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English Short Stories
This is a translation of one of our Spanish stories.
A NEW FRIEND
At the school.
Elena: Hello, do you speak Spanish?
Marcos: Good morning! I speak English but I speak a little Spanish.
Elena: Cool! What is your name?
Marcos: My name is Marcos, and you?
Elena: My name is Elena. Nice to meet you!
Marcos: Nice to meet you! Where are you from?
Elena: I'm from Mexico, and you?
Marcos: I'm from the United States.
Elena: You speak Spanish well!
Marcos: Thank you, I am practicing Spanish but I don't understand everything.
Elena: Don't worry! What things do you like?
Marcos: Excuse me, I don't understand. What does, "cosas" mean in English?
Elena: "Cosas" means "things." What things do you like?
Marcos: Oh, I understand. I like dogs!
Elena: I like dogs a lot also! I have a dog and a cat. Do you have a dog and a cat?
Marcos: I have a dog but I don't have a cat.
Elena: Cool! Goodbye, Marcos.
Marcos: See you later, Elena!
Questions:
1. Where is Elena from?
a. Mexico
B. The United States
C. Canada
D. France
I'm Miguel
Hello! My name is Miguel and I'm 35 years old. I am a doctor at a hospital, and I am from Mexico. I am tall and funny. My wife is Maria and she is 43 years old. She is thin and beautiful, and she is a professor at a university. She is very intelligent. Our children are Luis and Estefania. Luis is 17 years old and he is a soccer player. He is big and strong. Estefania is 15 and she is in Math Club. She is small but intelligent like her mother. We live in Florida, but we are cold today because we are visiting our family in Canada. We are also hungry so we are going to eat at a restaurant soon.
Question:
Miguel is...
1. short
2. smart
3. thin
4. funny
MY FAMILY
Hello, friends! I want to present my family to you all. My name is Maria, and I'm from Mexico. I'm 10 years old and I have a brother named Miguel that is 7. I have a mother and a father named Sara and Roberto. We also have a dog. We live in a beautiful house in Uriangato, Guanajuato. In the mornings, my family and I eat breakfast and later I walk to school with my little brother. My dog stays and waits for me to return. I like to study Spanish, Math, and History at school. Also, I am learning English. I ask a lot of questions because I love to talk a lot. My cousins also attend my school. I play soccer at my school with them. We don't win a lot so I need to practice more. My brother likes soccer and I teach him how to play.
After school, I finish my homework and my cousins and I walk to the garden and we run and play there. My cousin Marta and I sing and dance and my brother likes to ride his bike. We like to spend time with our family a lot.
Later, we return home and clean the house. My mom cooks rice, beans, chicken, tamales, and tortillas. When my mom finishes the food, she calls us for dinner. My aunt and uncle, Estefania and Juan work at a store and after work they come to eat dinner at our house. I eat a lot of rice and beans, and I drink a lot of water. After dinner, we clean the plates. I also work with my mom and I help her sell tortillas and tamales from our house. People don't forget to pay for the food. Before I go to bed, we relax and my dad reads a book to my brother and me.
Sometimes we visit my grandma and grandpa in Santa Ana Maya. My grandma buys me ice cream and candy that I share with my brother. We celebrate birthdays at my grandparent's house. I love my family a lot!
Questions:
1. How old is Maria?
a. 7
b. 11
c. 15
d. 10
The Game of Soccer
Written by Marcelo Roman
Here in Brazil, soccer is a national passion. The game of soccer unites races, religions and different social classes. Soccer is more than just a sport here, we can say that it has a political and cultural role as well, in addition to being a attempt to improve the lives of many poor children.
I always really liked going to the soccer stadium with my father; it was with him that I learned to love this sport and my team at heart- The Corinthians! To get to the stadium, I usually take the subway, as it is a quick, easy and cheap way to get there.
Here in Brazil it is very traditional to arrive earlier and outside the stadium eat a barbecue or some traditional snack according to the region of the country, as well as having some very cold beers.
Inside the stadium, I like to be close to the organized supporters, because they sing and encourage all the time.
The best moment of the match is when your team scores a goal, as the crowd “explodes” with joy. It's pure emotion!
If you visit Brazil, I recommend that you live this experience.
Questions:
1. What sport is a national passion of Brazil?
a. Football
b. Lacrosse
c. Soccer
d. Basketball.
Carnival
Written by Marcelo Roman
Carnival is one of the main holidays in Brazil. It happens every year, but it does not have a fixed date, it generally takes place between the end of February and the beginning of March.
There are several different types of carnival parties and celebrations scattered around for Brazil. From the parades of samba schools like in Rio de Janeiro to the called street blocks.
Everyone must have seen something about the samba school parades on television. They are very large cars, all very well decorated, thousands of costumed people about specific fantasies.
Many foreigners do not know that these parades are actually competitions, where schools are judged on different criteria, like for example, rythm, allegory, evolution etc.
Samba schools begin preparations many months before Carnival, such as, for example, the costumes, the cars and the musical rehearsal. Another curiosity is that musical lyrics always have a theme that can be a social criticism, a tribute, etc.
The street blocks are a little different from the parades, that is, the objective of blocks is to vent, play and sing.
But unfortunately not everything is party. Some care must be taken, as these parties usually have a lot of people, this makes it easier for people who want to commit some thefts. My tip: Don't walk around with valuables. Also some people overindulge in drinks and end up getting drunk and aggressive. Keep your distance from these people.
Question:
1. When does Carnival occur in Brazil?
a. Between the end of February and the beginning of March
b. Only in February
c. Only in March
d. Either at the beginning of February or the end of March
The City of Sao Paulo
Written by Marcelo Roman
I was born, raised and I live in the city of São Paulo, one of the biggest cities in the world. Like every city, São Paulo has good things and bad things. I will talk some of them for you.
Like every big city in the world, São Paulo has many flaws. Something that I really miss are places with more nature here. Everything is very gray, that is, a lot of construction, malls, buildings and few green places.
Another thing that I don't really like in São Paulo is the traffic, practically during all day long you will struggle to get around by car. One thing that makes me sad is social inequality. There are high rise neighborhoods, but it also has slums.
But not everything is bad, there are many things I like here. Sao Paulo is one of most multicultural cities in the world, such as the largest colony of Japanese people outside of Japan live here, there is even a Japanese neighborhood called liberty, is one of the most visited places in São Paulo.
Another thing I like here is the metro, the metro is generally very efficient, cheap, fast and clean compared to other trains around the world.
Question:
Sao Paulo has the largest community of this people group outside of their own country:
1. Chinese
2. French
3. Japanese
4. German
Family
Written by Marcelo Roman
My family isn't very big, I have a dad, a mom, a sister, a brother, two grandmothers, and a paternal grandfather. My maternal grandfather died before I was born. My dad's name is Fernando, he is 52 years old, is black, and he has black hair with some white strands. He isn't tall nor short. My mom's name is Bruna. She is 50 years old and she's blonde and very short.
My sister's name is Roselia, and she's 25 years old. She has brown curly hair, and works as a professor at a school in my city. My maternal grandmother always gifts me a lot of presents. I like going to her house a lot! Unfortunately, I don't know my maternal grandfather since he died before I was born.
My paternal grandmother cooks very well, everytime I go to her house, she prepares very delicious food. The food that I like the most is feijoada. My paternal grandfather is a very funny man that always has a good sense of humor. When he was younger, he worked as a car mechanic. My family is a lot of fun; I like to always be with them a lot.
Question:
The writer has...
1. two brothers
2. three sisters
3. two brothers, three sisters
4. a brother and a sister