The Turtle and the Swans
Summary: Once, in a beautiful valley, a talkative old turtle lived in a lake with his friends, two white swans. When a drought dried up the lake, the swans decided to fly away to a distant great lake. The turtle, unable to fly, begged them to take him along. They agreed on a clever plan: the swans would hold each end of a stick while the turtle gripped the middle with his strong jaws. Before flying, the swans warned the turtle to stay silent, or he would fall. During the journey, curious people on the ground admired the 'clever swans,' which angered the turtle. Forgetting the warning, he opened his mouth to claim the idea was his - and plunged to his death. Moral: Stay focused on your task and control your tongue, or pride may lead to disaster. Exercises A. Questions 1. In what ways was the valley a good place? Answer: The valley was a peaceful paradise, rich with life and beauty. Soft green grass carpeted the ground, stretching across a wide, open space that was encircled by ...