Jeremy Taylor - Grandads Eleven (Great Stories: High Beginner)

This book is for beginning-level readers. Almost all the vocabulary is at the A1 and A2 level. However, some intermediate vocabulary is used too.

You can learn these words before you read, or you can check this section again while you read. You can also use a dictionary while you read, or guess what words mean by thinking about the rest of the sentence. However, we recommend reading through the example sentences and notes below before beginning the book, no matter what vocabulary strategy you use.

This book is about the sport of football (also called soccer in American English). Here is some vocabulary used in football.

• a goal: A goal can be two things. It is the area at one end of the football field (see the picture). It is also the word for kicking the ball into that areawe say a player scores a goal if they kick the ball into the goal.
• a free kick: A free kick happens when one team does something wrong. For example, when Team A does something wrong, like a player touches the ball with their hand or kicks a player from Team B, then Team B gets a free kick. The players from Team A must stand ten metres away while Team B kicks the ball at the goal.
• goalkeeper: The goalkeeper is the only player who can touch the ball with their hands. Goalkeepers defend the goal for their team: they try to stop the ball from going through the goal when the other team kicks. Goalkeepers can only use their hands near their goal.
• a corner kick: A corner kick (sometimes just called a corner) is similar to a free kick, but it is taken in the very corner of the pitch, or field.
• a penalty: A penalty is a punishment when a team does something wrong. If Team A does something wrong near their own goal (inside the penalty box lines), Team B gets a free kick from eleven metres away from the goal, and only the goalkeeper from Team A can try to stop the ball.
• field hockey: Hockey is a game that is played on ice, but field hockey is played on grass. The players have sticks to hit the puck (on ice) or ball (on grass).

1. At what age do you think people are old? Is it 25? 40? 60? 80? Why did you pick that age?
2. Do you like to talk to old people? Do you spend time with any people who are older than you are? What kinds of things do you do? What do you talk about?
3. Everyone likes their friends, but why do they like their friends? Think about one of your friends. Why do you like him or her?
4. How many sports do you play? How many sports do you watch on television? Why do you like each sport?
5. Do you agree or disagree with this sentence: Old people should not play sports? Explain your answer.

Football is one the worlds most popular sports. There are 11 players on each team. A football match is played on a football pitch. A football match lasts 90 minutes. The idea of the game is to get the ball into the other teams goal. Normally people try to kick the ball into the goal, but players can also head the ball (hit it with their head!).

The story talks about Ashraf, who coaches a team in England. Ashraf is from Egypt, a country in northeast Africa. It is famous for the pyramids and the Nile River. Because he is Egyptian, he cannot play on a professional team for England.

Manchester United is a popular football club, or team, in England. Other popular clubs are Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Ryans mum answered the phone. She called, Ryan! Telephone for you!

Who is it?

I dont know. I think its your friend Colin, said his mum.

Ryan picked up the phone. Hello, Colin?

Hi, Ryan. Im not Colin. This is Ashraf.

Oh, hi, Ashraf. How are you?

Im fine. Listen, Ryan, do you want to play football with Scott and Terry this afternoon?

I want to, but I cant.

Why not? asked Ashraf.

My mum says Ive got to visit my grandparents.

You dont sound happy, Ryan. Whats wrong?

I dont want to visit my grandparents. Theyre so boring.

Boring? You think your grandparents are boring?

Ryan answered, Yeah, my grandma and grandad dont do anything. They go to a club once a week. They just drink tea and talk with their boring friends.

Ryan, I dont understand you. Last year my grandparents visited us from Egypt. They stayed in our house for three weeks. They are so warm and friendly. I love my grandparents.

I think all old people are boring. Hey, Ive got a new computer game. Its great. Do you want to try it?

Okay, maybe tomorrow.

All right. See you tomorrow at school.

Bye, Ryan!

Bye!

Ryan! Its nice to see you. How are you? asked Albert Fenn, Ryans grandfather.

All right.

Hows school?

Its all right.

Hows your sister Anne?

Shes all right.

Hows Bonzo? Hes a nice dog.

Hes all right.

So everythings all right, is it Ryan?

Yeah, said Ryan.

Albert looked at Ryan. He asked, Do you like our club?

Ryan looked at the many old men and women in the big room. In the corner, a woman was singing an old song. Some of the old people were listening to her. At the tables, more old men and women were drinking tea and talking. Its all right.

Another old man walked up to Ryans grandfather. Hello, Albert. How are you?

Ah, hello, Jack. Im fine. Ive got my grandson here today.

Ah, hello, Ryan. How are you these days?

All right, said Ryan for the sixth time.

Do you play football in the park? asked Jack.

Sometimes, said Ryan.

Yes, I saw you last week, said Jack. There was a boy with you. Hes not very tall, but hes very quick.

Thats my friend. His name is Ashraf, said Ryan. Hes one of the best football players at school.

Do you think hes going to play for England one day? asked Albert.

No, Grandad. He cant, answered Ryan.

Why not? his grandfather asked.

Hes not English. Hes from Egypt.

Perhaps hell play for Egypt one day, said Jack. Hes a very good footballer.

Ryan met Ashraf at school the next day. Hi, Ryan. Did you see your grandparents yesterday?