A short story extract

Preparation task

Vocabulary

1. E
2. D
3. A
4. B
5. C
6. G
7. H
8. F

Tasks

Task 1.

Sam Mr. Carter Mr. Carter’ son

-Lives on the farm -Owns the farm -Comes to the farm less often
-Works with his hands -Doesn’t often come to me than the others.
farm -Has done something wrong.

Task 2.

1. What is Sam’s reaction to his letters?

a. Uninterested

b. Surprised

c. Afraid

d. Curious

2. Why does Sam not take holidays from work?

a. He feels safer on the farm.

b. He can’t afford it.

c. He hasn’t finished repairing the fences.

d. He doesn’t know where to choose.

3. What can we guess about Mr Carter?

a. He works hard.
b. He’s rich.

c. He has tanned skin.

d. He loves horses.

4. What does Sam think Carter’s son might do during his stay at the farm?

a. He might leave on foot.

b. He might do something dangerous while riding.

c. He might break the fences.

d. He might get into trouble with the neighbors.

5. How does Mr. Carter feel while he’s talking to Sam in this scene?

a. Angry

b. Impatient

c. Nervous

d. Excited

6. Why has Mr. Carter come to his house?

a. Because he wants to give Sam his mail.

b. Because he needs to check on the work on the fences.

c. Because his son has had problems at school.

d. Because his son needs a holiday.

Summary

Sam was outside chopping wood, waiting for Mr. Carter (he wasn't very impatient about
it, anyways, Sam thought it best when his boss wasn't around because it kept his job
longer). When his boss came out, he pulled out a pile of paper from his back and started a
short conversation with Sam.

However, he wasn't interested in Carter's meaningless conversation. Sam wanted him to

say why he was there.

At first, Mr. Carter evaded the topic, he looked at his hat, asked about the mail, even
talked for a vacation, but he admitted, at the end, the problems his teenage son was
having at school and home. His boss was trying to keep his son out of trouble.

Sam thought about the chance of the boy escaping by horse, could it be possible? If he
could ride a horse, he would have some problems.