Cloze: The Birth of Jesus Christ

Illustrated by M. Vydrová, 2007

At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order ___________________________(1) all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register. And all went to their own towns ___________________________(2) be registered. So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, ___________________________(3) as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David.

While they were in Bethlehem, the time came ___________________________(4) Mary to have the baby, and she ___________________________(5) birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid ___________________________(6) in a box where animals are fed.

That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood ___________________________(7) them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “ ___________________________(8) not be afraid. I am bringing you good ___________________________(9) that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. This is ___________________________(10) you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people ___________________________(11) please God.” When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to ___________________________(12) other, “Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.” So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding box. When they ___________________________(13) seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child. Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for ___________________________(14) they had seen and heard. It had been just ___________________________(15) the angel had told them.