“I love ice-cream!” Timmy said. “But I am so tired. Please let’s go home and sleep.”
“Good idea, Timmy.” I said.
We finished supper and went to our nice cottage to sleep.
Before I went to bed I glanced at the window. I looked toward the forest. It was already dark, but the moon came out from behind the clouds and I saw a dog that was walking toward the forest. Who would go to the forest at such a late time? Unfortunately I did not see who it was, but it seemed to me that it was a man dog.
SPEAKING
Answer the questions
Explain the rules of the game that the puppies and the big dogs played.
Why did Doctor Glosser’s parents move to Vladivostok?
What profession does Rex want to have when he grows up?
What portrait does Clara have in her mansion in Moscow.
How did Mr. Croul get the Count Streltsov’s wife’s golden bracelet?
Where is Roberta Woods from?
What is Chef Garikos biggest dream?
TEXT UNDERSTANDING
True or false
Doctor Glosser’s biggest dream is to build a kindergarten for sick puppies.
Clara lives very close to Red Square in a big mansion which used to belong to an ancient noble family of Count Streltsov.
Betsy wants to become a doctor.
Roberta Woods is Mr. Rish’s secretary.
Roberta Woods graduated from the University of Arts.
Rex’s mother is a famous artist.
In the evening Rex saw a dog walking toward the forest.
PRONUNCIATION
Circle the word with a different sound.
u: foot good school door
ai bike mine crime since time
a: art ball start smart
æ cat bat happen saw camel
Underline the stressed syllable
secret ice-cream acquaint cafeteria beautiful bracelet
Chapter 4
The First Competition
The next day started with a very delicious breakfast. We had porridge, fruit salad with peaches, mangos, grapes, oranges and pears, toast with jam and different kinds of fresh juices.
“Oh I love it here!” said Timmy finishing his salad. “Goody yum yum!”
“Yes, food here is so good,” said Bob, “Garikos is the best chef ever!”
“I agree!” I said.
After breakfast we were supposed to have sport activities. We went outside. The weather was fine and we were very excited.
“Dear puppies,” said Michael when all puppies gathered together on a big field. “Today we will have competitions. We will find out which one of you is the strongest and the fastest. We will have both individual competitions and team competitions.
And I almost forgot to tell you the most important thing. Those of you who win the tournament will go to Mr. Rish’s office and will be able to see the golden bone.
“The golden bone oh, wow!” were heard from all sides.
“I won’t even try to win,” somebody said from the back, “The reward is not good enough. I saw many golden things in my life, because I’ve visited a lot of museums in different countries.”
I turned to see who was talking. That was Clara again. This not nice puppy girl was always close by.
“The first test will be the exercise of holding the plank position.” Michael continued. “Puppy girls will compete only with girls and puppy boys only with boys, so the test will be fair. Those of you who can hold the plank position for the longest time will win.”
We divided into two teams: girls and boys. Michael blew the whistle and all of us got in the plank position. This exercise position is not easy; you put your front paws on the ground and your hind paws on the ground too, and your body should be stretched out long straight as a stick.
This exercise was hard for many puppies, but not for me and my sister Betsy, because we do sports at least three times per week.
“30 seconds! Good job, puppies!” Michael tried to cheer us up. About 10 puppies fell on the ground.
“Oh, plank is too hard for us,” they said.
“60 seconds! Way to go!” Michael said again. A few more puppies fell down. I continued to hold the position and so did Bob Bill and Betsy. Mary, Clara and Timmy fell down too
“Silly exercise! I will tell everything to my dad. They will regret that they made me participate in such a stupid contest.” Clara complained.
“Three minutes and 30 seconds! Wow! You guys are very strong! I am proud of you!” Only seven puppies continued to stand. It was Betsy and me and five other puppies: one puppy girl and four puppy boys.
“Four minutes! All of you are Iron men! I am impressed!” Michael was every excited.
A puppy girl fell on the ground.
“And we have the first girl winner! Congratulations! Let’s see who it is?” Betsy stood up. “And our first winner is Betsy from Moscow! Put your paws together for this amazing, sportive puppy.”
Loud applause was heard from all sides. Only Clara did not applaud. She was standing with her paws crossed and with an offended expression on her face.
“And very soon we will find out who is the strongest among the puppy boys.” Michael continued.
Only three puppies were still in plank and I was one of them.
“Almost six minutes! Guys you are incredible!” said Michael.
Another puppy fell down. Now it was only me and a boy whose breed was Russian Greyhound.
“Seven minutes! Wow, wow, wow!” our leader yelled.
I really wanted to win and I honestly tried my best, but unfortunately my paws stopped listening to me and I fell on the ground. In two seconds the last puppy fell on the ground too.
“And we have a boy winner! It was a really hard competition! Seven minutes is a record for sure. Both of you puppies are very strong. And now let’s welcome our winner. Please stand up and tell us your name.”
Russian Greyhound slowly stood up.
“My name is Ivan Kropotkin.” he said.
“My congratulations, Ivan! Where are you from?” Michel asked.
“I am from Novosibirsk.”
“A very strong puppy from Siberia! Your applause!”
Everyone even Clara put their paws together.
“Please tell us how come you are so strong? How often do you exercise?” asked camp leader.
“I do samba four times per week!” answered Ivan.
“This is great! And here is another puppy that held plank for seven minutes. This is an incredible result. Let’s hear from him.”
I stood up.
“Hello everyone! My name is Rex and I am from Moscow.”
Everyone applauded.
“And how did you become so strong?”
“I