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 gentle blue hills and dense, whispering forests. In the center lay a clear, sparkling lake that reflected the colours of the sky and gave water to every creature who lived nearby. At sunset, the whole valley glowed with a warm orange light, as if the hills themselves were blushing beneath the fading sun. Birds sang in the trees, the air was fresh and cool, and animals lived together in quiet friendship. It was a place where every season brought its own charm, making life calm, safe, and wonderfully pleasant for all who called it home.

2. How did the valley change in one year?

Answer: In just one year, the valley changed from a lush paradise to a dry, lifeless place. The rains failed, and the once-clear lake began to shrink until it was only a small, muddy puddle. The soft green grass of the valley turned dry and brown, and the beautiful blue hills lost their colour, fading into a dull, dusty brown. The earth around the lake became hard and cracked, and the fresh, cool air of the valley was replaced by a hot, parched stillness. The peaceful home that had once been full of life now looked sad and empty, as if all its beauty had been drained away.

3. Why were the swans sad?

Answer: The swans were sad because they had to leave their beloved home and could not take their dear friend, the turtle, with them. The lake was drying up, and they needed to fly to a distant great lake to survive. They felt sorrow knowing the turtle could not fly and would be left behind to face thirst and death alone. Their sadness came from both love and helplessness - they wanted to help him, but carrying him seemed impossible at first.

4. What was the turtle's idea?

Answer: The turtle's idea was to let the two swans carry him through the air using a stick. He suggested that the swans hold one end of a strong stick each in their beaks, while he gripped the middle of the stick with his strong jaws. By hanging on tightly, he could travel safely with them to the distant great lake - even though he could not fly himself.

5. What warning did one swan give the turtle?

Answer: One swan warned the turtle that he must keep completely silent while they were flying. If he opened his mouth to talk - even for a moment - he would lose his grip on the stick, fall from the sky, and crash to the ground.

6. Why did the turtle get cross when he heard what the people said?

Answer: The turtle grew cross because the people below praised the swans for their cleverness and strength, saying it was the birds who were carrying him in such a smart way. He felt angry and jealous, thinking, 'It was my idea to use the stick, not theirs!' His pride was hurt because no one knew that the plan - and the real cleverness - belonged to him.

B. Reference to context

1. Who said the following and to whom?

a. 'It works!'

Answer: The turtle said this to the swans when their plan to carry him with the stick was successful.

b. 'Where will you go?'

Answer: The swans said this to the turtle when he sadly told them he would die of thirst if they left.

c. 'Is it a long way off?'

Answer: The turtle said this to the swans when they spoke about flying to the great lake.

d. 'What clever birds!'

Answer: A man in the town below said this to the other townspeople as he watched the swans carrying the turtle.

2. These sentences are not in the lesson. Who do you think might have said the following?

a. 'I have never seen such a thing before!'

Answer: Probably one of the people in the town who was surprised to see two swans carrying a turtle on a stick.

b. 'We travel very quickly.'

Answer: Most likely one of the swans, explaining to the turtle how fast they could fly to the great lake.

c. 'I don't weigh much.'

Answer: Possibly the turtle, trying to convince the swans that carrying him would not be too difficult.