Once upon a time there was a little fir tree in a forest in Norway. It was a very small tree and it did not grow. The other trees near it were so high and had such big branches that the poor little fir tree could not grow into a big high tree. There were oak trees, pine trees, and birches around the little fir tree. They were all very useful to people. But the little tree was not useful to anybody and it became very sad. One day the fir tree asked the other trees, “Do you know how a small fir tree could be useful?” Some of the trees were too proud to answer such a little tree. But the birch tree was a kind tree and it said. “You could be a Christmas tree, but that is all.” “What is a Christmas tree?” asked the little tree. “I don’t know,” replied the birch tree, “but once a year, in winter, men come and look at all the little fir trees and choose the prettiest for a Christmas tree. They chop it down but I don’t know what they do with it.” “I could be useful to some people”, thought the little fir tree. It was happy now and waited for Christmas Day. At last that frosty winter day came. A boy with an axe walked through the forest. He stopped in front of the little fir tree, then he chopped it down and took it home. “This will be the Christmas tree,” he told his brothers. The next day the boys put it in a big room and decorated it with balloons, paper bells and golden balls. Their mother put some candles on the branches of the tree and lit them. “It’s the most beautiful Christmas tree!” cried one of the boys. All the family gathered around the tree. They joined hands and began to sing songs and dance. They all were happy. But the little Christmas tree was the happiest. “I hope I shall not drop any of these beautiful things which the children put on me. I shall give joy and happiness to them. I am happy because I am useful now,” thought the little Christmas tree.
Read and tell your friends what do you think about these sentences.
1. Once upon a time there was a big fir tree in a nice forest in England.
2. The oak trees, the pine trees and the birches were useful to people.
3. The little fir tree was useful too, and it was very happy.
4. On a hot summer day a boy chopped down the little fir tree.
Answer the questions.
1. In which country did the fir tree grow? Norway.
2. Why couldn’t the small tree grow? Because there were large tall trees next to it and with wide branches that could not grow.
3. Why was the fir tree sad? Because I thought that no one needed and was sad.
4. What did it ask the other trees? Spruce asked other trees: Do you know how a small Christmas tree can be useful.
5. Why didn’t most of the trees answer the fir tree? Some trees were too proud to respond to such a small tree.
6. What did the birch tree tell the little fir tree? You can be a Christmas tree․
7. When did the men chop down the prettiest fir trees?Frosty in winter.
8. Why was the little fir tree happy?Because he was taken home decorated with balloons, paper bells and golden balloons.
9. What happened one frosty winter day? One frosty day, a boy with an ax was walking through the forest, stopped in front of a Christmas tree, then cut it down and brought it home.
10. How was the little fir tree decorated?Balloons, paper bells and golden balls.
11. What did the children’s mother put on it? Their mother placed candles on the branches of a tree and lit them.
12. What did one of the children say? This is the most beautiful Christmas tree.
13. What did all the family do?The whole family gathered around the tree. They joined hands and began to sing songs and dance.
14. Why was the little fir tree the happiest? I’m happy because now it’s useful.
Choose the correct word.
The fir tree was the biggest tree in the forest. (biggest, smallest)
The fir tree was very sad because it could not grow. (sad, happy)
Mother put some candles on the branches of the fir tree. (paper bells, candles)
The family danced round the Christmas tree. (ate, danced)
