The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac book cover

The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac Worksheets

by Dawn Casey

ATOS 3.5

Long ago in China nobody can tell one year from the next, so the Jade Emperor holds a swimming race across a wide river: he will name the years of his new calendar after the animals, in the order they finish. Best friends Rat and Cat lose heart at the roaring river, until Rat, the smallest animal there, talks strong Ox into carrying them both across on his back. While Cat snoozes and the others swim, ride a raft, hop across stones and fly through the clouds, Rat starts to think that a rested Cat will beat him to the finish line. A lively retelling of the Chinese zodiac story, with notes at the back on the Chinese calendar and Chinese New Year.

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The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac vocabulary words and comprehension questions

12 vocabulary words and 8 comprehension questions across 3 sections: Beginning · Middle · End.

Vocabulary words include calendar, compete, swift, depend, plunged, wobbling, currents, energy, declared, talents, celebrate, firecrackers.

Sample questions

In the story, why does the Jade Emperor hold a race?
What is Rat's plan for getting across the river?
What does Cat do while he rides on Ox's back?

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