.
3. ___ Paul stops and gets out of the police car.
___ Paul sees a man painting on a building.
4. ___ Paul turns the man around.
___ Paul can’t believe it. He sees his own face.
25III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. Paul always plays with a police car because e .
2. Christopher wants to be an artist because ___
3. The boys live in a children’s home because ___
4. Paul doesn’t see his brother because ___
5. Paul stops the police car because ___
6. The man looks like Paul because ___
a. their parents can’t take care of them.
b. his brother doesn’t live with him.
c. he is Paul’s twin brother.
d. he likes drawing pictures.
e. he likes police cars.
f. he sees a man painting on a building.
B. Answer the questions.
1. What is Paul to Christopher? On a street.
2. What does Paul like to play with? His twin brother.
3. What does Christopher like to do? He likes to draw.
4. Where are the boys playing? A policeman.
5. What does Paul become? Police cars.
6. Where does Paul find his brother? In their room.
26IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
behind around own
believe birthday building
1. Paul is behind the wheel of a police car.
2. Paul sees a man who is painting on a ____________.
3. Paul turns the man ____________.
4. Paul can’t ____________ what he sees.
5. He sees his ____________ face.
6. The man also has the same ____________.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Christopher and Paul are cousins. Right?
.
No, they aren’t. They are brothers. .
2. They live with their parents. Right?
____________________________________________
3. A man and a woman want Paul. Right?
____________________________________________
4. Paul becomes an artist. Right?
____________________________________________
5. At the end Paul arrests Christopher. Right?
____________________________________________
27A ROSE FOR EVE
Adam is nine years old. He is in fourth grade. At school
everybody knows Adam. He is a little joker.
One day the teacher comes into the classroom with a
new girl. “This is Eve,” she says. “Your new classmate.”
Everybody looks at Eve. She is a little girl with long
blond hair and blue eyes.
Adam is not interested in the new girl. He continues
talking to his friend Mike. They are talking about cars. They
are not listening to the teacher.
The teacher sees them.
“Come over here, Adam,” the teacher says. “Sit next to
Eve.”
“No, please,” Adam says. “I don’t want to sit next to a
girl.”
“Come on,” the teacher says and smiles. “It’s just for
today. She’s a new student. She needs some help.”
Adam is angry, but he stands up and goes to sit next to
Eve.
The teacher wants the children to draw a picture of an
animal. Eve draws a cat. Her drawing is beautiful. Adam
28tries to draw a dragon, but it is horrible. Adam doesn’t know
how to draw.
Eve looks at Adam’s drawing. His drawing is funny, but
Eve doesn’t laugh. She shows Adam how to draw a
dragon.
Adam tries again. This time the dragon looks good.
The teacher looks at Adam’s dragon and says, “A nice
picture, Adam. I’m giving you an A.”
The next morning Adam is walking to school. He is
thinking about Eve. He wants to give her something – a
present, but he doesn’t know what. He is walking past a
house. The house has a beautiful garden. Adam stops and
looks at the garden. There are hundreds of roses in the
garden. Adam has an idea. He climbs over the fence. He is
in the garden now. He picks a rose.
“Don’t touch those roses,” a voice behind him says.
Adam turns around. He sees an old woman. The woman
is walking towards him. Adam wants to run away, but he
can’t. He can’t move.
“Those are not your roses, young man,” the woman
says.
“I’m sorry,” Adam says. “The rose is for my girlfriend.
She’s very nice.”
“Keep the rose,” the woman says. “But you must
promise to come on Saturday and help me and my
granddaughter here in the garden.”
“I promise,” Adam says.
At school Adam gives the rose to Eve. Her face turns
red. She is very happy.
On Saturday morning Adam walks to the old woman’s
house and rings the doorbell.
The door opens. A little girl is there.
“Adam, what are you doing here?” she says. It’s Eve.
“I’m here to help in the garden,” Adam says. “But what
are you doing here?”
“I live here,” Eve says. “Those are my roses. Do you like
them?”
29I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
Word Hint
1. g r a d e . a school level
2. j __ k __ r . he or she often jokes
3. c l a s __ m a __ e . in the same class
4. d __ a g __ n . a fairy tale animal
5. p r __ s __ n t . something you give
6. f __ n __ e . it is around a house
7. v __ i __ e . the sounds you make
8. d o __ r b e __ l . a button outside a house
B. What’s the word?
Word Hint
1. d r a w . use lines to make a picture
2. c __ i __ b . to move up or down
3. t __ r n . to move your body
4. k __ e p . not give back
5. p r __ m __ s e . to say you will do something
6. r __ n g . to make a sound with a bell
7. a r __ u __ d . moving in a circular direction
8. t o __ a __ d . moving in the direction of
30II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. Adam is a bad student.
b. Adam is a little joker.
2. a. A new boy comes into the classroom.
b. A new girl comes into the classroom.
3. a. Adam is very interested in the new girl.
b. Adam is not interested in the new girl.
4. a. Adam draws a cat.
b. Adam draws a dragon.
5. a. Eve laughs at Adam’s drawing.
b. Eve helps Adam with his drawing.
6. a. Adam brings Eve a rose.
b. Adam brings Eve a cat.
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 Adam is not interested in the new girl.
1 A new girl comes into the classroom.
2. ___ Adam’s drawing looks horrible.
___ Adam draws a dragon.
3. ___ Eve helps Adam with his drawing.
___ Adam wants to give something to Eve.
4. ___ Adam picks a rose.
___ Adam climbs the fence.
31III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. Adam is angry because e .
2. Eve helps Adam because ___
3. Adam wants to give something to Eve because ___
4. Adam climbs the fence because ___
5. The woman is angry because ___
6. Adam is surprised because ___
a. Adam is in her garden.
b. his drawing doesn’t look good.
c. he wants to pick a rose.
d. he sees Eve at the door.
e. the teacher wants him to sit next to a girl.
f. he likes her.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Who is Adam? Talking with his friend.
2. What doesn’t Adam like? A nine-year-old boy.
3. What does Adam like? An old woman.
4. Where does Adam go? Eve’s rose.
5. Who is angry at Adam? Sitting next to a girl.
6. Whose rose does Adam pick? Into a garden.
32IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
face idea behind
around toward rings
1. Adam sees roses. He has an idea .
2. Adam hears a voice ____________ him.
3. He turns ____________.
4. An old woman is walking ____________ him.
5. Adam gives Eve the rose. Her ____________ turns red.
6. Adam comes and ____________ the doorbell.
B. Answer the questions.
1. The teacher tells the children to draw a man. Right?
No, he doesn’t. He tells them to draw an animal. .
2. Adam is happy to sit next to a girl. Right?
____________________________________________
3. Adam’s dragon looks wonderful. Right?
____________________________________________
4. Adam buys the rose from an old woman. Right?
____________________________________________
5. Adam promises to pay for the rose. Right?
____________________________________________
33BEWARE OF THE CAT
Today is Jerry’s seventh birthday, and he is very
excited. He gets a lot of presents.
From his sister he gets a book. From his brother he gets
a football. From his friends he gets a train set. And from his
parents he gets a bicycle.
Jerry is sitting in the living room with his family and
friends. They are eating birthday cake.
The doorbell rings. Jerry runs to the door and opens it.
It’s the mailman.
“I have a package for Jerry Russell,” the mailman says.
“That’s me,” Jerry says happily. “It’s my birthday today.”
“Oh,” says the mailman and gives Jerry a box. “Here you
are, young man. Happy birthday.”
Jerry runs back to the living room with the box. He puts
it on the table. It is from Aunt Mary. Jerry doesn’t know
Aunt Mary very well. He knows that she lives far away. She
has thirty-three cats in her house, and all of them are black.
He also knows that people say she is a witch.
Something moves inside the box.
“There’s a snake inside!” Jerry shouts. “I’m not going to
open it.”
34Jerry’s sister Ann is not scared. She opens the box.
A little kitten jumps out of the box. It jumps on Ann’s
shoulder.
“Aaaah,” she shouts. She is scared. Then she laughs.
“It’s not a snake!” Jerry shouts happily. “It’s a cat. His
name is Jumper.”
Jumper is a very funny cat. He likes to jump on people’s
shoulders. He jumps on Jerry’s shoulder, he jumps on
Ann’s shoulder. He jumps on Mr. Russell’s shoulder and
Mrs. Russell’s shoulder. He jumps on Jerry’s friends’
shoulders. He jumps on everybody’s shoulders. He likes to
jump.
One day the Russells are not at home. A burglar breaks
into their house. The burglar is carrying a big bag. He
wants to steal something. He goes into the bedroom.
Jumper is in the bedroom, but the burglar doesn’t see
him. The burglar opens the closet door. Jumper jumps on
the burglar’s shoulder. The burglar is so scared that he
drops his bag and runs out of the house.
The Russells come home. They see the broken door,
but nothing is missing in their house. They find the burglar’s
bag in the bedroom. Jumper is lying on the bed. They
understand.
“Thank you, Jumper,” they say.
35I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. t r a i n s e t . a popular boy’s toy
2. m a i __ m __ n . he brings letters
3. p a c __ a __ e . a box for mailing
4. w __ t __ h . a woman with magic power
5. s __ a __ e . an animal with no legs
6. s h o __ l __ e r . a body part
7. b u r __ l __ r . someone who steals
8. c l o __ __ t . you keep clothes in it
B. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. b e w a r e . used to warn someone
2. g __ t . to receive
3. j __ m p . to push yourself up
4. b __ e __ k . to enter by force
5. s __ e __ l . to take somebody’s things
6. d __ o p . to let something fall
7. m __ s s . something is not there
8. f __ n d . to discover something
36II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. Jerry is seventy years old today.
b. Jerry is seven years old today.
2. a. The mailman brings Jerry a package.
b. The mailman brings Jerry a letter.
3. a. There is a snake inside the package.
b. There is a cat inside the package.
4. a. The cat jumps on Ann’s head.
b. The cat jumps on Ann’s shoulder.
5. a. Jerry names the cat Shoulder.
b. Jerry names the cat Jumper.
6. a. Jumper scares the burglar.
b. The burglar scares Jumper
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 The mailman gives Jerry a package.
1 The mailman rings the doorbell.
2. ___ A cat jumps on Ann’s shoulder.
___ Ann opens the box.
3. ___ The burglar goes into the bedroom.
___ A burglar breaks into the Russell family’s house.
4. ___ Jumper jumps on the burglar’s shoulder.
___ The burglar runs away.
37III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. Jerry is excited because e .
2. Jerry is scared because ___
3. Ann opens the box because ___
4. Jerry gives the cat the name Jumper because ___
5. The burglar breaks into the house because ___
6. The burglar runs away because ___
a. he jumps on everybody’s shoulder.
b. she wants to know what is inside.
c. he wants to steal something.
d. he is scared.
e. it is his birthday.
f. he thinks there is a snake inside the box.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Why is Jerry excited? He jumps.
2. What does the mailman bring? It’s his birthday.
3. Who is the package from? His bag.
4. What is inside the box? A cat.
5. What does the cat do? Aunt Mary.
6. What does the burglar drop? A package.
38IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
excited happily doorbell
scared box broken
1. Jerry is excited . It is his birthday.
2. Somebody rings the ____________.
3. “It’s my birthday,” Jerry says ____________.
4. The mailman gives Jerry a ____________.
5. The door is ____________, but nothing is missing.
6. The burglar is ____________. He runs away.
B. Answer the questions.
1. It is Jerry’s birthday. He is scared. Right?
No, he isn’t. He’s excited. .
2. The doorbell rings. It is the burglar. Right?
____________________________________________
3. There is a dog inside the box. Right?
____________________________________________
4. Jumper jumps into everybody’s lap. Right?
____________________________________________
5. Jumper is a serious cat. Right?
____________________________________________
39JERRY GOES SHOPPING
Jerry is waiting in front of a little grocery store.
An old lady comes to the store and opens the door.
Jerry runs quickly to the door and walks in before the old
lady. He almost knocks her down. He is not very polite.
The old lady smiles. “Hi, Jerry,” she says.
Jerry doesn’t say anything.
People are waiting in the store. Jerry doesn’t wait. He
gets in front of everybody.
The salesclerk smiles. “Hi Jerry,” he says. “What do you
need today?”
The people smile, too. They don’t mind waiting. They let
Jerry shop before them.
Jerry has a little bag around his neck. The salesclerk
takes a grocery list and money out of Jerry’s bag. Then he
puts the groceries in the bag.
“Here you are, Jerry,” the salesclerk says. “Come
again.”
The salesclerk walks to the door and opens it for Jerry.
Jerry walks out of the store. He doesn’t say thank you. He
doesn’t say anything. Why? He can’t talk. Jerry is a dog.
40Jerry is Bill’s dog. Bill is a retired policeman, and Jerry is
a retired police dog. Bill sometimes sends Jerry to shop at
the grocery store. People know Jerry. They like him.
One evening a man comes into the grocery store. There
are no people in the store. The man shows the salesclerk a
gun. “Give me all your money,” he says.
The salesclerk is scared. He gives the man all the
money – $3,525.
Jerry comes to the store. As usual he waits outside. No
people go into the store and no people come out of the
store. Jerry looks inside the store through the glass door.
He sees the man with the gun. Jerry knows guns. He
understands. He hides around the corner and waits.
The man comes out of the store. He looks around him.
He doesn’t see anybody. He starts running.
Jerry knows what to do. He goes after the man and
knocks him down. The man drops his gun. He is on the
ground. Jerry sits next to him and waits.
The salesclerk looks out of the store. He wants to see
where the man is going. He sees him lying on the ground.
Jerry is sitting next to him.
The salesclerk calls the police. The police come and
arrest the man. The man is going to jail.
The salesclerk gives Jerry his groceries. This time Jerry
gets them for free.
41I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. s t o r e . a place where you shop
2. s __ l e s c __ e r k . he works in a store
3. n __ c k . a part of your body
4. l i __ t . a set of words
5. g __ n . a weapon that can fire
6. g l __ __ s . transparent material
7. g r __ u __ d . the surface of the Earth
8. j a __ l . a place for criminals
B. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. r e t i r e . to stop working
2. k __ o __ k . to hit something
3. m i __ d . to feel annoyed
4. l __ t . to give someone permission
5. h __ d e . to be in a place no one can find
6. d r __ p . to fall from a high place
7. l __ e . to be in the horizontal position
8. a r __ e __ t . the police do it to criminals
42II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. Jerry goes shopping in a pet store.
b. Jerry goes shopping in a grocery store.
2. a. Jerry speaks to everybody.
b. Jerry doesn’t speak to anybody.
3. a. Jerry is a retired policeman.
b. Jerry is a retired police dog.
4. a. Jerry sees a robber in the store.
b. Jerry sees a policeman in the store.
5. a. Jerry knocks down the robber.
b. Jerry helps out the robber.
6. a. Jerry gets a medal.
b. Jerry gets free groceries
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 Jerry runs into the store.
1 Jerry waits for someone to open the door for him.
2. ___ The salesclerk reads the list of Jerry’s groceries.
___ The salesclerk gives Jerry his groceries.
3. ___ Jerry sees the robber.
___ Jerry hides outside the store.
4. ___ Jerry attacks the robber.
___ The robber runs out of the store.
43III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. Jerry waits outside the store because e .
2. Jerry doesn’t speak because ___
3. The people don’t mind waiting because ___
4. The clerk gives the robber the money because ___
5. Jerry hides outside because ___
6. Jerry knocks down the robber because ___
a. he is a dog.
b. he was trained to do that.
c. they like Jerry.
d. he doesn’t want the robber to see him.
e. he wants somebody to open the door for him.
f. he is scared.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Who is Jerry? At a grocery store.
2. Whose dog is Jerry? A dog.
3. What does Jerry often do? To catch criminals.
4. Where does Jerry shop? Bill’s dog.
5. How does he carry groceries? In a bag on his neck.
6. What was Jerry trained to do? He goes shopping.
44IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
grocery usual almost
before polite quickly
1. Jerry waits outside a little grocery store.
2. Jerry ____________ runs into the store.
3. He ____________ knocks an old lady down.
4. Jerry is not very ____________.
5. Jerry shops ____________ everybody else.
6. One day he waits outside the store as ____________.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Jerry walks into the store and stands in line. Right?
No, he doesn’t. He gets in front of everybody. .
2. Jerry tells the salesclerk what he wants to buy. Right?
____________________________________________
3. Bill is a retired criminal. Right?
____________________________________________
4. The salesclerk sees the robber. He is excited. Right?
____________________________________________
5. Jerry runs after the robber and cheers him up. Right?
____________________________________________
45A PARDON FOR FRANKIE
It’s Christmas time and George Herman is very happy.
George is a twelve-year-old boy. He is at home alone.
There is no school today. His parents are at work, and his
sister is at her friend’s house.
George is playing with his train set. The phone rings.
George goes to the phone and answers it. “Hello,” he says.
“Hi, George,” his father says. “Is everything all right?”
“Sure,” George says.
“Go to the garage, George,” his father says. “And find a
bucket. Then go to the fish market and buy a live fish. Put
the fish in the bathtub. It’s for Christmas dinner. The money
is in the drawer. ”
“OK, Daddy,” George says.
George goes to the garage and finds a bucket. Then he
goes to the fish market with the bucket. It’s not far. It takes
him ten minutes to get there.
There is a big tank full of live fish at the market. A
salesclerk is selling the fish. People are waiting in line to
get a fish.
George waits for an hour.
46Finally it is his turn. The salesclerk takes a fish out of the
fish tanks and puts it on the scales.
“Ten dollars,” he says.
George gives the salesclerk the money, and the
salesclerk puts the fish in George’s bucket.
George is walking home. The bucket with the fish is
heavy. George wants to rest. He stops and sits on a bench.
He looks at the fish. The fish looks at him. It has big eyes. It
opens its mouth.
“Do you want to tell me something?” George asks. “Can
you talk? I know you can’t talk, but I know what you want to
tell me.” George feels sorry for the fish.
“You have a big mouth and big eyes. You look like Uncle
Frank,” George says. “I am going to call you Frankie. You
know Frankie, my father wants to eat you, my mother
wants to eat you, and my sister wants to eat you. They’re
stupid. I don’t want to eat you. I don’t like fish. And you’re
my friend now. I can’t eat my friend.”
There is a river near George’s house. George goes to
the river.
“Merry Christmas, Frankie,” George says and throws the
fish into the river.
George’s father comes home. He looks for the fish, but
the bathtub is empty. George tells him everything. His
father gets angry and punishes him. George can’t go to the
movie theater, and he can’t watch TV for two weeks.
That year the Herman family eats turkey and pork for
Christmas dinner … but no fish.
47I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. p a r d o n . to allow someone to go free
2. b __ c k __ t . an open container
3. m a __ k __ t . a place where you buy things
4. b __ t h t __ b . you take a bath in it
5. t __ n k . a large container for liquids
6. t u __ n . chance to do something
7. s c __ l __ a machine for weighing things
8. b __ n __ h . a long seat for two people
B. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. a l o n e . without any other people
2. l i __ e . not dead or artificial
3. f __ l l . containing as much as possible
4. h e __ __ y . weighing a lot
5. o p __ n . not closed
6. s __ r __ y . feeling unhappy or ashamed
7. s t __ p __ d . not smart
8. e __ p __ y . opposite of full
48II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. It is Easter time and George is very happy.
b. It is Christmas time and George is very happy.
2. a. George is home alone.
b. George is home with his sister.
3. a. The phone rings. It is George’s mother.
b. The phone rings. It is George’s father.
4. a. Mr. Herman wants George to go to the supermarket.
b. Mr. Herman wants George to go to the fish market.
5. a. George eats the fish.
b. George throws the fish in the river.
6. a. George’s father is angry with Jerry.
b. George’s father is proud of Jerry.
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 George answers the phone.
1 The phone rings.
2. ___ George goes to the fish market with the bucket.
___ George finds a bucket in the garage.
3. ___ George gets a fish.
___ George waits in line for a long time.
4. ___ George throws the fish in the river.
___ George’s father punishes George.
49III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. George is home because e .
2. George’s father calls George because ___
3. George gets a bucket because ___
4. It takes a long time to get a fish because ___
5. George throws the fish in the river because ___
6. The Herman family doesn’t eat fish because ___
a. there are a lot of people waiting in line.
b. there is no fish on the table.
c. he wants to carry the fish in it.
d. he wants George to buy a fish.
e. there is no school that day.
f. he feels sorry for it.
B. Answer the questions.
1. What time of year is it? To the fish market.
2. What is George doing? Christmas time.
3. Who calls George? He’s playing.
4. What does George have to do? His father
5. Where does he have to go? He doesn’t have fish.
6. Why is Mr. Herman angry? Buy a fish.
50IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
sells drawer punishes
mouth pork rest
1. The money is in the drawer .
2. A sales clerk ____________ the fish.
3. George is tired. He wants to ____________.
4. The fish opens its ____________.
5. George’s father is angry. He ____________ George.
6. There is no fish only turkey and ____________.
B. Answer the questions.
1. George is happy because it is Halloween. Right?
No, it is not. It’s Christmas time. .
2. George is playing with his football. Right?
____________________________________________
3. The fish market is far. Right?
____________________________________________
4. George waits in line one minute. Right?
____________________________________________
5. George’s father is proud of George. Right?
____________________________________________
51MASHA COMES HOME
Sophie Tremblay is a sixty-year-old woman. She lives in
a little house in Montreal, Canada. She doesn’t go to work
anymore. She is retired.
Some people think Sophie is old. But Sophie doesn’t
feel old. She feels young. She is always busy. She likes
cooking, so she always tries new foods. She has a little
garden where she often works, and she likes to go for long
walks.
Sophie is a happy woman, but she feels lonely
sometimes. She has a son and a daughter. But her son
lives in Toronto, and her daughter lives in Vancouver. They
don’t come to visit her very often.
One day Sophie is on the Internet and finds a website
where people show their cats and talk about them. Sophie
is thinking about getting a cat, but she can’t decide. She
doesn’t know how to take care of a cat.
Sophie often chats with a woman from Moscow. Her
name is Maria. She has five cats. She knows how to take
care of a cat. Sophie and Maria become friends. They talk
about cats a lot.
“Get a cat,” Maria says to Sophie. “You will love it.”
52But Sophie can’t decide.
One day Sophie is working in her garden when a taxi
stops in front of her house. A woman gets out of the taxi
and walks to Sophie’s house.
“Can I help you?” Sophie calls from her garden.
“Sophie?” the woman says.
“Maria?” Sophie says. “What are you doing here?”
Maria smiles. “I come to say hello.”
The two women hug.
Maria brings a present to Sophie. The present is in a
little cage. It’s a cat.
Sophie is looking at the cat. She can’t believe what she
sees. The cat is blue.
“Her name is Masha,” Maria says.
Masha becomes Sophie’s best friend. They like each
other very much.
Masha is a very intelligent cat. She likes to wander
around the neighborhood for hours, but she always comes
back home.
One day somebody steals Masha, and she doesn’t
come back home. Sophie looks for her everywhere, but she
can’t find her. Sophie is very sad. She writes Maria about it.
“Wait,” Maria writes back.
Ten minutes later Maria writes, “I know where Masha is.”
“Are you a psychic?” Sophie asks.
“No, but Masha is a rare cat. She has a chip under her
skin. You can find her on the computer.”
“So where is she?” Sophie asks.
“She is in Victoria, British Columbia.” Maria writes. “Is
that far from your house?”
“Well,” Sophie writes. “It’s more than two thousand
miles.”
Sophie gets the address from Maria.
“Be very careful,” Maria says.
The next day Sophie takes a plane and flies to Victoria.
She goes to the police station to ask for help.
Two days later Sophie flies back home. Masha is with
her. Masha finally comes home.
53I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. w a l k . to use your feet to move
2. w __ b s i __ e . a place on the internet
3. p __ e s e __ t . something you give or receive
4. c __ g e . birds are often kept inside it
5. c __ i p . a microprocessor
6. s __ i n . outer layer of the human body
7. p __ y c h __ c . he knows what will happen
8. p __ a __ e . a vehicle that flies in the air
B. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. t r y . to make an effort
2. v __ s i __ to go to see someone
3. d __ c i __ e . to make a choice
4. t __ k e c __ __ e . to watch and help someone
5. h __ g . to put your arms around
6. b __ l i e __ e . to be sure something is true
7. w __ n d __ r . to move without purpose
8. s __ e __ l . to take something illegally
54II. COMPREHENSION
A. Circle the correct sentence.
1. a. Sophie is a sixteen-year-old girl.
b. Sophie is a sixty-year-old woman.
2. a. Sophie lives alone.
b. Sophie lives with her sister Maria.
3. a. Sophie is thinking about buying a cat.
b. Sophie is thinking about buying a dog.
4. a. Sophie buys a cat in a pet store
b. Sophie gets a cat from Maria.
5. a. The cat is black.
b. The cat is blue.
6. a. The cat runs away.
b. A thief steals the cat.
B. Number the sequence.
1. 2 Sophie meets a woman on the website.
1 Sophie finds a website.
2. ___ A woman gets out of the taxi.
___ A taxi stops in front of Sophie’s house.
3. ___ Maria brings Sophie a cat. Her name is Masha.
___ One day somebody steals Masha.
4. ___ Sophie finds Masha in Victoria.
___ Marie tells Sophie where Masha is.
55III. SPEAKING
A. Match the sentences.
1. Sophie doesn’t work because e .
2. Sophie sometimes feels lonely because ___
3. Sophie rarely sees her children because ___
4. Masha doesn’t come home because ___
5. Maria knows where Masha is because ___
6. Sophie flies to Victoria because ___
a. she lives alone.
b. somebody steals her.
c. Masha is there.
d. Masha has a chip under her skin.
e. she is retired.
f. they live far away.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Why doesn’t Sophie work? A cat.
2. How old is Sophie. She is retired.
3. How does Sophie often feel? Blue.
4. Where does Sophie meet Maria? She is sixty.
5. What does Maria bring? On the Internet
6. What color is the cat? Lonely.
56IV. WRITING
A. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
rare busy neighborhood
best finally chat
1. Sophie has a lot of things to do. She is busy .
2. People ___________ about their cats on the Internet.
3. Sophie and Masha become ____________ friends.
4. Masha often wanders around the ____________.
5. Masha has a chip. She is a ____________ cat.
6. Sophie is happy. Masha ____________ comes home.
B. Answer the questions.
1. Sophie lives with her children. Right?
No, she doesn’t. She lives alone. .
2. Sophie is always happy. Right?
____________________________________________
3. Sophie meets a man on the Internet. Right?
____________________________________________
4. Maria brings Sophie a bird in a cage. Right?
____________________________________________
5. Masha runs away. Right?
____________________________________________
57THE JOB INTERVIEW
Mark Lewis is at a job interview. He is sitting across from
the manager of a big company. The company is looking for
a computer programmer.
“We’re looking for a computer programmer,” the
manager says. “Somebody really good. So tell me
something about you.”
Mark is staring at the manager. He says nothing.
Thirty seconds pass. The manager and Mark are staring
at each other.
“Maybe my question is too general,” the manager says.
“Tell me about your skills. What can you do?”
Mark looks at his shoes. Then he looks at the manager.
He doesn’t say anything.
The manager is getting impatient. “Do you know
anything about computer programming, young man?” he
asks angrily.
Mark moves on his chair. He opens his mouth, but he
can’t speak.
“The interview is over,” the manager says. He is really
angry now. “Goodbye.”
58Mark slowly gets up from his chair and walks out of the
room. He doesn’t say goodbye. He doesn’t say anything.
Mark is a smart young man, and he knows a lot about
computer programming. But Mark has a problem. He gets
too nervous during job interviews and can’t speak. Mark
goes to many doctors. Nobody can help him.
Mark needs a job. He tries again and again. He doesn’t
give up.
One morning Mark is on the train. He is going to a job
interview again. A man in a black suit gets on the train and
sits next to Mark. He looks important.
The man is talking on the phone. Mark doesn’t want to
listen to his conversation, but it’s hard. The man is very
loud.
“I can’t read my emails now,” the man says. “I know it’s
important, but I have a new phone. My email account is not
set up, and I don’t know how to do it … No, I can’t ask
people on the train to set up my email account. It’s
ridiculous.”
“You can ask me,” Mark says.
The man looks at Mark. “OK, do it,” he says and hands
Mark his phone.
Mark takes the phone and looks at it. It’s a very nice
phone – a new model. “OK,” Mark says. “I need the
provider, your user name and your password.”
The man gives him the information. A few seconds later
the man’s email account is set up.
The man reads his emails. He is very happy.
“You’re a very smart young man,” the man says. “Where
do you work?”
“I don’t work,” Mark says. “I’m going to a job interview.”
Mark tells the man about his problem. The man listens
and then asks Mark a lot of questions.
The train stops, and they say goodbye to each other.
Mark is sitting in a manager’s office again. He is very
nervous. The door opens, and the manager walks in. Mark
can’t believe his eyes. The manager is the man from the
train. Mark is staring at him. He can’t speak.
“The interview is over,” the manager says. “You are
hired, young man. You can start tomorrow.”
59I. VOCABULARY
A. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. j o b . paid work
2. i __ t e r v i __ w . a formal meeting
3. m __ n a g __ r . someone who is in charge
4. c __ m p a __ y . a business
5. s __ i __ l . the ability to do something
6. p __ o v i __ e r . it provides a service
7. u s __ r . he or she uses a product
8. p __ s s w o __ d . secret letters and numbers
B. What’s the word?
word Hint
1. r I d i c u l o u s . silly or unreasonable
2. i __ p a t i e __ t . he or she hates to wait
3. a __ g __ y . feeling negative emotions
4. s __ a __ t . intelligent
5. n __ r v o __ s . worried or afraid
6. i __ p o r t __ n t . to have influence
7. l __ u d . noisy
8. g e n e r a l
. . not specific
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