The Chinese ZodiacThe Chinese Zodiac

A long, long time ago, there was no A long, long time ago, there was no calendar in China. People had no way calendar in China. People had no way to measure time. They didn’t know to measure time. They didn’t know when to grow crops or when to expect when to grow crops or when to expect the seasons.the seasons.

It was such an inconvenience!It was such an inconvenience!

Sandy & Alice

The Great God wanted to help. He The Great God wanted to help. He announced that he would set up a announced that he would set up a system. He offered to hold a system. He offered to hold a contest on his birthday. The first contest on his birthday. The first twelve animals to arrive at the twelve animals to arrive at the finish line would have a year named finish line would have a year named after them. All the animals were after them. All the animals were very excitedvery excited!!

Rat was ambitious. It wanted to win Rat was ambitious. It wanted to win the first prizethe first prize..

Yet, it had two problems. Rat was Yet, it had two problems. Rat was afraid that it could not wake up on afraid that it could not wake up on time. Also, the finish line was across time. Also, the finish line was across a rivera river . .

Rat needed to find a way to crossRat needed to find a way to crossthe riverthe river..

I must win!!

They decided to ask Ox for help. Ox They decided to ask Ox for help. Ox always got up early and he was a always got up early and he was a

good swimmergood swimmer..

Just when Rat was thinking about his Just when Rat was thinking about his problem, it bumped into it’s best problem, it bumped into it’s best friend, Cat. The two animalsfriend, Cat. The two animals came up with a plancame up with a plan..

Ox could wake them up and carry Ox could wake them up and carry them across the river. Rat and Cat them across the river. Rat and Cat went to see Ox. The three animals went to see Ox. The three animals made an agreement. They made an agreement. They promised to help each other and promised to help each other and share the prizeshare the prize..

On the day of the race, Ox woke up On the day of the race, Ox woke up Rat and Cat and put them on his Rat and Cat and put them on his back. When Ox was half way across back. When Ox was half way across the river, Rat began thinking about the river, Rat began thinking about the agreement. “Why should I share the agreement. “Why should I share the glory with Cat? Look at it! It just the glory with Cat? Look at it! It just lies on Ox’s back sleeping! What a lies on Ox’s back sleeping! What a lazy animal Cat is!” Then Rat lazy animal Cat is!” Then Rat thought, “What if Cat decides not to thought, “What if Cat decides not to stay with the agreement? Cat runs stay with the agreement? Cat runs fast. Cat can get to the finish line fast. Cat can get to the finish line before mebefore me”!”!

Hmm, what to do?

Rat decided to get rid of Cat. Rat Rat decided to get rid of Cat. Rat quietly crawled to Cat and gave Cat a quietly crawled to Cat and gave Cat a push. SPLASH! Cat fell into the river. push. SPLASH! Cat fell into the river. Cat didn’t know how to swim. Cat called Cat didn’t know how to swim. Cat called out for help. Rat pretended not to hear out for help. Rat pretended not to hear its shouts and told Ox to keep movingits shouts and told Ox to keep moving..

Help!

Bye, Bye!

Finally, Ox reached the other side of the Finally, Ox reached the other side of the river. Rat jumped from Ox’s back and ran river. Rat jumped from Ox’s back and ran to the finish line. Ox could not believe its to the finish line. Ox could not believe its eyes! It called out, “Wait for me! I eyes! It called out, “Wait for me! I thought that we had an agreement. And, thought that we had an agreement. And, where is Cat?” Rat didn’t stop. It kept on where is Cat?” Rat didn’t stop. It kept on running. Rat won the contest!! Great God running. Rat won the contest!! Great God congratulated Rat and named the first congratulated Rat and named the first year “Ratyear “Rat”.”.

Next, Ox reached the finish line and Next, Ox reached the finish line and took the second spot. Ox was very took the second spot. Ox was very angry with Rat. Rat laughed and said, angry with Rat. Rat laughed and said, “How dumb you are! It’s your own “How dumb you are! It’s your own mistake to trust me!” Ox wanted to mistake to trust me!” Ox wanted to argue with Rat, but Ox was not very argue with Rat, but Ox was not very good at speaking clearly so Ox decided good at speaking clearly so Ox decided not to say anythingnot to say anything..

How dumb you are!

Uhh, Uhh!

Next, Tiger arrived and took third placeNext, Tiger arrived and took third place..

Suddenly, he heard Thump, Suddenly, he heard Thump, Thump, Thump. He saw Rabbit Thump, Thump. He saw Rabbit jumping (or skateboarding) to jumping (or skateboarding) to the finish line. the finish line. Rabbit was Rabbit was fourthfourth..

Great God waited forGreat God waited formore animals to comemore animals to come..

Next, Dragon came down from the sky and tookNext, Dragon came down from the sky and tookfifth placefifth place..

Great God wondered how Rabbit Great God wondered how Rabbit crossed the river and why crossed the river and why Dragon was late. Rabbit said that it Dragon was late. Rabbit said that it jumped across the river from one stone to jumped across the river from one stone to another. Dragon apologized to Great God another. Dragon apologized to Great God for being late. It said that, on the way it for being late. It said that, on the way it saw people crying. The people told saw people crying. The people told Dragon that they wanted to grow rice, but Dragon that they wanted to grow rice, but there wasn’t enough rain. Feeling sorry, there wasn’t enough rain. Feeling sorry, Dragon gathered clouds and made rain. Dragon gathered clouds and made rain. Great GodGreat Godwas happy. He praised Rabbit for being so was happy. He praised Rabbit for being so smart and Dragon for being so kindsmart and Dragon for being so kind..

Next to the finish line was SnakeNext to the finish line was Snake , ,

just ahead of Horsejust ahead of Horse..

Great God looked at the river and saw Great God looked at the river and saw Monkey, Goat and Rooster standing Monkey, Goat and Rooster standing on a log and working together to on a log and working together to move the log across the river. Goat move the log across the river. Goat took the eighth place, Monkey the took the eighth place, Monkey the ninth and Rooster the tenthninth and Rooster the tenth..

After a while, no other animals After a while, no other animals showed up. Then, suddenly, Dog showed up. Then, suddenly, Dog appeared. Dog told Great God that it appeared. Dog told Great God that it could have been there earlier, but it had could have been there earlier, but it had stopped to playstopped to play..

Now, just one spot was left in the Now, just one spot was left in the Chinese Zodiac. Which animal Chinese Zodiac. Which animal would come next? All of the would come next? All of the animals looked at a black dot that animals looked at a black dot that got bigger as it came closer. Aha! got bigger as it came closer. Aha! It was Pig. Pig told Great God that It was Pig. Pig told Great God that it overslept. Pig was happy to get it overslept. Pig was happy to get the last prizethe last prize!!

Great God gathered all the animals Great God gathered all the animals together and congratulated them. All of together and congratulated them. All of a sudden, he heard a noise from the a sudden, he heard a noise from the river. It was Cat! Wet and gasping, Cat river. It was Cat! Wet and gasping, Cat ran to Great God and called out, “I am ran to Great God and called out, “I am here! I am here! Did I win?” Great God here! I am here! Did I win?” Great God told Cat that it was too late. He only told Cat that it was too late. He only needed twelve animals for the Zodiac needed twelve animals for the Zodiac

and Cat was number thirteenand Cat was number thirteen.. Did I

win??Uh, oh!

Cat was very angry and ran to Rat Cat was very angry and ran to Rat and wanted to kill Rat. Rat was faster and wanted to kill Rat. Rat was faster and ran under Great God’s chair. Cat and ran under Great God’s chair. Cat did not want to anger Great God, so he did not want to anger Great God, so he didn’t chase Rat, but Cat promised that didn’t chase Rat, but Cat promised that from now on Rat would be his enemyfrom now on Rat would be his enemy..

Even today, Rat always tries to stay Even today, Rat always tries to stay away from Cataway from Cat!!

1 .What was the first animal to arrive at the finish line? Tar Rat

2 .Can Rat be trusted ?

No, he is not honest.

3 .What was the second animal to arrive ?

Ox

4 .Why didn’t Ox argue with Rat?

He can’t speak clearly.

5 .Which animal was the third to arrive?

Tigre Tiger

6 .Who was fourth?

Rabit

Rabbit

7 .Why was Great God proud of Rabbit ?

Because Rabbit was smart.

8 .Which animal arrived fifth ?

Dargon

Dragon

12 .What three animals worked together to get across the river?

Monkey

Goat Rooster

9 .What animal was next?

10 .Which animal arrived after snake? House Horse

11 .Does a person born in year of the horse tell the truth?

Yes, they are honest. They are also ___________ and.____________

13 .Are people born in the year of the goat lazy?

No, they are so shy that they don’t look energetic.

polite hardworking

Snake

14 .Which animal was number eleven? Dog

15 .Why was dog late?

He stopped to play.

16 .What animal arrived next?

17 .Why was pig late?

Pig

He didn’t wake up.

18 .What animal was the last to arrive? Cat

19 .Cat ran very fast to the Great God. He ran.___________ quickly

20 .Was cat successful? No, he was the thirteenth animal. He did not get a year.