Бесплатный фрагмент - Рассказы на английском языке для средней школы

Предисловие

Настоящая книга предназначена для учащихся средней школы, изучающих английский язык на уровнях A2–B1. Сборник состоит из коротких рассказов, каждый из которых представляет собой отдельный коммуникативный эпизод, отражающий повседневные ситуации школьной жизни и межличностные взаимодействия. Такой подход обеспечивает естественный контекст для восприятия и усвоения английской лексики, грамматических конструкций, идиом и устойчивых выражений.

Каждая история демонстрирует, как язык функционирует в реальных ситуациях: персонажи выражают эмоции, мысли, сомнения и радость, что позволяет наблюдать за употреблением слов и выражений в живом контексте. Тексты построены с учётом возраста и языкового уровня учащихся, с акцентом на повторение ключевой лексики и постепенное расширение словарного запаса.

Структура рассказов способствует развитию навыков чтения, понимания текста и анализа, а включение повседневных ситуаций и школьных событий помогает учащимся устанавливать связь между языком и реальной жизнью. Таким образом, материалы книги представляют собой средство комплексного изучения английского языка, сочетая когнитивное и практическое восприятие, что соответствует современным педагогическим подходам к формированию языковой компетенции у подростков.

Желаю успехов!

Chapter 1 — The New Student

Monday morning started like any other day at Green Valley School. Students were laughing and talking in the hallway. Emma Carter stood near the entrance and looked around. Everything felt new and unfamiliar.

She had moved from Bristol two weeks ago because her father got a new job. The move happened very quickly. She didn’t have enough time to say goodbye to all her friends. Now she was here, in a new city, in a new school.

Emma held her backpack tightly and took a deep breath. «You can do this,» she thought.

The bell rang, and she walked into Class 8B.

Inside, the classroom was loud. Students were chatting and looking at their phones. Then the teacher walked in.

«Good morning, everyone,» she said. «Please sit down.»

The room became quiet.

«We have a new student today. This is Emma Carter. Please make her feel welcome.»

All eyes turned to Emma.

«Hi,» she said softly.

«There’s an empty seat next to me,» said a boy with curly brown hair. «You can sit here.»

«Thank you, Leo,» the teacher said.

Emma sat down.

«Don’t worry,» Leo whispered. «The first day is always difficult. Feel free to ask me if you need help.»

«Thanks,» Emma said. She already felt a little better.

The first lesson was history. The class was working on a group project about ancient Egypt. Emma felt confused because she didn’t know anything about it.

Leo noticed her worried face.

«Take your time,» he said quietly. «We’ll explain everything later.»

During the break, two girls came up to her.

«Hi, I’m Sophie, and this is Mia,» one of them said. «Where are you from?»

«From Bristol,» Emma answered.

«Do you like it here?» Mia asked.

«I’m not sure yet,» Emma said honestly.

Later, in English class, Mr. Thompson asked Emma to read a paragraph out loud. Her heart was beating fast. She started reading, but she made a small mistake.

All of a sudden, some boys at the back began to laugh.

Emma felt her face turn red.

«It’s okay,» Mr. Thompson said. «Everyone makes mistakes.»

Leo looked at the boys. «Grow up,» he said quietly.

Emma took a deep breath and continued reading. This time she spoke more clearly.

«Very good,» said Mr. Thompson when she finished.

After school, Leo caught up with her.

«We’re meeting in the park to work on the project,» he said. «Do you want to come?»

Emma hesitated. She was tired, but she didn’t want to feel lonely at home.

«Okay,» she said.

In the park, they worked together. Sophie shared her notes, and Mia showed pictures on her tablet. Emma had an idea.

«We could act out a short scene from ancient Egypt,» she suggested.

«That’s brilliant,» Leo said.

For the first time that day, Emma felt relaxed.

When she walked home, her phone suddenly buzzed. It was a message from Sophie: «Welcome to our group chat.»

Emma smiled.

Maybe this new school was not so bad after all.

Glossary

unfamiliar — незнакомый

move — переезжать

say goodbye — попрощаться

entrance — вход

hold tightly — крепко держать

loud — громкий

make someone feel welcome — помочь почувствовать себя желанным гостем

empty seat — свободное место

whisper — шептать

difficult — трудный

confused — растерянный

worried — обеспокоенный

break — перемена

honestly — честно

paragraph — абзац

out loud — вслух

heart was beating fast — сердце быстро билось

make a mistake — сделать ошибку

all of a sudden — внезапно

turn red — покраснеть

continue — продолжать

clearly — ясно, чётко

catch up with — догнать

hesitate — колебаться

lonely — одинокий

share — делиться

suggest — предложить

brilliant — замечательный

buzz — вибрировать

after all — в конце концов

Discussion Questions

Why did Emma move to a new city?

How did Leo help Emma on her first day?

What happened in English class?

Why did Emma decide to go to the park?

How does Emma feel at the end of the story?

Fill in the Gaps

Emma had moved from ______ two weeks ago.

She held her backpack ______.

Leo told her to feel ______ to ask for help.

Emma felt ______ because she didn’t understand the project.

In English class, she read a paragraph out ______.

She made a small ______ while reading.

Emma took a deep ______ and continued.

After school, Leo ______ up with her.

They worked on their history ______ in the park.

Her phone suddenly ______.

Answers

Discussion Questions:

Emma moved because her father got a new job.

Leo offered her a seat, helped her with the project, and supported her in class.

She made a small mistake while reading, and some boys laughed at her.

She didn’t want to feel lonely at home and wanted to join the group.

She feels more relaxed and hopeful about her new school.

Fill in the Gaps:

Bristol

tightly

free

confused

loud

mistake

breath

caught

project

buzzed

Chapter 2 — The Group Project Disaster

On Wednesday afternoon, Emma felt much more confident than on her first day. She was no longer «the new student.» She was part of the history group with Leo, Sophie, and Mia.

Their project about ancient Egypt was due on Friday. They had planned to act out a short scene about a young pharaoh and his advisors. Emma helped write the script, Leo wanted to be the pharaoh, Sophie prepared the slides, and Mia was in charge of costumes.

«It’s going to be amazing,» Leo said during lunch. «We still have two days. We have plenty of time.»

Emma smiled, but she wasn’t so sure. «Are you sure we’re ready?»

«Relax,» Sophie said. «Everything is under control.»

On Thursday afternoon, they met at Sophie’s house to practise. At first, everything seemed fine. Mia brought some white sheets to use as costumes. Leo had made a paper crown. Sophie opened her laptop to show the presentation.

«Okay,» Sophie said. «Let’s start from the beginning.»

They began acting. Emma read her lines. Leo spoke loudly and dramatically. Mia tried not to laugh.

Then suddenly, Sophie’s laptop screen went black.

«What happened?» she said.

She pressed a few buttons. Nothing.

«Oh no,» she whispered. «My battery is dead.»

«Can you charge it?» Emma asked.

Sophie looked around. «I left my charger at school.»

For a moment, nobody spoke.

«It’s fine,» Leo said quickly. «We still have the file.»

«Yes,» Sophie said slowly. «But… I didn’t save the last version.»

Emma felt her stomach drop. «What do you mean?»

«I worked on it last night,» Sophie explained. «I added pictures and fixed some mistakes. But I forgot to save it.»

All of a sudden, the situation felt serious.

«Maybe it saved automatically?» Mia suggested.

Sophie tried to turn the laptop on again, but it didn’t work.

«This is a disaster,» she said quietly.

Emma took a deep breath. «Okay. Let’s not panic. We can fix this.»

Leo nodded. «She’s right. We still have the script. And we remember most of the information.»

«But the pictures,» Sophie said. «And the design. It took hours.»

Emma thought for a moment. «Take your time. First, let’s make a plan.»

They decided to divide the work again. Mia would help Sophie recreate the slides from memory. Leo and Emma would practise their scene one more time.

For the next hour, everyone worked hard. There was no more joking. They wanted to save their project.

At one point, Leo forgot his lines.

«Sorry,» he said. «My mind is a mess.»

«It’s okay,» Emma said. «We’re all stressed.»

Finally, Sophie stood up.

«I have good news,» she said. «I turned the laptop on. It had a little battery left. And… the file is here!»

«Is it the new version?» Mia asked.

Sophie clicked on the file and waited.

«Yes!» she shouted. «It saved automatically!»

Everyone started laughing.

«That was close,» Leo said. «I thought we were in real trouble.»

Emma smiled. «At least we learned something.»

«What?» Sophie asked.

«Always save your work,» Emma said.

On Friday morning, the group felt nervous but ready. Other students were also preparing their presentations. Some looked confident. Others looked worried.

When it was their turn, Leo walked to the front of the class with his paper crown. A few students smiled.

The presentation began. Sophie changed the slides carefully. Mia helped with the costumes. Emma and Leo acted out their scene.

Leo spoke clearly and confidently. Emma remembered all her lines. The class watched quietly.

When they finished, there was a short silence.

Then the students started clapping.

«That was creative and well prepared,» Mrs. Miller said. «Excellent teamwork.»

Emma felt proud. This time, her heart was beating fast for a different reason.

After class, Leo smiled at the group.

«We did it,» he said.

«And no more disasters,» Mia added.

Sophie laughed. «Next time, I’ll save my work twice.»

Emma looked at her new friends. A few days ago, she felt like a stranger. Now she felt like part of something important.

Maybe group projects were stressful.

But sometimes, they brought people closer together.

Glossary

confident — уверенный

due — срок сдачи

act out — разыгрывать

advisor — советник

in charge of — отвечать за

practise — репетировать

seem — казаться

screen — экран

battery — батарея

charger — зарядное устройство

save (a file) — сохранять

version — версия

automatically — автоматически

serious — серьёзный

disaster — катастрофа

panic — паниковать

divide — разделить

recreate — воссоздать

from memory — по памяти

stressed — в стрессе

turn on — включить

close (situation) — опасный, напряжённый момент

creative — креативный

teamwork — командная работа

proud — гордый

prepare — готовиться

clap — хлопать

presentation — презентация

trouble — проблема

bring closer — сближать

Discussion Questions

What was the group’s project about?

What problem happened at Sophie’s house?

How did the group react to the problem?

Why was Emma proud at the end?

What lesson did the students learn?

Fill in the Gaps

The project was ______ on Friday.

Sophie forgot to ______ the last version of the presentation.

When the laptop turned off, everyone felt it was a ______.

Emma told the group not to ______.

Leo said his mind was a ______.

The file saved ______.

Their presentation was creative and well ______.

The students started ______ after the performance.

Emma felt ______ of her team.

In the end, the project brought them ______ together.

Answers

Discussion Questions:

The project was about ancient Egypt.

Sophie’s laptop battery died, and she thought she didn’t save the new version of the presentation.

At first they were stressed, but then they stayed calm and worked together to fix the problem.

She was proud because the presentation was successful and they worked well as a team.

They learned to always save their work and not to panic.

Fill in the Gaps:

due

save

disaster

panic

mess

automatically

prepared

clapping

proud

closer

Chapter 3 — The Worst Presentation Ever

Two weeks after the history project, Class 8B had to give individual presentations in English. This time, everyone had to work alone.

When Mr. Thompson announced it, the classroom became quiet.

«You will choose a topic you like,» he explained. «Prepare a five-minute presentation. You can use slides if you want. Take your time, but be ready next Monday.»

Emma felt nervous again. Group work was easier. When you work in a team, you are not alone. But now she had to stand in front of the class by herself.

After school, she talked to Leo and Sophie.

«What are you going to present?» Leo asked.

«Maybe something about Bristol,» Emma said. «Or about moving to a new city.»

«That’s a good idea,» Sophie said. «It’s personal. People will listen.»

Emma decided to talk about «Starting Over: Life in a New City.» She worked on her presentation all weekend. She wrote notes, chose pictures, and practised in front of the mirror.

On Sunday evening, her mother watched her practise.

«You’re doing well,» her mother said. «Just speak slowly and clearly.»

«I’m afraid I’ll forget everything,» Emma admitted.

«That happens sometimes,» her mother said. «But if you forget a word, just explain it in a different way.»

On Monday morning, Emma felt ready. She had her notes. She had practised many times. She even felt a little excited.

But when she entered the classroom, she saw something that changed everything.

On the board, Mr. Thompson had written a new order for the presentations.

Emma was first.

Her heart began to beat faster.

«All of a sudden?» she whispered to Leo.

He looked at the board. «That’s bad luck,» he said quietly. «But you’ll be fine.»

Emma walked to the front of the class when Mr. Thompson called her name.

She connected her laptop and opened her slides. The first picture appeared on the screen. It was a photo of Bristol.

«Good morning,» she began. «Today I want to talk about starting over in a new city.»

Her voice was a little shaky, but she continued.

For the first minute, everything went well. She talked about her old school and her friends. Some students were listening carefully.

Then, suddenly, the screen froze.

Emma clicked the mouse. Nothing happened.

She clicked again.

Still nothing.

«I’m sorry,» she said. «Just a second.»

She tried to stay calm. But the computer was not responding.

A few students started whispering.

Emma felt her face turn red.

Mr. Thompson stood up. «Sometimes technology causes problems,» he said. «Can you continue without the slides?»

Emma looked at the blank screen. She had practised with the pictures. They helped her remember what to say.

For a moment, her mind went completely blank.

She couldn’t remember the next sentence.

The classroom felt very quiet.

«It’s okay,» Mr. Thompson said kindly. «Take your time.»

Emma closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.

She remembered her mother’s words: If you forget something, explain it in a different way.

«I moved here two months ago,» she said slowly. «At first, I felt lost. I didn’t know anyone. I missed my friends.»

Her voice became stronger.

«But I learned something important,» she continued. «Starting over is scary, but it can also be exciting. You meet new people. You discover new places. And you learn more about yourself.»

Now the class was listening.

Leo smiled at her from his seat.

Emma forgot about the broken slides. She spoke from memory. She spoke from the heart.

When she finished, there was silence for a moment.

Then someone started clapping.

Soon, the whole class was clapping.

Emma felt surprised.

«Thank you, Emma,» Mr. Thompson said. «That was honest and brave. Sometimes problems help us show our real strength.»

Emma walked back to her seat. Her hands were still shaking, but she was smiling.

«That was not the worst presentation ever,» Leo whispered. «It was actually great.»

Emma laughed quietly.

Maybe it didn’t start perfectly.

Maybe it was stressful.

But in the end, it was not a disaster at all.

Glossary

individual — индивидуальный

announce — объявлять

choose — выбирать

prepare — готовить

nervous — нервный

starting over — начинать заново

practise — репетировать

admit — признавать

afraid — бояться

enter — входить

order — порядок

beat faster — биться быстрее

connect — подключать

appear — появляться

shaky — дрожащий

freeze — зависать

respond — реагировать

whisper — шептать

blank (mind) — пустой

take a deep breath — сделать глубокий вдох

lost — потерянный

continue — продолжать

brave — смелый

strength — сила

shake — трястись

actually — на самом деле

stressful — стрессовый

cause — вызывать

discover — открывать

honest — искренний

Discussion Questions

What was Emma’s presentation about?

Why did she feel more nervous than before?

What problem happened during her presentation?

How did Emma solve the problem?

Why did the class clap at the end?

Fill in the Gaps

Students had to prepare an ______ presentation.

Emma chose to talk about ______ over in a new city.

On Monday, Emma was ______ on the list.

Her heart began to ______ faster.

The computer screen suddenly ______.

For a moment, her mind went completely ______.

Mr. Thompson told her to take her ______.

Emma took a deep ______ and continued speaking.

The class started ______ when she finished.

In the end, the presentation was not a ______.

Answers

Discussion Questions:

Her presentation was about starting over in a new city.

She felt more nervous because she had to present alone and she was first.

The computer froze and her slides stopped working.

She took a deep breath and continued speaking without the slides.

The class clapped because her presentation was honest and brave.

Fill in the Gaps:

individual

starting

first

beat

froze

blank

time

breath

clapping

disaster

Chapter 4 — A Seat at the Back

It was Wednesday morning again, and Class 8B was full of students talking about their weekend. Emma walked into the classroom and looked around for a place to sit. All the seats near the front were already taken.

«Hmm… maybe at the back,» she thought.

She walked quietly to the last row. A few students were sitting there, whispering and laughing. Emma smiled nervously.

«Hi,» she said. «Is this seat free?»

A boy with glasses looked up. «Sure,» he said. «I’m Daniel. I usually sit here. It’s quieter back here.»

Emma nodded and put her backpack on the chair. She liked that no one was watching her.

The teacher, Mrs. Miller, started the lesson. Emma tried to concentrate, but she noticed that some students in the back were passing notes and giggling.

All of a sudden, a paper airplane flew past her head. Emma ducked quickly.

«Hey!» Daniel said, picking it up. «Who did this?»

Nobody answered. Emma felt a little nervous. She didn’t want to be part of the trouble.

During the break, Daniel explained the rules of sitting at the back.

«Some students like to go here because it’s quiet,» he said. «But others use it to chat, play games, or even throw paper airplanes.»

Emma laughed. «I see. So it’s a mix of fun and chaos.»

«Exactly,» Daniel said. «But if you want, I can help you find a spot where you can work quietly.»

Emma agreed. She liked Daniel’s advice.

The next lesson was maths. Emma noticed that sitting at the back had advantages. She could watch the teacher and write her notes without distraction. She also felt less nervous than before when answering questions.

Later, a group of students came to the back to play a small game. Daniel asked them politely to be quiet. Surprisingly, they listened.

Emma realized that sitting at the back didn’t mean being invisible. She could still be part of the class and pay attention.

After school, she told Leo about her day.

«Sitting at the back?» Leo asked. «Doesn’t that make you miss a lot?»

«Not really,» Emma said. «It’s quieter, and I can focus. Plus, I met Daniel. He’s helpful.»

Leo smiled. «Sometimes, the back row is the best place to be.»

Emma laughed. «I guess so. Who knew?»

That evening, Emma thought about her first few weeks at the new school. She had made friends, survived group projects, and even learned how to find her own space in the classroom.

Sitting at the back wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it might be her favourite seat.

Glossary

whisper — шептать

quiet — тихий

back row — последний ряд

front — передний

seat — место

nervous — нервный

backpack — рюкзак

concentrate — концентрироваться

pass notes — передавать записки

giggle — хихикать

paper airplane — бумажный самолётик

duck — пригнуться

trouble — неприятности

advantage — преимущество

distraction — отвлечение

polite — вежливый

chaos — хаос

agree — согласиться

notice — замечать

surprisingly — удивительно

part of — часть чего-либо

focus — сосредоточиться

helpful — полезный, готовый помочь

lesson — урок

maths — математика

realise — осознавать

survive — справляться

space — место (личное)

favourite — любимый

row — ряд

Discussion Questions

Why did Emma choose to sit at the back?

Who did Emma meet there?

What problem happened in the back row?

What advantage did Emma find in sitting at the back?

How did Emma feel at the end of the day?

Fill in the Gaps

Emma walked quietly to the ______ row.

A boy with glasses said, «This seat is ______.»

Some students were passing ______ and giggling.

All of a sudden, a ______ flew past her head.

Daniel explained that the back row can be quiet or full of ______.

Emma found it easier to ______ during maths.

Daniel asked the students to be ______, and they listened.

Sitting at the back didn’t mean being ______.

Emma thought it might be her ______ seat.

She realized she could still be part of the ______.

Answers

Discussion Questions:

She chose it because the front seats were taken and it was quieter.

She met Daniel.

A paper airplane flew past and some students were chatting.

She could concentrate and work without distraction.

She felt happy and comfortable.

Fill in the Gaps:

back

free

notes

paper airplane

chaos

focus

quiet

invisible

favourite

class

Chapter 5 — The Secret in Locker 214

It was Thursday morning, and Emma walked into Green Valley School feeling curious. During the break yesterday, she had noticed something strange. A few students were whispering near locker 214. One of them seemed nervous, looking around as if someone might be watching.

Emma decided to take a closer look.

She waited until the bell rang, and most students went to their classrooms. The hallway was quiet. She slowly approached locker 214. It was painted light blue, and a small sticker was on the corner.

«What could be inside?» Emma wondered.

She gently opened the locker. Inside, she found a notebook, a pencil case, and a small envelope with the words: Do not open yet.

Emma’s heart started beating faster. She carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a folded note. It read:

Meet me after school behind the gym. Come alone.

Emma felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Who could have left this note? And why only for her?

During the day, she tried to concentrate in class, but her mind kept wandering back to the secret of locker 214.

Finally, the last bell rang. Emma waited until most students left the hallway. Then she quietly went to the back of the gym.

A boy stepped out from behind the wall. It was Daniel, the boy from the back row.

«Hi,» he said nervously. «Thanks for coming. I didn’t want anyone else to know.»

Emma tilted her head. «What is it about?»

Daniel took a deep breath. «I found this notebook in the library last week. It belongs to the old principal. It has some old school stories and secrets. I thought you might like to see it.»

Emma’s eyes widened. «Wow… really?»

Daniel smiled. «Yes. But we have to be careful. Some of the stories are funny, some are mysterious, and some… are a little scary.»

Emma and Daniel sat on the steps behind the gym. Daniel opened the notebook. There were old photographs, doodles, and notes from previous students. One story told about a hidden passage in the school basement. Another described a secret club that used to meet after classes.

Emma laughed at some of the funny stories and shivered at the scary ones. She couldn’t believe how much history and mystery were hidden in the school.

«Thank you for sharing this with me,» she said.

Daniel shrugged. «I thought you’d like it. I needed someone to share it with.»

Emma smiled. For the first time, she felt that school had more than just lessons and homework. There were adventures waiting for her if she was curious and brave enough to explore.

When she walked home, she thought about what she had learned that day: secrets can be exciting, but sharing them wisely makes them even better.

Maybe locker 214 was just the beginning of many new discoveries.

Glossary

curious — любопытный

strange — странный

whisper — шептать

nervous — нервный

hallway — коридор

quiet — тихий

gently — осторожно

sticker — наклейка

envelope — конверт

folded — сложенный

note — записка

alone — один

excitement — волнение

concentrate — сосредоточиться

wander — блуждать

last bell — последний звонок

behind — за

sigh — вздох

secret — секрет

share — делиться

photograph — фотография

doodle — каракуля

basement — подвал

club — клуб

shiver — дрожать

brave — смелый

explore — исследовать

lesson — урок

adventure — приключение

discovery — открытие

Discussion Questions

What did Emma find in locker 214?

Who left the note for Emma?

What did the notebook contain?

Where did Emma and Daniel go after school?

What did Emma learn from this experience?

Fill in the Gaps

Emma noticed students whispering near ______ 214.

Inside the locker, she found a notebook, a pencil case, and a small ______.

The envelope said: «Do not ______ yet.»

Emma was told to come ______ to meet someone.

The note led Emma to go behind the ______.

Daniel explained the notebook belonged to the old ______.

The notebook had photographs, doodles, and old ______.

One story described a hidden ______ in the school basement.

Some stories were funny, some mysterious, and some a little ______.

Emma learned that sharing secrets ______ makes them better.

Answers

Discussion Questions:

She found a notebook, pencil case, and an envelope with a note.

Daniel left the note for her.

The notebook contained old photographs, doodles, and stories about the school, including secrets.

They went behind the gym.

Emma learned that school has secrets and adventures, and sharing wisely makes them better.

Fill in the Gaps:

locker

envelope

open

alone

gym

principal

notes

passage

scary

wisely

Chapter 6 — The Day Our Teacher Didn’t Come

It was Friday morning, and Class 8B was ready for English. Emma had her notebook and pen, ready to practise her reading for next week. But when the bell rang, something unusual happened.

The teacher, Mr. Thompson, didn’t appear.

Students looked at each other in surprise. Some whispered, «Where is he?» Some laughed.

Emma felt a little worried. She liked Mr. Thompson, and she was not sure what to do without him.

«Maybe he’s sick,» Daniel whispered.

A few students in the back cheered quietly. «No homework today!» one of them said.

Mrs. Miller’s voice came over the loudspeaker. «Good morning, Class 8B. Mr. Thompson is not here today. Please behave and use the time wisely.»

Emma sighed. She didn’t want the class to be noisy, but she also wanted to do something useful.

Leo raised his hand. «Can we work on the history project again?» he asked.

«Good idea,» Emma said. «I still want to practise my part.»

The students divided into small groups. Emma worked with Sophie, Mia, and Leo. They went over their lines and discussed their presentation again.

Daniel sat nearby, reading a book quietly. «I think this is better than having the teacher,» he said softly.

All of a sudden, a ball rolled into the classroom from the hallway. Some students laughed, but Leo quickly returned it. «Focus, please,» he said.

Emma realized that even without a teacher, students could stay organized if they wanted to.

For the next forty minutes, the group practised, shared ideas, and helped each other. Emma felt proud of how everyone worked together.

Finally, the bell rang, and the classroom emptied. Emma packed her bag.

«That was productive,» she said to Leo.

«Yeah,» he replied. «Sometimes, not having a teacher is not so bad.»

Emma smiled. She knew that the day was unusual, but she had learned something important: sometimes you can take responsibility, and things can still work out.

On the way home, she thought about the week. New friends, group projects, and even unexpected free lessons — it had been an exciting start at Green Valley School.

Maybe Fridays without a teacher could be the best days sometimes.

Glossary

unusual — необычный

surprise — удивление

whisper — шептать

worried — обеспокоенный

behave — вести себя

wisely — разумно

sigh — вздох

divide — разделять

group — группа

practise — репетировать

part — часть

nearby — поблизости

organize — организовывать

focus — сосредоточиться

productive — продуктивный

responsibility — ответственность

empty — пустой

raise hand — поднять руку

share ideas — делиться идеями

free lesson — урок без учителя

laugh — смеяться

quietly — тихо

useful — полезный

teacher — учитель

cheer — подбадривать

roll — катиться

soft — мягкий

even — даже

unusual start — необычное начало

exciting — захватывающий

Discussion Questions

What happened on Friday morning in Class 8B?

How did Emma feel when the teacher didn’t come?

What did Leo suggest to do?

How did the students behave without a teacher?

What did Emma learn from this day?

Fill in the Gaps

The teacher, Mr. Thompson, didn’t ______.

Students looked at each other in ______.

Mrs. Miller said to behave and use the time ______.

Emma worked on the history project with Sophie, Mia, and ______.

Daniel sat ______, reading a book.

A ball rolled into the classroom from the ______.

Leo asked the students to stay ______.

The students practised and shared ______ for forty minutes.

Emma felt proud of how everyone stayed ______.

She realized that taking ______ can make things work out.

Answers

Discussion Questions:

Mr. Thompson didn’t come to class.

She felt a little worried.

Leo suggested working on the history project again.

They stayed organized, practised, and helped each other.

Emma learned that taking responsibility helps things work out.

Fill in the Gaps:

appear

surprise

wisely

Leo

nearby

hallway

focused

ideas

organized

responsibility

Chapter 7 — The School Talent Show

It was Friday afternoon, and the school was buzzing with excitement. Green Valley School was hosting its annual talent show, and students from all classes were preparing to perform. Emma had never joined a talent show before, but this year, her friends encouraged her to participate.

«Come on, Emma!» Leo said. «You can sing! Everyone would love it.»

Emma felt nervous. «I don’t know… What if I forget the words?»

«Don’t worry,» Sophie said. «Take your time and practise. We’ll help you.»

After school, Emma went to the music room. She had written down the lyrics to her favourite song and practised singing in front of a small mirror. Her voice shook at first, but after a few tries, she felt more confident.

On Saturday morning, the stage was set in the school hall. Colourful lights, a big curtain, and a microphone in the middle made the room feel professional. Emma’s heart started beating fast.

«Feel free to warm up,» the music teacher said. «The show starts in ten minutes.»

Emma looked around. Some students were juggling, some were dancing, and others played instruments. It all looked so exciting.

When it was Emma’s turn, she walked to the stage slowly. She held the microphone tightly and looked at the audience. Some students were smiling, some teachers were watching carefully.

«Hi, everyone,» she said softly. «I’m Emma, and I want to sing a song for you.»

She started singing. At first, her voice was a little shaky, but she remembered what her mother had told her: «If you make a mistake, just keep going.»

All of a sudden, the music stopped. The CD player had paused. Emma froze for a moment. The audience looked surprised.

Then, she took a deep breath and continued singing without the music. Her voice became stronger. She remembered the lyrics perfectly and sang from her heart.

When she finished, there was silence for a moment. Then the hall erupted into clapping and cheering.

«That was amazing, Emma!» Leo shouted. Sophie and Mia ran to the stage to congratulate her.

Emma smiled, feeling proud. She had faced her fear and performed in front of the whole school.

Later, during the awards ceremony, Emma didn’t win first place. But that didn’t matter. She had learned something more important: courage is not about being perfect; it’s about trying and not giving up.

Walking home with her friends, Emma laughed. Maybe next year, she would perform again.

For now, she felt happy and confident.

Glossary

talent show — конкурс талантов

annual — ежегодный

perform — выступать

encourage — поощрять

nervous — нервный

forget — забывать

practise — репетировать

music room — музыкальный класс

lyrics — слова песни

mirror — зеркало

confident — уверенный

stage — сцена

curtain — занавес

microphone — микрофон

colourful — цветной

professional — профессиональный

warm up — разогреться

juggler — жонглёр

instrument — музыкальный инструмент

audience — аудитория

make a mistake — делать ошибку

freeze — замереть

deep breath — глубокий вдох

erupt — взорваться (о реакции публики)

cheer — аплодировать

proud — гордый

courage — смелость

perfect — идеальный

congratulate — поздравлять

confident — уверенный

Discussion Questions

Why was Emma nervous about the talent show?

Who encouraged Emma to participate?

What problem happened during her performance?

How did Emma handle the problem?

What lesson did Emma learn from the talent show?

Fill in the Gaps

Green Valley School was hosting its annual ______ show.

Leo said Emma could ______.

She practised singing in front of a small ______.

On stage, Emma held the ______ tightly.

At first, her voice was a little ______.

All of a sudden, the ______ stopped.

Emma took a deep ______ and continued singing.

The audience started ______ and cheering.

Emma learned that courage is not about being ______.

She felt happy and ______ at the end.

Answers

Discussion Questions:

She was nervous because she was performing in front of the whole school and feared forgetting the words.

Leo, Sophie, and Mia encouraged her.

The CD player stopped, and the music paused.

She continued singing without music, remembered the lyrics, and sang confidently.

She learned that courage is about trying and not giving up, not about being perfect.

Fill in the Gaps:

talent

sing

mirror

microphone

shaky

music

breath

clapping

perfect

confident

Chapter 8 — Late Again!

It was a chilly Monday morning, and Emma woke up with a start. She looked at the clock.

«Oh no! It’s 7:45!» she exclaimed.

School started at 8:00. Emma jumped out of bed, quickly got dressed, and grabbed her backpack.

She ran to the kitchen. Her mother had already left for work. She quickly ate a piece of toast and drank some juice.

«All of a sudden, the bus was leaving,» Emma thought. She ran to the bus stop.

When she arrived, the bus was just pulling away. She waved frantically, but it didn’t stop. Emma groaned. «Late again!»

She decided to walk to school. The path was long, and her legs felt tired. On the way, she passed her neighbour’s dog, a small golden retriever, wagging its tail. The dog barked happily, and Emma smiled for a moment.

Finally, she arrived at Green Valley School, panting and out of breath. She quickly walked to Class 8B.

The classroom was already full. Emma opened the door quietly.

«Good morning, Emma,» Mrs. Miller said with a small smile. «Late again?»

Emma nodded, feeling embarrassed. «I’m sorry. The bus… it left without me.»

Leo whispered, «It’s okay. Come sit here.» He pointed to the empty seat next to him.

Emma sat down and tried to calm her racing heart. The lesson began, and she concentrated as much as she could.

During the break, Leo laughed. «Next time, set two alarms!»

Emma giggled. «Or maybe three!»

She realized that even though she was late, her friends supported her. And that made the morning a little better.

By the end of the day, Emma promised herself to be more careful in the morning. But she also knew that being late sometimes was not the end of the world.

Sometimes, it was just another small adventure.

Glossary

chilly — прохладный

startle — вздрогнуть

clock — часы

grab — схватить

toast — тост

juice — сок

all of a sudden — внезапно

pull away — отъезжать

wave — махать

frantically — безумно, быстро

groan — стонать

walk — идти пешком

path — путь

neighbour — сосед

wag tail — вилять хвостом

bark — лаять

pant — задыхаться

out of breath — запыхавшийся

quietly — тихо

embarrassed — смущённый

racing heart — быстрое сердцебиение

concentrate — сосредоточиться

lesson — урок

break — перемена

laugh — смеяться

giggle — тихо смеяться

alarm — будильник

support — поддержка

promise — обещание

adventure — приключение

Discussion Questions

Why was Emma late to school?

How did she try to get to school after missing the bus?

How did Mrs. Miller react when Emma arrived?

What advice did Leo give her?

What did Emma learn from being late that day?

Fill in the Gaps

Emma woke up and saw the ______.

School started at ______ o’clock.