Page 61 - Learn English with short stories
P. 61
www.learnenglishteam.com
Lesson 19. Topic: At Christmas.
Task 1. Read and translate the text.
At Christmas.
Christmas markets invariably attract thousands of people. They are fun
and full of colours and sounds. Steve and his wife Sarah were walking
around the traditional Christmas Market that was held in their city each
December. There were a lot of small shops and stalls with food, toys, textile
and homeware. Bell ringing was heard everywhere. People were shopping
and enjoying themselves. A huge Christmas tree had been erected in the
centre of the main square. The tree was beautifully decorated and a crowd
gathered to watch it.
While Sarah was busy buying some home decor, Steve went to the
fortune teller’s tent nearby. The fortune teller, Mrs Glinsky looked at
Steve’s eyes and lied out her cards. She told that his past had been full of
ups and downs.
When Steve asked what would happen in the future, Mrs Glinsky
looked at her mysterious ball and took the cards again, mumbling some
strange words.
She then told Steve that he would get surprising news soon and he
would meet someone who he hadn’t seen for a long time.
When Steve and Sarah returned home, they were surprised to discover
that Steve's parents had come from Australia to see them. Sarah hurried to
prepare the festive dinner. Steve was excited because he hadn't seen his
parents for 2 years.
They all kept talking and smiling. Grandparents were happy to see their
grandchildren grown up. The evening was full of joy and warm Christmas
wishes. Mrs Glinsky was right, her predictions turned out to be true.
Task 2. Write down and learn the new words.
Christmas, a colour, a sound, a fair, a market, a stall, a square,
homeware, home decor, textile a toy, a crowd, a bell, invariably, traditional,
to attract, to gather, to erect, to ring, loud, to hear, to decorate, to gather, a
tent, a fortune, a fortune teller, a ball, a prediction, joy, mysterious ups and
downs, to lay out cards, to mumble, to hurry, surprising / surprised, festive,
grown-up, to turn out to be, true / false.
Task 3. Answer the questions.
