The Chinese Zodiac A long, long time ago, there was no calendar in China. People had no way to measure time. They didnt know when to grow crops or when to expect the seasons. It was such an inconvenience! Sandy & Alice

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

Rat was ambitious. It wanted to win the first prize. Yet, it had two problems. Rat was afraid that it could not wake up on time. Also, the finish line was across a river. Rat needed to find a way to cross the river. I must win!!

They decided to ask Ox for help. Ox always got up early and he was a good swimmer. Just when Rat was thinking about his problem, it bumped into it s best friend, Cat. The two animals came up with a plan.

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

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

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

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

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

Next, Tiger arrived and took third place. Suddenly, he heard Thump, Thump, Thump. He saw Rabbit jumping (or skateboarding) to the finish line. Rabbit was fourth. Great God waited for more animals to come. Next, Dragon came down from the sky and took fifth place.

Great God wondered how Rabbit crossed the river and why Dragon was late. Rabbit said that it jumped across the river from one stone to another. Dragon apologized to Great God for being late. It said that, on the way it saw people crying. The people told Dragon that they wanted to grow rice, but there wasn t enough rain. Feeling sorry, Dragon gathered clouds and made rain. Great God Great God wondered how Rabbit crossed the river and why Dragon was late. Rabbit said that it jumped across the river from one stone to another. Dragon apologized to Great God for being late. It said that, on the way it saw people crying. The people told Dragon that they wanted to grow rice, but there wasn t enough rain. Feeling sorry, Dragon gathered clouds and made rain. Great God was happy. He praised Rabbit for being so smart and Dragon for being so kind.

Next to the finish line was Snake, just ahead of Horse.

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

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

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

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

Cat was very angry and ran to Rat and wanted to kill Rat. Rat was faster and ran under Great God s chair. Cat did not want to anger Great God, so he didn t chase Rat, but Cat promised that from now on Rat would be his enemy. Cat was very angry and ran to Rat and wanted to kill Rat. Rat was faster and ran under Great God s chair. Cat did not want to anger Great God, so he didn t chase Rat, but Cat promised that from now on Rat would be his enemy. Even today, Rat always tries to stay away from Cat! Even today, Rat always tries to stay away 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? RabitRabbit 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. politehardworking 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.