A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens (simplified version)
Ebenezer Scrooge is an old money lender in London. He is
rich, but he is a very greedy, mean and selfish man. He
isn’t friendly to people and he doesn’t help anyone. His
only friend and partner, Jacob Marley, died many years
ago.
His clerk, Bob Cratchit has to work in a cold room
because Scrooge doesn’t want to spend money on coal to
heat the room.
At Christmas Scrooge’s nephew Fred comes to invite him
to Christmas dinner at his home and to wish him a ‘Merry
Christmas’, but Scrooge only answers angrily ‘Bah,
humbug.’
On Christmas Eve, Scrooge sits alone in his cold living
room at home. Suddenly the ghost of his dead partner,
Jacob Marley appears. He says to Scrooge ‘Change your
life! You must become a better man. You must be kind to
people, you must laugh with them. Three ghosts will visit
you this night.’ Scrooge is terribly afraid. Then he goes to
bed.
Answer the questions!
1. Where does Scrooge live?
2. What kind of man is Scrooge?
3. Who is Fred?
4. What does Scrooge do on Christmas
Eve?
True
1.Scrooge isn’t rich.
2.He doesn’t like to
spend money.
3.Jacob Marley was
Scrooge’s friend.
4.Scrooge is happy
about Fred’s invitation.
5. Scrooge doesn’t like
Christmas.
6.Marley’s ghosts tells
Scrooge not to change
his life.
7.Scrooge isn’t afraid of
ghosts.
False
And while Scrooge is sleeping in his bed, the Ghost
of Christmas Past appears. He takes Ebenezer
Scrooge back to the happy days when he was a
friendly young man. He sees himself celebrating
Christmas with other people. He looked so happy.
He also sees all the terrible things he did when he
was older.
Next the Ghost of Christmas Present appears.
Now the room is decorated with holly, ivy and
mistletoe and looks so pretty. There is a table full
of sausages, Christmas puddings, apples and pears,
oranges and cakes.
Choose the correct answer.
1.How was Scrooge as a young boy?
a. unhappy
b. friendly
c. impolite
2. What does the Ghost of Christmas Past show Scrooge?
a. Scrooge having a happy Christmas.
b. Scrooge buying presents.
c. Scrooge giving money to poor people.
3. What ghost appears next?
a. The Ghost of Christmas Past
c. The Ghost of Christmas Present
c. The Ghost of Christmas Presents.
4. What is on the table?
a. Turkey, cakes and oranges.
b. Apples, pears and oranges.
c. Christmas puddings and a steak.
True
False
1.The Ghost of Christmas
Present takes him to his
past.
The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to a poor
but clean room. It is the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit,
and his family. Bob, his wife and his two children sit at the
table. There isn’t much food on it, but they all say that it is
the most wonderful Christmas dinner.
Although they are poor, they are happy and love each
other. They see Scrooge and invite him to sit down and
have Christmas dinner with them. Scrooge is very
ashamed because they do not have much food.
And there is also Tiny Tim. Bob’s little boy is physically
disabled and they have no money for a doctor.
‘Look!’ the ghost tells Scrooge. ‘The boy will die if they do
not get the money for a doctor.’
‘Please, take me away!’ Scrooge says to the ghost. He is
truly upset.
2.Bob Cratchit is
Scrooge’s clerk.
3.Bob has three kids.
4.The boy’s name is Tiny
Tom.
5. The Cratchit family has
a big Christmas dinner.
6.Scrooge is invited to
have dinner with them.
7.The little boy needs
medical care but they
don’t have the money for
it.
The third ghost is the Ghost of Christmas Future. He goes to a graveyard with Scrooge and shows
him a neglected grave. There is Scrooge’s name on the tombstone. ‘Oh Ghost,’ Scrooge shoutrs, ‘I
will change my life. I will be friendly and generous.’ Then the ghost disappears.
When Scrooge wakes up the next morning he remembers the three ghosts and he also
remembers what he saw during the night.
It is Christmas morning. He thinks ‘What a wonderful morning!’. Then he jumps out of bed and he
smiles. He gets dressed quickly, goes out into the streets, is very friendly, gives money to beggars
and wishes everyone ‘A merry Christmas!’
He buys very delicious food and many presents. He carries them to Bob Cratchit’s house. He gives
them the food and the presents and feels very happy. He promises Bob to give him more money
for his work so that he can pay for Tiny Tim’s doctor. He has never been happier in his life.
Then he goes to his nephew Fred to celebrate Christmas with him.
Ebenezer Scrooge learned his lesson for the rest of his life and he loves his new life.
Answer the questions.
1. Where does the ghost of Christmas Future take Scrooge?
2. What does Scrooge promise?
3. What does Scrooge remember on Christmas morning?
4. What does Scrooge do in the streets?
5. What does he buy for Bob and his family?
1.
The third ghost goes to
I will be friendly and generous.
2.
I will change my life and
Christmas with Fred.
3.
He buys very delicious food
for the rest of his life.
4.
Scrooge celebrates
a graveyard with Scrooge.
5.
Scrooge learned his lesson
and carries it to Bob’s house.