Text 2. THE SOAP-BOX RACE.

The soap-box race is in Newtown today. It starts at the top of the hill. The road there is wide. There is a pond at the bottom of the hill. The road is narrower near the pond.

The race is not easy. The hill is steep and the road is bad. The worst part is at the bottom, near the pond. There the road is the narrowest.

Of course this part of the race is very interesting. There you can see most of the spectators: the drivers’ parents, their friends, their brothers and sisters. When a good driver comes, they shout: “Go on! Faster! Very good!” This Saturday is a very exciting day for the boys in Newtown. There is a nice prize for the best driver. It is a camera.

At two o’clock little cars and their young drivers are ready to start Jim Davis is among them for the first time. Jim is the youngest in the race. He is only ten years old. Bill Hammer is thirteen years old. He is bigger and stronger.

Jim has a cheap car. His car is lighter than Bill’s car. Bill has a new red car. It is the heaviest and the best of all. He is sure to win the race.

“Ready — steady — go!” shouts the starter. The cars start and rush down the hill. The hill is very steep. The worst part is near the pond.

Bill Hammer is the best driver. He is leading the race. But Jim Davis is not very far behind him. Suddenly Jim is only three metres behind Bill. The spectators are very excited. “Come on, Jim!” they shout.

Bill turns his head and sees Jim’s car behind him. He is not afraid of Jim. Jim can’t win. His car is cheaper and older. Bill is laughing: “Come on, Jim! Catch me if you can!”

“Bill, look out!” his brother shouts. Too late! Bill drives straight into the water. What a pity! Very quickly Jim turns right at the pond and comes to the finish. Jim is the winner. The spectators cheer him up. When all the drivers come to the finish, Jim gets the prize. It is the happiest moment in his life. He goes to Bill and shakes hands with him. “Bad luck, Bill-^Uag says.

At this moment a reporter takes a photograph. The next day in the newspaper you can see a picture of Jim and Bill together with these words: “Pride goes before a fall.”

The Results of the Race

Place

Driver

Age

Time

1st

Jim Davis

10

3 min. 59 sec.

2nd

Mike Green

12

4

13

3rd

Jack Winter

13

4

17

4th

Fred Long

14

4

39

5th

Ted Baker

11

4

42

6th

Peter Parker

12

4

46

7th

Bob Black

12

5

01

8th

Jack Tree

13

5

08

9th

John Short

11

5

15

10th

Bill Hammer

13

out

I. Complete the sentences according to the text. Where?

Before the race the boys go up.

The race begins at the.

They all drive down the.

The finish is at the.

What does the coach do?

He goes to the.

He calls the.

He looks at their.

He shouts: “Ready.

He watches.

What do the people do?

They go to.

They stand near.

They wait for.

They watch.

They shout.

How is Jim in the race?

He goes.

He drives behind.

He turns right at.

He comes to the finish.

He wins the.

V. Describe the soap-box race. Use the outline and the words.

A. The place for the race

hill

steep

the worst part

lake

wide

easy

road

narrow

interesting

B. The drivers and their cars

young

small

for the first time

new

big

old

strong

the best

С. The race