1 | English Short Stories for Beginners, www-really-learn-english.com Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook Table of Contents Story 1—Surprise! Exercises Vocabulary Grammar—Sentence Structure Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences Comprehension Essay Writing Story 2—Oh, the Horror Exercises Vocabulary Grammar—Sentence Structure 10 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 11 Comprehension 13 Essay Writing 14 Story 3—Tomorrow, My Dear Exercises 15 Vocabulary 15 Grammar—Sentence Structure 17 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 18 Comprehension 20 Essay Writing 21 Story 4—An Unexpected Hitchhiker Exercises 22 Vocabulary 22 Grammar—Sentence Structure 24 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 25 Comprehension 27 Essay Writing 28 Story 5—The Free Gift Exercises 29 Vocabulary 29 Grammar—Sentence Structure 31 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 32 Comprehension 34 Essay Writing 35 Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories for Beginners |3 Story 6—Royalty Food Exercises 36 Vocabulary 36 Grammar—Sentence Structure 38 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 39 Comprehension 41 Essay Writing 42 Story 7—A Very Special Gift Card Exercises 43 Vocabulary 43 Grammar—Sentence Structure 45 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 46 Comprehension 48 Essay Writing 49 Story 8—The Wedding Exercises 50 Vocabulary 50 Grammar—Sentence Structure 52 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 53 Comprehension 55 Essay Writing 56 Story 9—The (Dead) Washing Machine Exercises 57 Vocabulary 57 Grammar—Sentence Structure 59 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 60 Comprehension 62 Essay Writing 63 Story 10—A Special Family Meeting Exercises 64 Vocabulary 64 Grammar—Sentence Structure 66 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences 67 Comprehension 69 Essay Writing 70 Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | Story 1—Surprise! Exercises Vocabulary This is a copy of the original story Go over it and fill in the blanks with the right words from the box below technique, carefully, birthday, shiny, yourself, sneakers, Today, gloves, problem, wonder, tomorrow, complete, However, pair, plan, laugh, subject, matter, in law, receive, wife, scheme, thinks, clues, present, wrapped, until, tears, conversation, secret, notices, what, wanted, Finally, each, pretends, excitement Jerry and Emma are husband and _ It’s summer, and Jerry’s _ is approaching Emma wants to give him a _ for his birthday, but she wants it to be a surprise, so she must keep everything a _ But she has a big _ If Jerry cannot know about her plan, how does she find out _ to get him for his birthday? She decides to use a secret _ For a whole week, while she _ to be doing other things, she actually keeps her ears wide open for _ _, Jerry doesn’t really talk about this _ A whole week passes with no mention of something he actually wants or needs! “That’s it!” Emma thinks to herself “Jerry’s birthday is _! I’m taking off the _!” She calls her sister- _ Mary, and they make a secret _ Mary will call Jerry, ask him what he would like to _ for his birthday, and Emma will listen to the _ (without Jerry knowing it) Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com | English Short Stories Workbook The _ starts out as planned Mary calls Jerry, and they have a nice chat about his upcoming birthday Emma listens _ from the other room Finally, she hears what he wants—a _ of sneakers! “All right!” she _ to herself Full of _, she storms out of the room She was not so quiet, but who can blame her? She rushes off to the shop and buys a pair of _sneakers, exactly Jerry’s size She’s very happy She will get him the present he wants, and it will be a _ surprise! _ is Jerry’s birthday Emma waits _ their special dinner at night _, the moment arrives It’s time for Jerry’s present! Emma brings in the box of sneakers, _ in colorful paper “Wow!” Jerry says with a big smile “I _ what it can be.” “Open it and see for _!” Emma replies happily He _ off the colorful paper and takes out the box He opens the box “Oh, it’s a pair of _! What a lovely surprise ” Emma _ that something is wrong “What’s the _? You don’t seem so happy Don’t you need a pair of sneakers?” “Hmm.” Jerry takes a look at _ shoe “Well, didn’t you tell Mary that you _ a pair of sneakers?” Emma asks him “A pair of sneakers?” Jerry starts to _ “I said a pair of speakers! You seem surprised Well, I guess I could use a pair of sneakers too.” Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | Grammar—Sentence Structure The following sentences are all mixed up Put the words on each line in the correct order to make a logical sentence are wife Emma Jerry and husband and _ everything keep Emma must secret a _ open keeps For week she ears her wide for clues a whole _ sister-in-law Mary make plan She her calls they a secret and _ birthday his calls about and have a chat Jerry upcoming they Mary _ shiny buys sneakers She to shop and a pair of the rushes Jerry’s size off _ birthday Jerry’s Today is _ dinner waits special at their Emma night until _ be I can what it wonder _ 10 I too of guess pair use I a sneakers could Well _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com | English Short Stories Workbook Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences, and Positive Sentences Remember: A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma are husband and wife A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma are not husband and wife A question: Are Jerry and Emma husband and wife? A positive sentence: Emma listens carefully A negative sentence: Emma does not listen carefully A question: Does Emma listen carefully? A positive sentence: She should keep it a secret A negative sentence: She should not keep it a secret A question: Should she keep it a secret? Turn the following sentences into questions Jerry has a birthday _ Emma wants to buy Jerry a present _ Emma can listen to their conversation _ Jerry needs speakers _ Emma is surprised _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | Turn the following sentences into negative sentences Mary has a birthday _ Does Jerry want sneakers? _ Emma should tell the truth _ Are they very surprised? _ Jerry wonders what is inside the box _ Turn the following sentences into positive sentences Emma doesn’t have a birthday _ Jerry doesn’t know about Emma’s plan _ Does Mary help Emma? _ Emma doesn’t buy flowers _ Do Mary and Jerry talk? _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com | English Short Stories Workbook Comprehension Answer the following questions Why doesn’t Emma ask Jerry what he wants for his birthday? Who is Mary? What secret plan Emma and Mary make? Does Jerry really need a pair of sneakers? Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 56 | English Short Stories Workbook Essay Writing Answer the following questions Write a short essay for each Have you ever been invited to a wedding you didn't want to go to? What did you do? Why? In your opinion, what is the best wedding gift someone can give? Why? Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | 57 Story 9—The (Dead) Washing Machine Exercises Vocabulary This is a part of the original story Go over it and fill in the blanks with the right words from the box below used, Really, armchair, grabs, could, recent, glad, matter, reason, ask, handyman, machine, believe, examines, dials, beyond, mechanism, even, washing, this, dead, quite, beautifully, actually, conversation, drive, thinks, wallet, practically, handset, make sense, functional On the next day, the movers bring in Uncle Steve’s washing _ Jerry pays them, while Emma _ it “It doesn’t look too well I guess I can clean it or something The important thing is that it’s fully _!” As soon as the machine is connected, Emma takes it for a “test- _.” Now Jerry comfortably sits in his _ He reads Emma goes to the washing machine to check up on it Suddenly, Jerry hears Emma calling out “What’s the _?” He walks over to her “It hasn’t _ started It just looks like it’s working, but it doesn’t wash anything at all!” “No way!” Jerry can’t _ it They get a _ to look into the matter The handyman finishes checking the machine He tells them what he _ “This machine is _ perfect It washes _ It does everything very nicely It only has one problem.” Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 58 | English Short Stories Workbook “What is it?” Jerry and Emma _ “It cannot start The starting mechanism is damaged _ repair I’m sorry to tell you this, but that machine is _ You will have to get a new one It’s really too bad, though As I said, it would wash beautifully if it _ only start.” Emma can’t believe it “Is it a _ problem?” she asks “I wouldn’t say so,” the handyman answers “I think it has been broken for _ some time.” Jerry _ the phone in one hand and his _ in his other hand He pays the handyman and thanks him for his time With his other hand, he _Uncle Steve’s number Emma puts her head by the _ to hear it too Here is the _: Uncle Steve: “Jerry, hello to you!” Jerry: “Uncle Steve, hello to you too I wanted ” Uncle Steve: “How is the _ machine?” Jerry: “How is the washing machine? It’s dead! The starting _ doesn’t work It only looks as if it washes the clothes, but _ it doesn’t anything! Did you know about _?” Uncle Steve: “ _! Wow! I didn’t notice it I _ to wash my clothes with it all the time!” Jerry: “Uhh ” Uncle Steve: “But, you know, it actually starts to _ I guess this is the _ why all of my girlfriends broke up with me They didn't like my dirty clothes! It's too bad they didn't tell me about it, though ” Jerry: “Well I’m _ we could help!” Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | 59 Grammar—Sentence Structure The following sentences are all mixed up Put the words on each line in the correct order to make a logical sentence dead and Emma washing Jerry’s is machine _ uncle Jerry’s it Steve visit finds them about out and pays a _ it’s brave be Well time to now _ that out myself I hearing loss you After about help your I said must to _ will You pay not have even to! _ I thought we were going to use the gift card to buy a new one _ feeling I mess him might his get have a out this of _ bring Uncle movers On the washing day the in Steve’s machine next _ beyond damaged is starting mechanism The repair _ 10 why girlfriends with I this broke reason guess me is the up my all of! _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 60 | English Short Stories Workbook Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences Remember: A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma are husband and wife A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma are not husband and wife A question: Are Jerry and Emma husband and wife? A positive sentence: Emma listens carefully A negative sentence: Emma does not listen carefully A question: Does Emma listen carefully? A positive sentence: She should keep it a secret A negative sentence: She should not keep it a secret A question: Should she keep it a secret? Turn the following sentences into questions Uncle Steve has a washing machine _ There is a serious problem with his machine _ The machine is broken _ Jerry agrees to Uncle Steve’s offer _ Uncle Steve’s life is a mess _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | 61 Turn the following sentences into negative sentences Emma wants to buy a new washing machine _ Uncle Steve is disappointed _ Are Emma and Jerry satisfied with the machine? _ The handyman checks the machine _ Does the handyman find out the real problem? _ Turn the following sentences into positive sentences Uncle Steve doesn’t know about this problem _ Does Jerry help him in the end? _ Jerry calls Uncle Steve on the phone _ Is Uncle Steve surprised? _ Emma doesn’t believe her eyes _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 62 | English Short Stories Workbook Comprehension Answer the following questions What is so strange about Uncle Steve’s reaction to the “death” of the washing machine? What does he offer Jerry? Why doesn’t Uncle Steve’s washing machine work? How did Emma and Jerry help solve Uncle Steve’s mess in the end? Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | 63 Essay Writing Answer the following questions Write a short essay for each How you feel about getting second hand products? What are the benefits and the downside? Have you ever been "forced" to accept somebody's help? What did you about it? Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 64 | English Short Stories Workbook Story 10—A Special Family Meeting Exercises Vocabulary This is a part of the original story Go over it and fill in the blanks with the right words from the box below night, culture, whispers, yard, conversation, question, slices, diplomacy, nods, convince, stops, brunch, disagrees, pizza, doorbell, nephews, jumps, Everyone, interrupts, smiles, better, family, joke, want, food, order, saved, admits, rests, rings, about, just, trays, enough Jerry closes his eyes for a second and then suddenly _ up from his chair “Oh, no! The brunch! I worked all _ and forgot all about it!” “Wait.” Emma _ him “You mean there is no food?” “None,” Jerry _ “Okaaay Let’s see.” Emma thinks for a second “They are _ to arrive We will not make it Do you want to _ some food?” “No way!” Jerry _ “We invited them for a brunch at our home We can’t serve them pizza! Don’t worry I will handle it I am good with _.” Emma _ and goes to the other room Suddenly, the _ rings Jerry fixes his hair and opens the door He sees his parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and a dog They enter the house with a loud noise They are happy to see Jerry They talk a bit, and Jerry takes them to the _ They sit and chat The kids run around and play The dog _ in the sun Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | 65 After a while, Jerry’s _ starts looking around Jerry’s Uncle Steve asks him, “Jerry, where is the _?” “Yes, Emma,” his mother says, “this is a _, where is the food?” Emma looks at Jerry and _ Jerry tries to smile too “That’s a very good _!” _ looks at him Emma tries not to laugh “Well, you see,” Jerry continues, “in our modern _, everything is about food It’s always FOOD, FOOD, FOOD I think it will be nice if for once we _ sit and talk Get to know each other _.” “What you mean?” Uncle Steve _ him “This is a brunch with no food?” “Yes, Jerry,” his mother says “We are your family We know you well _ We are hungry We want food!” “You know,” Jerry tries to continue smiling, “a good _ is food for thought!” This doesn’t _ them either Jerry looks at Emma He needs her help Suddenly, the doorbell _ “I'll get it!” Emma calls out She comes back a few moments later Her hands are full with pizza _! “I ordered some pizza before,” Emma _ to Jerry, “just in case.” Jerry’s family sees the _ trays They are happy! “Wow, Jerry,” Uncle Steve says, “that was a good _!” Jerry breathes with relief He is happy He starts giving away _ of pizza “Wow, you really _ me!” he whispers to Emma “I think they were ready to eat ME!” Emma laughs “That’s why I am here to save you!” Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 66 | English Short Stories Workbook Grammar—Sentence Structure The following sentences are all mixed up Put the words on each line in the correct order to make a logical sentence some Emma errands home doing after comes _ brunch coming family 11 is At Jerry’s for _ prepare supposed He brunch was to the! _ our We for them home invited a brunch at _ nods Emma goes and other to room the _ around The run kids play and _ looking while around family After starts a Jerry’s _ modern food is In everything about culture our _ sit talk be It if for and once we just nice will _ 10 full trays Her are pizza hands with! _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | 67 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences Remember: A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma were husband and wife A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma were not husband and wife A question: Were Jerry and Emma husband and wife? A positive sentence: She was happy to see him A negative sentence: She was not happy to see him A question: Was she happy to see him? A positive sentence: Emma listened carefully A negative sentence: Emma did not listen carefully A question: Did Emma listen carefully? Turn the following sentences into questions Jerry fell asleep in his chair _ He was very tired _ Emma looked for Jerry _ Emma found Jerry in front of his computer _ Emma and Jerry invited people for a brunch _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 68 | English Short Stories Workbook Turn the following sentences into negative sentences Was there food on the table? _ Jerry said he would take care of that _ Emma ordered some pizza _ Did the family like Jerry’s idea? _ The pizza arrived, and everyone was happy _ Turn the following sentences into positive sentences Jerry didn’t want to order pizza _ Did Emma tell Jerry about her plan? _ Jerry didn’t know what to _ The pizza wasn’t cold _ Did Jerry thank Emma? _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com English Short Stories Workbook | 69 Comprehension Answer the following questions What is a brunch? Why didn’t Jerry prepare the brunch? What is his solution to the situation, and how does the family like it? How does Emma save Jerry? Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com 70 | English Short Stories Workbook Essay Writing Answer the following questions Write a short essay for each Have you ever been in a situation similar to Jerry’s—where you woke up and found out that you were terribly late? What happened? Have you ever saved someone at the last minute? What happened? Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com [...]... www-really-learn -english. com 18 | English Short Stories Workbook Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences Remember: A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma will be husband and wife A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma will not be husband and wife A question: Will Jerry and Emma be husband and wife? A positive sentence: Emma will listen carefully A negative sentence: Emma will not listen... love in boy and meets then she him fall _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn -english. com English Short Stories Workbook | 11 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences Remember: A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma were husband and wife A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma were not husband and wife A question: Were Jerry and Emma husband and wife?... www-really-learn -english. com English Short Stories Workbook | 25 Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences Remember: A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma are husband and wife A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma are not husband and wife A question: Are Jerry and Emma husband and wife? A positive sentence: Emma listens carefully A negative sentence: Emma does not listen carefully A question: Does Emma listen... eight and this bucks baby the _ 10 look and hawks like Jerry back and her at turn two angry Emma _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn -english. com 32 | English Short Stories Workbook Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences and Positive Sentences Remember: A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma were husband and wife A negative sentence: Jerry. .. movies, a bit, horror Emma and Jerry like to watch _ No, actually, Emma and Jerry love to watch movies They have only one tiny problem They _ like the same movies Emma likes _ movies She likes the fear and the blood Jerry, on the other hand, hates horror movies He hates the _ and the blood He likes love stories He likes romantic _ and happy endings Emma hates romantic movies... the handset? What kind of a _ comes without a handset?” “Regularly, the Super Phone _ 2000 does include a handset It is just not part of your special gift.” Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn -english. com 30 | English Short Stories Workbook Emma looks at Jerry and says, “Well, as _ as it sounds, it is still worth it Let’s pay the extra eight bucks and take this baby home.” Jerry. .. and Emma were not husband and wife A question: Were Jerry and Emma husband and wife? A positive sentence: She was happy to see him A negative sentence: She was not happy to see him A question: Was she happy to see him? A positive sentence: Emma listened carefully A negative sentence: Emma did not listen carefully A question: Did Emma listen carefully? Turn the following sentences into questions 1 Jerry. .. not help Jerry _ 2 Will Jerry be happy? _ 3 Emma and Jerry will not move into a new house _ 4 Emma will not need a car _ 5 They will not have a garage _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn -english. com 20 | English Short Stories Workbook. .. the redial button “This is the most _ free gift I have ever received!” he says to Emma “Tell me about it!” she agrees They are _ to leave when the saleslady _ Emma and Jerry turn back and look at her like two angry _ Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn -english. com English Short Stories Workbook | 31 Grammar—Sentence Structure The following sentences are all mixed up Put the... nothing seems to help The kitten is _, and it hides even further behind the engine Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn -english. com English Short Stories Workbook | 23 In the _, a row of cars gathers behind him Some of the drivers get out of the car and stare at Jerry They don’t _ what he is doing Finally, a man _ to him He is fat, and his face is red “What do you think you