Рассказы на английском языке для средней школы. Интересные истории с упражнениями

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.