Stories and fables

2

A poor woodcutter and his wife had two children named Hansel and Gretel.
Their mother died when they were young. Hansel and Gretel were very sad.
Soon their father remarried but their stepmother was very cruel. One day,
she took the children deep into the forest and left them there. Clever Hansel
had some breadcrumbs in his pocket and had dropped them on the way so
that they could find their way back home. Alas! The birds ate all the
crumbs and they couldnt find the path that led back home.
Hansel and Gretel went deeper and deeper into the forest. They were
hungry and tired. Finally, after walking for a long time, they saw a cottage
made of chocolate, candies, and cake. Look, Hansel! A chocolate brick!
shouted
Gretel in delight and both ate it
hungrily.
Now, a wicked witch lived there.
When she saw Hansel and Gretel,
she wanted to eat them. She
grabbed the children and locked
them in a cage. The witch decided to make a soup out of Hansel and eat
him first. She began boiling a huge pot of water for the soup. Just then,
Gretel crept out of her cage. She gave the wicked witch a mighty push from
behind and the witch fell into the boiling water. She howled in pain and
died instantly. Hansel and Gretel found treasure lying around the cottage.
They carried it home with them. Their stepmother had died and their father
welcomed them back with tears of joy. They never went hungry again!



3
Word Definition Example Synonim/ picture
Breadcrumbs
Very small pieces
of dried bread,
especially used in
cooking
Sprinkle the
breadcrumbs
over the mixture
before baking.

Path
A route or track
between one
place and another,
or the direction in
which something
is moving
This is the path
to the cliffs.

Delight
(something or
someone that
gives) great
pleasure,
satisfaction, or
happiness
I read your letter
with great
delight
Enjoyment
Grabbed
To take the
opportunity to
get, use, or enjoy
something
quickly
If you don't grab
this opportunity,
you might not get
another one.
Pleasure
Cage
To put or keep
birds or animals
in a cage
The new cage is
for my bird

Huge
Extremely large
in size or amount
They live in a
huge house
Tremendous
4
Mighty
Very large,
powerful, or
important
The mighty River
Po
Powerful
Howled
To make a loud
sound, usually to
express pain,
sadness, or
another strong
emotion
We were howling
with laughter
Cry
Treasure
Someone who is
very helpful and
valuable to you
she was an
absolute
treasure.
Find


















5
The Ants and the Grasshopper

The ants were spending a fine
winter's day drying grain collected in
the summertime.
A grasshopper, quite hungry, passed
by and begged for a little food.
The ants asked him, "Why didn't you gather up food during the
summer?" He replied, "I as too busy having fun to work. I passed the days
singing."
They then said in mockery: "If you were foolish enough to sing all
the summer, you must dance without supper to bed in the winter."

Moral: One cannot get through life without a little work.






Word Definition Example Synonim/picture
Grain
A seed or seeds
from a plant,
especially a plant
like a grass such as
rice or wheat
I have to recollect the
grains
Cereal

Begged
To ask for food or
money because you
are poor
She had to beg for
money and food for
her children.
Implore
Gather up
To collect several
things, often from
different places or
people
I went to several
libraries to gather
information about the
plans
Collect
6
Mockery
An action or event
that is a failure and
makes the people
involved in or
affected by it
appear silly
The trial was a
mockery - the judge
had decided the
verdict before it
began.
Teasing
Foolish
Unwise, stupid, or
not showing good
judgment
That was a rather
foolish thing to do.
Silly































7
The Bear and the Two Travellers

Two men were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on
their path.
One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and hid in the branches.
The other, feeling that he would be attacked, fell flat on the ground.
The Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over.
He held his breath, and pretended to be dead.
The Bear soon left him, for it is said bears will not touch a dead body.
When the bear was quite gone, the other Traveller came down out of the
tree. With a clever grin, he inquired of his friend, "Just what was it that the
Bear whispered in your ear?"
His companion replied, "He gave me this advice: Never travel with a
friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."

Moral: Misfortune
tests the sincerity of
friends.
















8
Word Definition Example
Synonim/
Picture
Hid
To put something
or someone in a
place where that
thing or person
cannot be seen or
found, or to put
yourself somewhere
where you cannot
be seen or found
She used to hide
her diary under her
pillow.
Pelt
Snout
The nose and
mouth that stick out
from the face of
some animals:
The bear has an
enormous snout.
Muzzle

Held Kept or maintained Firmly held beliefs Grasped
Grin A wide smile
He grinned at me
from the doorway.
Smile
Deserts
To get what you
deserve
They do a deserts to
her
Compensation




























9
The fox and the grapes

Once upon a time there was a fox strolling through the woods. He came
upon a grape orchard. There he found a bunch of beautiful grapes
hanging from a high branch.

"Boy those sure would be tasty," he thought to himself.
He backed up and took a running start, and jumped.
He did not get high enough.

He went back to his starting spot and tried again.
He almost got high enough this time, but not quite.

He tried and tried, again and again, but just couldn't get high
enough to grab the grapes.

Finally, he gave up.

As he walked away, he put his nose in the air and said:
"I am sure those grapes are sour."


Moral: It is easy to scorn what you cannot get.











10
Word Definition Example Synonim/ picture
Strolling
To walk in a slow,
relaxed manner,
especially for
pleasure
We could stroll
into town if you
like.
Saunter
Orchard
An area of land
where fruit trees
(but not orange
trees or other
citrus trees) are
grown:





Fruit trees

Brunch
A meal eaten in
the late morning
that is a
combination of
breakfast and
lunch:
We always have
brunch together
on Sunday.