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PENGUIN
ACTIVE
READING
PENGUIN ACTIVE READING
LEVEL 3
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Penguin Active Reading provides reading and language
learning at five levels, through full-colour, beautifully
illustrated Readers. As well as enjoyable stories and texts,
each book provides a range of integrated activities designed
to develop reading skills and consolidate vocabulary, and
offers personalised project work. Each book is supported
by an interactive CD-ROM which contains additional
activities and the complete audio recording.
Number of words (excluding activities): 17,733
Series Editors: Jocelyn Potter and Andy Hopkins
For correlations to English Language Teaching exams,
please visit www.penguinreaders.com
Level 3
1200 headwords
Pre-intermediate
Easystarts 200 headwords
Level 1 300 headwords Beginner
Level 2 600 headwords Elementary
Level 3 1200 headwords Pre-intermediate
Level 4 1700 headwords Intermediate
Cover illustration by Piers Sanford
The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
and Other Stories
F. Scott Fitzgerald
American English
Classic
Benjamin Button is a very strange baby. Born with a white
beard, he looks like his grandfather. As the years pass, he
seems to get younger. This brings all kinds of problems, for
him and the people around him. In these three stories by
the great American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, people are not
always as they seem.
The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
and Other Stories
F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Activities 1
Whats the book about?
1 These stories are by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a very famous writer. Discuss
what you know about him. You can find out more on the Internet.
a What other stories did he write?
b Which country was he from?
c When did he write his books?
2 Look at these pictures of pairs of people from these three stories.
Who do you think they are? Choose the right words and write them under the
pictures.
1.1
What happens rst?
1 Look at the words in italics at the top of the next page. Which of these
sentences about Benjamin Button is correct, do you think?
a He is an old man. b He is a baby.
2 Look at the pictures in the first part of the story. Which of these
sentences is correct?
a He is getting older. b He is getting younger.
1.2
girlfriend and boyfriend mother and son husband and wife
brother and sister friends from schooldays teacher and student
A B C
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1
STORY 1 PART 1
society /ssati/ (n) the group of upper-class people who are rich and important.
At social activities, you meet people and spend time with them.
curious /kjris/ (adj) strange, unusual; wanting to know about something
case /kes/ (n) a problem that a doctor has to solve
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I cant say exactly who I am, the old man replied. I was only born a few
hours ago. But I know my last name is Button.
O
ur story starts in the summer of 1860, in the busy city of Baltimore. At
that time, babies were usually born at home, not in hospitals. But young
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Button had different ideas. They wanted their first baby to
arrive in a hospital.
Was this one of the reasons for the strange history that I am going to tell
you? I can only describe what happened. Then you can decide.
The Roger Buttons were important people in Baltimore society. They knew
every good family in town, and everyone knew them. This was their first baby,
so Mr. Button was naturally nervous. He was hoping for a boy so he could send
him to Yale College in Connecticut. Mr. Roger Button was a student at Yale
when he was a young man. Of course, he wanted his son to follow him there.
The great day arrived. Mr. Button hurried to the hospital one morning in
September for news of his wife and baby.
When he was close to the Maryland Private Hospital, he saw the family
doctor on the front steps. There was a serious look on the doctors face and this
worried Mr. Button.
He ran toward the doctor.
Doctor Keene! he called. Oh, Doctor Keene!
The doctor heard him, and turned around. He saw Mr. Button, and a
curious look came over his face.
What happened? asked Mr. Button. What was it? How is she? A boy?
What ?
Talk sense! said the doctor, a little angrily.
Is the child born? asked Mr. Button.
Doctor Keene didnt answer immediately. Yes, he said slowly. A strange
birth.
Is my wife all right?
Yes.
Is it a boy or a girl?
Go and see, replied Doctor Keene. He still seemed strangely angry.
Terrible! One more case like this will finish me in medicine.
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2
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Stories
Whats the matter? Is there a problem with the baby? asked Mr. Button.
Go and see them, said Doctor Keene. And then get yourself another
doctor. I brought you into the world, young man, and Ive looked after your
family for forty years, but this is the end! I dont want to see you or any of your
relatives ever again! Goodbye!
And without another word, he turned and walked away.
Mr. Button stood there on the sidewalk, feeling very worried and afraid.
Something terrible has happened, he thought. Now, he didnt want to go
into the hospital. But he walked slowly up the steps and through the entrance
doors.
A nurse was sitting behind a desk.
Good morning, she said, smiling.
Good morning. II am Mr. Roger Button.
A look of fear came over the girls face. She stood up, clearly planning to run
away. Then she calmed herself and sat down again.
I want to see my child, said Mr. Button.
The nurse gave a little scream. Oh, of course! Upstairs! Go upstairs! she
said quickly.
She pointed to the stairs and Mr. Button turned away from the desk. He
went upstairs and found another nurse. She was carrying a large metal bowl.
Im Mr. Button, he began nervously. I want to see my
Clank! The nurse dropped the bowl. It fell down the stairs, one step at a
time, and landed with a loud noise at the bottom.
I want to see my child! Mr. Button shouted.
All right, Mr. Button, the nurse agreed in a quiet voice. All right. But its
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3
Story 1 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Part 1)
crib /krb/ (n) a bed with high sides for a baby
blanket /blkt/ (n) a warm cover for a bed
terrible! Were all feelingwell, nobody will want to use the hospital again after
this
Hurry! Mr. Button cried. I cant wait any longer.
Come this way, Mr. Button.
Mr. Button followed the nurse. There was a sound of babies crying. This
grew louder until they stopped outside a room. The nurse pushed the door open
and they went in. Around the walls were white cribs, each one with a name tied
to the top.
Well, said Mr. Button, which is mine?
There! said the nurse.
Mr. Buttons eyes followed her pointing finger. And this is what he saw. An
old man of about seventy years old sat in one of the cribs. His hair was almost
white, and he had a long, gray beard. His feet hung over one end of the crib,
and his head and arms hung over the other. He was wearing only a large, white
blanket. He looked at Mr. Button with a question in his eyes.
Am I crazy? Mr. Button shouted angrily at the nurse. Is this some terrible
hospital joke?
It doesnt seem like a joke to us, said the nurse angrily. And I dont know
if youre crazy or not. But theres no mistake. That is your child.
The old man looked calmly at the nurse, and then at Mr. Button.
Are you my father? he asked. Because if you are, please get me out of this
place. Its very uncomfortable.
Where did you come from? Who are you? screamed Mr. Button.
I cant say exactly who I am, the old man replied. I was only born a few
hours ago. But I know my last name is Button.
Youre lying! I dont believe you!
The old man turned to the nurse.
Thats a nice way to welcome a new-born baby, he said. Please tell him
hes wrong.
Youre wrong, Mr. Button, said the nurse coldly. This is your child and
youll have to make the best of it. We want you to take him home as soon as
possible. Some time today.
Home? said Mr. Button. Take him home?
Yes, we cant have him here.
Ill be glad to get home, said the old man. I cant sleep because of all the
crying in here. And I asked for something to eat and they brought me a bottle
of milk!
Mr. Button sat on a seat next to his son and put his head in his hands.
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4
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Stories
What will people say? What must I do? he said to himself quietly.
Youll have to take him home, said the nurse. Immediately!
Mr. Button suddenly imagined himself walking through the town with the
old man at his side. What could he say to people? This is my son, born early
this morning. He thought of those people looking in surprise at the old man
next to him.
The nurse was watching him impatiently.
Dont sit there feeling sorry for yourself, she said.
Im not going to walk home in this blanket, said the old man suddenly.
Babies always have blankets, replied the nurse.
Well, this babys not going to wear this blanket any longer. In a few minutes
Im going to take it off.
Keep it on! Keep it on! said Mr. Button, hurriedly. He turned to the nurse.
What shall I do?
Go down town and buy your son some clothes, the nurse told him.
As Mr. Button left the room, his son called to him. And a hat, Father. I
want a hat. Maybe I need some glasses, too.
Mr. Button shut the door hard behind him, and all the babies started crying
again.
He went to the nearest clothes store.
I want to buy some clothes for my son, he said to the salesclerk.
How old is your child, sir?
About six hours old, answered Mr. Button, without thinking.
Babies clothes are at the back of the store.
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