Chapter 2

The Christmas Team

Betsy and I are pupils. I am in the fourth grade and my sister is in the second grade. We are at school now. It is a big break between lessons. My sister, our friends and I are in the school cafeteria. We are sitting at a big table all together.

“Christmas is coming soon,” Betsy says. “This is a very special time to do something good for others.”

“Yes, we want to do something good, but we just don’t know what? Can you help us? Do you have any ideas?” I ask our friends.

“Well, I have one idea!” Archie says. Archie is my sister’s classmate. He is a Dalmatian. “We can make gingerbread.”

“Yes, gingerbread is not very hard to make.” Mikky says. Mikky is my classmate. He is a Husky. “I know how to make it.”

“And then we can put the gingerbread into beautiful paper bags, put red ribbon on it and give it away.” Mary says. Mary is my schoolmate. She is a Spaniel.

“I like this idea!” Betsy says. “We will make gingerbread during Christmas time.”

“I want to help you. Can I do it with you?” Mary asks.

“Of course you can!” Betsy answers.

“And I want to help you too!” Archie and Mikky say together.

“Yes, let’s make it all together!” Betsy says. “We will have a lot of fun.”


“Also we can go to our friends’ houses and sing Christmas carols together.” Archie says.

“I love to sing carols!” Mary says.

“And we can draw Christmas cards and put them secretly at other dog’s doors.” Mikky says.



“They will be so excited to find Christmas cards at their doors!” Betsy smiles.

“Now I see how many things we can do together during Christmas time.” I say. “Let’s make a Christmas Team!”

“Yes, let’s make a special team for Christmas! We will think what we can do for others. We will share our ideas and do it together!” Betsy says.

“This is wonderful!” Mary is excited.

“I want to be a member of the Christmas Team!” Archie says.

“We will have a lot of fun together!” Mikky smiles.

The big break between our lessons is over. We need to go back to our classes. But we are very happy that we have a Christmas team now. We can’t wait to do something good together!

New words

big break [bɪg breɪk] – большая перемена

school cafeteria [skuːl kæflˈtɪ(ə)rɪə] – школьная столовая

Dalmatian [dælˈmeɪʃ(j)ən] – Далматинец

gingerbread [ˈʤɪnʤəbred] – имбирный пряник

Husky [ˈhʌskɪ] – Хаски

paper bag [ˈpeɪpə bæg] – бумажный пакет

ribbon [ˈrɪbən] – лента

to give out [gɪv aʊt] – раздать

Spaniel [ˈspænɪəl] – Спаниель

Christmas carol [ˈkrɪsməs ˈkærəl] – колядка, рождественский гимн

Christmas card [ˈkrɪsməs kɑːd] – рождественская открытка

Exercises

Answer the questions

1. Are Rex and Betsy pupils?

2. What grade is Betsy in?

3. What grade is Rex in?

4. Do you know how to make gingerbread?

5. Do you love to sing Christmas carols?

6. Do you like to draw Christmas cards?

7. What else do you like to do during Christmas time?

True or false

1. Rex, Betsy and their friends are sitting in the school playground.

2. Mikky is a Spaniel.

3. Mary is a Dalmatian.

4. Mikky knows how to make gingerbread.

5. Rex, Betsy, Archie, Mikky and Mary are a Christmas Team now.