In the Name of God

Learn English Through

Picture Stories 2

Hussain Havashki

Author: Hussain Havashki

Cover Designer: Maryam Robatsarpoushi

Graphic Designer: Maryam Robatsarpoushi

First Published: 2014, Khate Sefid Press

Circulation:

Price:

ISBN:

Picture Stories 2All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,

without the prior permission in writing of Khate Sefid Press.

Central Office: No. 6, Sho'levar alley, Kargar St., Enghelab Sq.,

Tehran, Iran. 021-66122949

Distribution Center: Khate Sefid bookstore, Golestan

Publications Bookmarket, Daneshgah St., Mashhad, Iran.

051-38405861

Sales Tel.: 09105008424

Supporting Tel.: 09190542622

Table of Contents6

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

56

60

68

76

82

86

94

1- The Greedy Dog Loses His Bone

2- The Ant and the Dove

3- The Donkey and His Masters

4- The Hart and the Hunter

5- The Doves and the Bird Catcher

6- Head Between the Cow's Horns

7- The Elephant and the Blind Men

8- The Fox and the Stork

9- The Greedy Boy

10- The Lion in Love

11- The Brahmin's Gift

12- The Boy Who Cried Wolf

13- The Horse and the Donkey

14- The Milkmaid and her Pail

15- The Donkey and the Lapdog

16- The Tortoise and the Ducks

17- The Peddler and His Donkey

18- The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass

19- Tiger in the Trap

20- The mayor and the young boy

IntroductionPicture stories is a unique and helpful book which aims at improving

speaking skill in an innovative method. This book can be used in free

discussion classes or any English class whose focus is mainly on speaking.

The author does not expect this book to be regarded as a course book, but

as a subsidiary book, it will be helpful. What prompted the author to write

and compile this book was the fact that there were few books available to

teachers and learners of English providing them with appropriate material

for free discussion. In this book, it was tried to use stories which learners are

more or less familiar with, and are culturally compatible with the need of

the learners. Besides, the questions placed after each story are controversial

and can delicately raise a heated discussion. The present book was compiled

in two volumes, for intermediate and upper-intermediate levels. Each

volume includes 20 units and each unit usually begins with some pictures,

illustrating the story of the unit. Learners are to guess how the story goes

and what happens next, based on the pictures. Then they will face the text

of the story in which some new vocabulary items have been contextualized.

Each story has a moral and conveys a message which determines the topic

of the discussion. The unit ends with 10 controversial questions brought up

to facilitate discussing the topic.

Giving you many opportunities to learn and practice English, this book will

certainly help you improve your speaking skill.

Hussain Havashki

6

The Greedy Dog Loses His Bone

A. What is the correct order of the pictures? Can you guess the story?

Less

on 1

7

The Greedy Dog Loses His Bone

It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth

to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running

brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water

beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made up his

mind to have that also. So he growled at the shadow in the water, but as he opened

his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.

C. What is the message of this story?

D. Match words with the same meaning.

E. Discuss the following questions.

1. What is greed? How greedy are you?

2. What do you think of people who are greedy?

3. Is greed a good or bad human trait?

4. Are we all greedy?

5. Why do we want more?

6. How much is enough?

7. Should there be a limit to how wealthy someone can be?

8. Why are a lot of people greedy?

9. Why do so many people believe societal problems are caused by greed?

10. Is greed compatible with good citizenship? Explain.

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

greedy 1. board

lose 2. below

plank 3. acquisitive

brook 4. stream

reflect 5. bark

beneath 6. send back

growl 7. miss

B. Read the story.

8

A. Read the first part of the fable (Don't look at the pictures.) and make an end for the story.

The Ant and the Dove

An Ant went to the river to quench his thirst, but the rush of the water carried him away

and the Ant was now struggling to save his life. A Dove sitting on a tree overhanging

the water, seeing him, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her. The Ant

climbed onto it and floated in safety to the bank.

B. Now look at the pictures and tell the story.

1 2

3

Less

on 2

9

C. Read the fable and compare it with the stories that you made.

An Ant went to the river to quench his thirst, but the rush of the water carried him away

and the Ant was now struggling to save his life. A Dove sitting on a tree overhanging

the water, seeing him, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her. The Ant

climbed onto it and floated in safety to the bank. A few days later, a hunter came and

pointed the gun at the Dove who was sitting in the same tree. The Ant happened to be

nearby and, perceiving the hunter's intentions, stung him in the foot. The pain made

the hunter miss his aim, while the shot startled the Dove and made her fly away.

The Ant and the Dove

4

6

5

7

10

D. Choose the best word for the each given defition.

1. to drink when you are thirsty

a. to perceive

b. to quench your thirst

c. to overhang

2. to be in a position over something else

a. to overhang

b. to quench your thirst

c. to struggle

3. to try very hard

a. to pluck

b. to startle

c. to struggle

4. an aim or plan; a purpose or goal

a. intention

b. thirst

c. pain

5. to stay or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking

a. to float

b. to overhang

c. to quench

6. to pull something quickly in order to remove it

a. to pluck

b. to carry away

c. to climb

7. to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process

a. to sting

b. to pluck

c. to perceive

11

8. to understand

a. to perceive

b. to sting

c. to float

9. to alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly

a. to fly away

b. to point

c. to startle

10. land along the side of a river or lake

a. stream

b. bank

c. rush

E. Discuss the following questions.

1. Should we help others? Why should we care about others? In case we do, is it

because of the good feeling we get, or just because we want to help them?

2. Is helping others a moral obligation?

3. What are the benefits of helping others?

4. Why do human beings usually help strangers when they are in need?

5. Does morality come from education? Is there something in humans that makes us

view certain things as good and others as bad?

6. Do you believe in fate or destiny? Do you believe in karma?

7. "Everything is for sale." What do you think of this statement?

8. Are people born selfish? Can they change? Are people altruist?

9. Are we responsible for the poor? Do you agree with the expression "charity begins

at home"?

10. Do you think it is immoral for people to spend lots of money on themselves when

people are starving and dying?

12

A. Look at the pictures and guess the first part of the story.

The Donkey and His Masters

1

3

5

2

4

6

Less

on 3

13

B. Read the following excerpt from the story. Then look at the pictures

and guess the second part.

One day a tile-maker came along. He saw what a strong donkey the herb-seller drove,

and asked his price. The herb-seller was glad to sell him. "I hope he will enjoy his new

work," said the herb-seller. "He never seemed quite happy with me."

C. Now read the following sentence, look at the pictures and guess the

end of the story.

The donkey was so ill-natured that the tile-maker sold him to a tanner.

7

9 10

8

11 12

14

D. Read the story.

A Donkey, belonging to a herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work

wanted to be released from his present service and provided with another master.

One day a tile-maker came along. He saw what a strong donkey the herb-seller drove,

and asked his price. The herb-seller was glad to sell him. "I hope he will enjoy his

new work," said the herb-seller. "He never seemed quite happy with me." Shortly

afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work, he longed

for another change of master. The donkey was so ill-natured that the tile-maker sold

him to a tanner. The Donkey found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting

his master's occupation, said, groaning: "It would have been better for me to have

been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former

masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am

dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him."

The Donkey and His Masters

E. What is the moral of this story?

F. Match the words and the definitions and then use them in the example

sentences. (some changes are necessary)

(release/tile/ill-natured/long/occupation/groan/starve/former/tan/

hide)

...... to want something very much

...... a flat piece of baked clay or other material, used for covering walls, floors etc

...... an animal's skin, especially when it has been removed to be used for leather

...... to make a long deep sound because you are in pain, upset, or disappointed

...... naturally unkind and bad-tempered and easily made angry ≠ good-natured

...... to suffer or die because you do not have enough to eat

15

...... to let someone go free, after having kept them somewhere

...... happening or existing before, but not now ; previous

...... a job or profession

...... to make animal skin into leather

The ............. boy broke the window and ran away.

I'm tired of him moaning and ............. all the time.

Bathroom ............. were really dirty.

Please write your name, address and ............. .

Look at those ox ............. gloves.

Police arrested several men, who were later ............. .

She ............. for him to return.

Their farm has been reduced to half its ............. size.

Thousands of people will ............. if food doesn't reach the city.

We can ............. animals' skins and convert them into leather.

Example Sentences

G. Discuss the following questions.

1. Is it a bad habit to expect better conditions in life? Why or why not?

2. Is it logical to be satisfied when you lead a terrible life?

3. Is "contentment" a good human trait or a bad one?

4. Do you think that one can change their destiny? Is it wrong to try to change your

fate?

5. Are you happy with your life? Why or why not?

6. Can ambitions be dangerous?

7. Why are human beings ambitious?

8. What happens after one fulfills an ambition?

9. Do you think people should always fulfill their ambitions?

10. Do you like people who are ambitious?

16

A. Put the pictures in the correct order and guess the story.

The Hart and the HunterLe

sson

4

17

B. Now read the fable. How is your story different from the one you read?

The Hart and the Hunter

The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the noble figure he made there.

"Ah," said he, "where can you see such noble horns as these, with such antlers! I wish

I had legs more worthy to bear such a noble crown; it is a pity they are so slim and

slight." At that moment a Hunter approached and sent an arrow whistling after him.

Away bounded the Hart, and soon, by the aid of his nimble legs, was nearly out of sight

of the Hunter; but not noticing where he was going, he passed under some trees with

branches growing low down in which his antlers were caught, so that the Hunter had

time to come up. "Alas! alas!" cried the Hart: "We often despise what is most useful to

us."

C. What's the moral of this fable?

D. Do you know any others stories with the same theme?

E. Match the words and definitions.

hart 1. very impressive and beautiful

noble 2. a male deer, especially a red deer

antler 3. to come near to someone or something in distance or time

crown 4. to run with a lot of energy, because you are happy, excited, or frightened

slight 5. the top part of the head

approach 6. small and thin in size

bound 7. a horn that looks like branches on the head of a male deer

aid 8. help that you need to do a particular thing

nimble 9. to dislike and have a low opinion of someone or something

alas 10. able to move quickly and easily

despise 11. used to show you are sad or sorry

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

18

G. Discuss the following questions.

1. What is your definition of beauty? What are some advantages and disadvantages of

being beautiful?

2. Is it fair that some people are more beautiful than others? Why?

3. In The Noble Quran God says: "You may hate a thing although it is good for you, and

may love a thing although it is evil for you." What does this verse mean? Do you think

you know what is really good or bad for you?

4. Do you think beauty is the same for every person? Why? Do you think that different

cultures think about beauty differently?

5. What do you think of plastic surgery and people who go under the knife to make

themselves more beautiful?

Do you think people spend too much time and money on beauty? In what ways?

6. What do you think is a reasonable amount of time to spend on making yourself look

better? Do you think someone has to be rich to look after their beauty?

7. Does beauty affect one's success in life?

8. Is it better to be beautiful or intelligent? Is it better to be beautiful or wealthy? Why?

F. Discuss the following quotations.

• Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.

• Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

• The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.

• Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive

soul to tears.

• Beauty and folly are old companions.

• Beauty doesn't need ornaments. Softness can't bear the weight of ornaments.

• I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of

fortune, while character comes from within.

19

9. Which do you think is more important – inner beauty or outer beauty? Will you

marry someome who is beautiful or someone who is ugly but has inner beauty?

10. Do you think self-esteem affects beauty? Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?

Do you think beautiful people have better lives?

20

A. Look at the pictures and put them in the correct order.

The Doves and the Bird CatcherLe

sson

5

21

B. Using the following words, make a story for the pictures on last page.

(Definitions are given for the words that seem to be new to you.)

hunter catch net

leader make a mistake fly

strew: to scatter things around a large area

grain: the seeds of crops such as corn, wheat, or rice that are gathered for use as

food, or these crops themselves

grieve: to feel extremely sad, especially because someone you love has died

escape: to leave a place when someone is trying to catch you or stop you, or when

there is a dangerous situation

carry: to hold something in your hand or arms, or support it as you take it

somewhere

land: if a plane, bird, or insect lands, it moves safely down onto the ground

gnaw: verb to keep biting something hard

C. Read the story.

The Doves and the Bird Catcher

A big tree grew in a forest. It was full of leaves and fruits. Many birds came to the tree

to eat the fruits. One day a hunter came there to catch birds. He spread a net beneath

the tree and strewed some grains on the net. A crow saw him doing this. It told the

other birds, "O birds! Do not try to eat the grains below! A bird-catcher has spread a

net to catch you!" A large number of doves came flying from afar. Seeing the grains

lying on the ground they circled over the place. The crow shouted to them, "Do not go

near those grains!" But the doves were hungry and did not listen to the crow. They all

came down eagerly and started eating the grain. Their legs were caught in the net, and

they started crying. The leader of the doves said, "Do not grieve, friends. We made a

mistake, and so we suffer. The hunter will be hiding somewhere near. Before he comes,

22

we must escape! How can we escape?" they asked in chorus. "All of you keep yourc-

selves ready. When I say the word, we must all fly up into the air with the net. If all of

us rise from the ground at the same time, the net will easily come flying with us. The

hunter will not be able to catch us!" explained the leader. "O yes, O yes!" shouted the

other doves and, at the word from the leader, all of them flew up into the air together

carrying the net with them! The hunter saw them and, cried, Oh! My net is gone! What

shall I do now? The doves landed safely at a far-off place. They had a mouse friend. The

leader of the doves called him and asked him to gnaw at the net. The mouse did so, the

net came to bits, and all the doves escaped.

D. How is this story different from the story the pictures depict?

E. What is the moral of the story?

F. Discuss the following sentences.

• Sticks in a bundle cannot be broken.

• When spiders unite they can tie up a lion.

• In the desert of life the wise person travels by caravan, while the fool

prefers to travel alone.

• Strength lies in unity.

G. Match the words and the meanings.

beneath 1. to experience physical or mental pain

from afar 2. if people say something in chorus, they say the same

thing at the same time

eager 3. in or to a lower position than something, or directly under

something

suffer 4. very keen and excited about something that is going to

happen or about something you want to do

in chorus 5. a long way from where you are; distant

far-off 6. from a long distance away

......

......

......

......

......

......

23

H. discuss the following questions.

1. What is the best part of working on a team? What is the most difficult part of

working on a team?

2. Does cooperation always mean success? Why?

3. What problems may a cooperative group face?

4. What are the characteristics of a good leader? Are you a good leader? Why?

5. Is it necessary for a group to have a leader? Why?

6. What are the factors that a group should have to be successful?

7. George Shinn says that "There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach

your goals only with the help of others." What do you think? Is he right?

8. "It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares about who gets the

credit." What do you think of what Robert Yates says. Is it really possible not to care

about who gets the credit when you are working as a team?

9. Is this always true to say, "Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success."

10. "The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each

member is the team." What does this quotation mean?

24

A. Look at the pictures and read the sentences on next page. Put the

pictures and sentences in the correct order, and then tell the story.

Head Between the Cow's HornsLe

sson

6

25

...... But the cow jumped up in fright and ran.

...... The village people caught the cow and pulled Motibhai's head free.

...... So, he stood up, went to the cow, and put his head between the cow's horns.

...... One day Motibhai decided to fit his head between the cow's horns.

...... The cow pulled along Motibhai that was crying for help.

B. Why did Motibhai make such a foolish decision? C. Read the story and check your answers.

In a village there lived a man named Motibhai. Every morning, Motibhai would sit

outside his house and brush his teeth with a stick. And every morning at that same

time, a cow would sit in front of Motibhai's home and graze on the grass. As Motibhai

brushed his teeth, his eyes would naturally fall on the cow's perfect horns. Each time

he saw the cow's horns, he would think, ''My head would fit snugly between those

horns! I'm going to try to place my head in those horns one day."

In this way six months passed. Then one day he made up his mind. ''I'll definitely fit

my head between those beautiful horns today.'' After he finished cleaning his teeth

he stood up and went to the cow. He put his head between the cow's horns. It fit

comfortably. Motibhai succeeded. There was only one problem. The cow terrified by

having a man stuck in her horns jumped up and ran around the village. Surprised

villagers ran after the cow and got her to stop. They pulled Motibhai out of her horns

and asked, ''Motibhai, why didn't you stop to think before doing this?'' The bruised and

battered Motibhai slowly replied, ''I did! I thought about it every day for six months.''

Head Between the Cow's Horns