Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

Unity is Strength

     A flock of parrots was flying in the sky, looking for food. After some time they saw many grains under a tree. The parrots were very glad. They began to fly down towards the grain. But an old parrot said, “Let us not go down. A hunter could put a net there.” But the parrots did not listen to the old one. They all went down to eat the grains and only the old parrot sat on the tree. And the old parrot was right. A hunter put a net under the tree and the parrots’ feet were trapped in the net. They were terribly frightened.

     The old parrot said, “You did not listen to me before. You are young and stupid. But I want to help you. Now, if you want to be free, do as I say. You are a flock – not one bird. When I give the signal, you all fly together in the sky. The net will also go with you. Then you will fly to a tiny friendly mouse. It will help us. I see the hunter coming to you. One, two, three… Fly!” As soon as the old parrot gave the signal, the whole flock flew as one bird. “My net! My net!” shouted the hunter. But he could not catch the flock with his net as it was high up in the sky.

     The parrots followed the old parrot and flew to the place where the tiny friendly mouse lived. The kind mouse cut the threads of the net with its sharp little teeth and soon all the parrots were free. They could fly happily back to their nests. They thanked the mouse. And the old parrot said, “Remember that unity is strength”.

Task 1. Choose one correct answer:

1. Why did the parrots fly down?

1. They saw the hunter
2. They saw grains under the tree
3. The old parrot told them to do it

2. How did the parrots feel under the tree?

1. Glad
2. Scared
3. Happy

3. What did the parrots do when the old parrot gave a signal?

1. They flew all together
2. They flew one by one
3. Only one parrot flew

4. Where did the parrots fly?

1. To the big friendly mouse
2. To the small friendly mouse
3. To the old parrot

5. Who helped the parrots to become free?

1. A tiny mouse
2. An old parrot
3. Both (an old parrot and a tiny mouse)

Task 2. True or False?

6. The flock of parrots was flying in the sky looking for food.
7. Only the old parrot went down to eat the grains.
8. Little children put a net under the tree.
9. The old parrot wanted to help the young parrots.
10. As soon as the old parrot gave the signal, only one bird flew.
11. The hunter caught the flock and the net.
12. The parrots thanked the mouse.

Reading Comprehension

A cap-hawker

     Ratan was a cap-hawker. He went from village to village and sold caps. He always wore one of his caps himself to show people how nice and bright it was. People liked his nice red caps and often bought them. On his way, one afternoon, Ratan lied down under a tree to have some rest. He put his basket with caps at his side, and soon fell asleep. Some monkeys on the tree saw the sleeping hawker and his basket with caps. The monkeys were curious. One by one, they came down and took a cap from the basket. As the sleeping hawker had a cap on his head, the monkeys put the caps on their heads too. When Ratan awoke, he saw no caps in his basket. He was surprised. Then he looked up and saw that many monkeys on the tree had his caps on. Ratan was very angry and wanted to get his caps back. He thought, “If I shout at the monkeys, they will run away. But I know that monkeys like to imitate.”

     Then Ratan took off his bright red cap and threw it on the ground. Ratan’s trick worked. The monkeys imitated him and began to throw their caps on the ground. Ratan quickly picked up all his caps, put them into his basket and went to the next village. “Quick wit is better than imitation,” he said to himself.

Task 1. True or False?

1. Ratan sold caps in his shop.
2. Ratan seldom wore his caps himself.  
3. On his way, one morning, Ratan lied down to have some rest.  
4. Ratan’s caps were nice and red.    
5. The monkeys took his caps because he was sleeping.    
6. Monkeys were curious.    

Task 2. Choose the correct answer:

7. What did Ratan sell?

1. Red caps
2. Blue caps
3. Red socks

8. What did Ratan see in his basket when he woke up?

1. Red caps
2. Monkeys
3. Nothing

9. How did Ratan feel when he saw monkeys with his caps?

1. Surprised
2. Furious
3. Curious

10.  What do monkeys like to do?

1. To play with caps
2. To imitate
3. To make loud noises

11. What did Ratan do to get his caps back?

1. Shouted at monkeys
2. Took off his cap and threw it on the ground
3. Ran after monkeys

12. Is imitation better than quick wit according to Ratan?

1. Yes
2. No

Єдність - це сила

     Зграя папуг летіла в небі, шукаючи їжі. Через деякий час вони побачили багато зерна під деревом. Папуги були дуже раді. Вони почали летіти вниз до зерна. Але стара папуга сказала: «Не будемо спускатися. Мисливець може покласти туди сітку ». Але папуги не слухали старого. Всі вони спустилися їсти зерна, і тільки старий папуга сидів на дереві. І старий папуга мав рацію. Мисливець поклав сітку під дерево, а ноги папуг потрапили в сітку. Вони були страшно налякані.      

     Старий папуга сказав: «Ти раніше мене не слухав. Ти молодий і дурний. Але я хочу вам допомогти. Тепер, якщо ви хочете бути вільними, зробіть, як я кажу. Ти зграя - не одна птах. Коли я даю сигнал, ви всі разом літаєте в небі. Мережа теж піде з вами. Тоді ти полетиш до крихітної доброзичливої ​​миші. Це нам допоможе. Я бачу, як мисливець підходить до вас. Раз, два, три ... Літай! " Як тільки старий папуга подав сигнал, вся зграя полетіла, як одна птах. "Моя сітка! Моя сітка! » - крикнув мисливець. Але він не міг зловити зграю своєю сіткою, оскільки вона була високо в небі.      

     Папуги пішли за старим папугою і полетіли до місця, де жила крихітна доброзичлива мишка. Мила миша різала нитки сітки своїми гострими маленькими зубцями і незабаром всі папуги були вільними. Вони могли щасливо летіти назад до своїх гнізд. Вони подякували миші. А старий папуга сказав: "Пам'ятай, що єдність - це сила".

Шапка-ковпак (Шапочник)

     Ратан був шапочником. Він ходив із села в село і продавав шапки. Він завжди носив собі одну шапку, щоб показати людям, як це було приємно і яскраво. Люди любили його гарні червоні шапки і часто купували їх. По дорозі одного дня, Ратан лягав під дерево, щоб трохи відпочити. Він поклав кошик з ковпаками біля себе, і незабаром заснув. Деякі мавпи на дереві побачили сплячого шапочника та його кошик з ковпаками. Мавпи були цікаві. Один за одним вони зійшли і взяли шапку з кошика. Оскільки сплячий яструб мав шапку на голові, мавпи також надягали шапки на голову. Коли Ратан прокинувся, він не побачив жодної шапки в кошику. Він здивувався. Потім він підняв голову і побачив, що у багатьох мавп на дереві надіті шапки. Ратан був дуже злий і хотів повернути шапки назад. Він подумав: "Якщо я кричу на мавп, вони втечуть. Але я знаю, що мавпи люблять наслідувати».

     Тоді Ратан зняв яскраво-червону шапку і кинув її на землю. Трюк Ратана спрацював. Мавпи наслідували його і почали кидати шапки на землю. Ратан швидко підхопив усі свої шапки, поклав їх у свій кошик і поїхав у сусіднє село. "Швидка кмітливість краще, ніж наслідування", - сказав він собі.