Shadowing Practice: 4000 Essential English Words 2 – Full Story - Learn English Speaking with Video
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The Twelve Months An awful woman lived with her daughter and stepdaughter in her household.
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She possessed feelings of hate for her stepdaughter, Anna.
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Anna worked while her stepsister did nothing.
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On a cold January night, Anna's stepmother remarked, Your stepsister desires flowers.
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Go and find some.
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Anna wasn't anxious to walk through the chilled landscape.
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The cold air made her lungs burn.
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She walked at a slow pace because of the snow.
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Soon she saw a group of people.
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It consisted of twelve men.
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Anna told them about the flowers.
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One of the men said they were the twelve months and that they would help Anna.
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January walked to her and made a motion with his hand.
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The days of the month passed rapidly until it was February's turn.
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February also made the month speed up.
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Then March made the sun shine and flowers grew in the field.
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Anna loaded her basket with so many flowers that she could hardly lift it.
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Then she gave a quick but polite thank you to the twelve men and returned home.
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She was very eager to show her stepmother all the flowers.
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Back at the house, she spilled the flowers onto the table.
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Then she told her stepmother about the twelve men.
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Anna's stepmother and stepsister went to seek the twelve months.
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Their intent was to ask for gifts.
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They looked and looked.
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They became very lost and never found their way home.
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Anna lived happily by herself.
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The Dragon An evil dragon lived in a castle in the remote southern mountains.
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One day the monster landed in a town.
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The dragon commanded the people, Give me food now or I will eat you.
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The dragon lifted its wings
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So that its lungs could be completely filled with hot steam
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And breathed it upon the people A man turned into a stone statue
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The people submitted and brought food
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The dragon ate all of it and left
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The people sent a boy to ask for help from a wise old man
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He resided in a temple
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The boy told the old man about the dragon
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Then the old man counseled the boy A meteor will fall in the northern sky
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It will make a huge explosion
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Find the meteor and bring it to me I will use it to make a sword for you
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The boy did as the old man said
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Soon, the sword was ready
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Use this to kill the dragon
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But be careful
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You must cover yourself with weeds that smell bad
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That will ensure that he does not smell you, the man said.
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The boy traveled for many days to find the castle.
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He went to the upper level and opened a door.
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He could see the dragon's tail.
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It was sleeping, so the boy killed it.
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Then he took the dragon's gold and jewelry and returned to his town.
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The people were happy.
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The Battle of Thermopylae This is a true story.
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It happened long ago in Greece.
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We must fight, the Spartan chief told his small army of brave men.
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They were at a great disadvantage.
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There were only 300 of them.
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The Persian military had hundreds of thousands of men.
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They were going to lose unless they could secure a small entrance.
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The enemy couldn't move through it easily.
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They intended to stop the enemy here.
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The chief and his men got ready for the battle.
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Soon, long lines of the enemy's army twisted around the hills.
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The chief met the enemy with laughter.
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He knew that his men's weapons and skills were better.
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The Spartans trusted their leader and obeyed him.
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First, the enemy soldiers shot arrows from their bows.
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The chief told his men to lift their shields.
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The arrows stuck into the shields but did not hurt any of the men.
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Then the enemy soldiers attacked the Spartans with long spheres.
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The chief surprised them.
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His troops rolled logs down on the enemy.
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They fought for three days.
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Though they hardly slept at all, the chief and his men remained steady.
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But the enemy found a way to beat the Spartans.
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The chief and all of his men were killed.
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Even though they lost, the Battle of Thermopylae is one of the most famous battles in history.
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The Deer and His Image A deer told himself every day, I am the most handsome deer in the forest.
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My large chest is a symbol of my power, and my beautiful horns impress other animals.
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But he did not like his legs and hooves.
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My legs are narrow, and my hooves are ugly.
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They do not satisfy me.
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One day, the deer saw a big dog.
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The deer made some noise and disturbed the dog.
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The dog woke up and chased him.
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The deer felt terror.
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He screamed.
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He did not want to be a victim, so he ran into the forest.
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His strong legs helped him run fast.
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His pale brown hooves were hard, so they were not sensitive to rough rocks.
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However, his horns got caught in branches, slowing him down.
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His large chest could not fit between thick trees.
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The deer estimated that he ran for an hour.
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He felt like he was running a marathon.
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In the end, the deer escaped the threat of the dog.
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He sat in the shade of a tree.
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That was almost a disaster.
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I almost did not escape because of my chest and horns.
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My legs and hooves saved me.
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As a consequence, the deer learned to honor his fast legs and have confidence in his strong hooves.
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Pretty things only supplement important things, he thought. May 29, 1953
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Today is the most important day of my life.
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I finally climbed
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Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
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The top of the mountain was amazing.
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It felt like we were close to heaven.
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The snow was so thick that my boots sank.
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The air was silent.
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I looked at the beauty that surrounded me.
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Maybe my story will be a legend someday.
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I want people to remember this forever.
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I was the senior explorer in my group, and I knew we needed proof of our climb.
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I took many pictures with my camera.
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I'll put them in a frame and hang them.
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On the mountain, the air was very cold.
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I wrapped my coat around my body.
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I looked over the side of the mountaintop.
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From that angle, I saw the border of the clouds touch the rocks below.
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The snow was thick.
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It looked pure.
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There was no sign of modern life thousands of years ago my ancestors saw the world
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this way after 15 minutes I knew
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it was time to proceed down the mountain the whole team congratulated us my superior John Hunt praised us all
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I sent messages to my relatives to tell them
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that I was safe but it was hard to leave the mountain
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so quickly I wanted to enjoy the incredible sight even longer
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The Frog Prince A lovely princess sat by the pool and played with a sculpture of a bear.
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Suddenly, she dropped it, and it rolled away.
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She chased it, but it fell into the water.
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She began to cry.
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A large, ugly frog asked, Why are you crying?
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After the princess told him, the frog said, I can get the sculpture.
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What will you give me in exchange for the favor?
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I can pay you a fee in gold, she said.
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But the frog protested.
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I want to sleep in your bed, and you must kiss me in the morning.
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He'd die without water, so I don't have to keep my promise, she thought.
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The frog dove for a brief moment and got the sculpture.
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Then the princess ran away with it.
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Later, the frog went to the palace.
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The king told her to keep her promise.
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This put the princess in a bad mood.
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She permitted the frog to sleep on her pillow.
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In the morning...
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She gave him a kiss.
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Suddenly, he turned into a guy.
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He said, I'm from a kingdom abroad.
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In my youth, I angered a tribe of cruel witches, who turned me into a frog.
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The princess asked him, Can I be your bride and stay with you forever?
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But the prince said, No, you disappointed me.
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You didn't keep your promise.
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A Beautiful Bird Dr. Norton's occupation was a scholar of biology.
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He learned about all animals on a daily basis.
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One day he met a sailor from a colony overseas.
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The man told Dr. Norton about a talking bird.
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The bird fascinated Dr. Norton, so he told his colleagues about it.
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They debated with him.
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No one thought a bird could talk.
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He tried to persuade them, but they laughed at him.
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Nevertheless, Dr. Norton believed the bird was real.
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His new mission was to find it.
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He wanted factual proof.
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The next day he departed for the colony.
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The sailor he had met told him to look for a man named Jai, who would be able to help him in his search.
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After a month of sailing, Dr. Norton finally reached the colony where he met Jai.
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I can take you to where it lives.
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It lives by the volcano, Jai said.
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They left the next day.
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A week later, they arrived at the volcano.
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Every day they walked around and looked for the bird, but they couldn't find it.
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After one month, Dr. Norton could not find the bird, and this depressed him.
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He decided to go home.
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On the route back, he walked past some old ruins.
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He heard someone say hello.
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Who are you? he asked.
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Dr. Norton looked up and saw a bird.
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Dr. Norton put the talking bird into a cage.
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Then he returned home.
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He had made a significant discovery.
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Tricky Turtle Ricky the rabbit and Tara the turtle met by the edge of the river.
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No one is capable of beating me in a race, Ricky said.
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He was confident.
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His smile conveyed that.
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I can beat you, Tara said.
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Ricky laughed with delight.
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Tara said, We will race tomorrow.
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The destination is the hill.
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Ricky agreed.
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Tara concentrated on winning the race.
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She was not faster than Ricky.
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She needed a definite way to succeed.
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She told her family about the race.
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I have concluded that I have to resort to something bad.
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I will cheat.
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She dictated her instructions to them.
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At the race, they all wore white feathers.
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They looked exactly the same.
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Then her family members hid in shadows on the path.
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The race began.
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Tara was soon far behind.
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However, Tara's brother hid behind a bush in the valley below.
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When Ricky got close, Tara's brother began to run.
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He looked just like Tara.
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Ricky ran as fast as he could along the path.
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But to him, it seemed like
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Tara was always ahead.
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Ricky had used a considerable amount of energy.
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He reached the top, but Tara's sister was already there.
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Well, you win, Ricky said.
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Later, Tara had a broad smile on her face.
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Ricky never suspected.
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He had been tricked by a family of slow turtles.
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The Tale of Bartleby O 'Boyle Long ago, there was a clever man by the name of Bartleby O 'Boyle.
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As a boy, he was kept as a slave by the royal family.
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He saw other children play, but he always had to work.
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This frustrated him very much, but he was not stupid, and he wanted to change things.
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Then one day there was a struggle for authority in the kingdom.
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There was a division of the people, and one group fought against another group to see which would govern the kingdom.
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There was disorder in the kingdom.
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Bartleby ran away.
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He saw much fighting and destruction.
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Many people had nothing to eat.
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Bartleby decided to aid them.
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He would help them get food. But how?
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Bartleby went to the capital to find an answer.
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There, he met a man named Gilliam.
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A group of men attempted to hurt Gilliam.
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Bartleby defended him.
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Then he gave Gilliam some food to relieve his hunger.
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After that, the two became friends.
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They took food from the rich and gave it to the poor.
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Soon other people cooperated with them.
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Working together enabled them to take more food.
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But they only took food from people who had plenty, and they always gave it to those who had none.
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Because of this, Bartleby gained a reputation across the kingdom.
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Even today, many people admire him for helping the poor.
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Blackbeard A long time ago I had my first job.
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It didn't give me much of an income.
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It was on a giant pirate ship.
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On my first night, there was a thick fog over the water.
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A lamp on the ship revealed an enormous man.
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He had a sword in his belt.
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His name was Blackbeard, and he was one of the most violent pirates ever.
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One day, Blackbeard did an extraordinary thing.
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He attacked several ships near a town.
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He took some of the town's citizens.
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Then he declared, You give me medicine Blackbeard wanted the medicine for some of the sick pirates on his ship
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The people had a bad impression of him
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They were mad
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And they resisted
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But they were trapped
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They wanted to get rid of him
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So the town's council decided to give him the medicine
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After this, there was a reward for catching Blackbeard If Blackbeard was caught
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He would have a trial
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He didn't want to go to jail
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So he quit being a pirate Blackbeard became a fisherman
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But he ought to have stayed on land
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The Royal Navy was still looking for him
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They attacked him while he was fishing on his boat Blackbeard fought against many men
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Finally, he was killed
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He didn't even get a funeral
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But people still tell tales about him many years later
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Dinosaur Drawings It was the worst morning ever.
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When Carl woke up, he realized that he didn't do his astronomy and chemistry homework.
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Also, the forecast called for rain, and that would affect baseball practice.
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Suddenly his mother yelled, Take out the garbage right now!
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When Carl returned from taking the garbage outside, he was all wet.
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What a terrible day, he said.
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He walked to class.
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He put his umbrella on the shelf and sat in the third row.
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But the teacher asked why
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Carl's umbrella was on the floor.
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He told her not to blame him, but she sent him to the principal out of spite.
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Next, he took a geography test.
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Despite studying, Carl didn't know the answers.
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He started drawing lightly on his paper.
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Carl drew a huge dinosaur.
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What if it were real?
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He saw it in his mind.
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Carl's class said he was a genius for having a dinosaur.
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It could interfere with math class, too.
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Soon, Carl's fame spread through school.
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He taught his dinosaur to be very gentle and put it on exhibit.
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But admission would only be given to those classmates who paid him a fee.
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His idea was super.
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It's time to turn in your tests, the teacher said.
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Carl looked at his paper.
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As he was dreaming in class, he hadn't finished the test.
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The Mean Chef Once, there was a chef who was mean to his cooks.
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He was mean to the people who came in to eat.
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He charged too much for meals.
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Many people were not able to afford the cheapest bean dish.
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When his metal oven broke, he did not have it fixed.
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So everything baked in it burned.
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The only light was from candles, and the whole place was a mess.
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Sometimes, he didn't pay his waiters.
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Since they had no funds, they had many debts.
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The chef behaved this way all the time.
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He monitored the cooks and yelled if they did not do things his way.
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One day, the cooks decided that they were tired of the abuse and that they would not be passive anymore.
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Everyone opposed the chef.
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At first, they thought about suing him.
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Instead, they tied up the chef with rope.
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Now they controlled the restaurant.
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They decreased the price of food.
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They used the best ingredients and made large quantities of food.
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They turned on the lights.
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The restaurant was converted into a happy place.
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For the first time, many people came to eat.
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The chef realized that the restaurant's problems were his fault.
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The chef learned an important lesson.
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The new, generous chef insisted on giving the customers a free meal.
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The Cat and the Fox One day, a cat hiked on a mountain.
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When he reached the peak, he met a fox.
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They began talking about how they get away from their enemies.
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I am very smart.
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I have billions of ideas.
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I can carve a tiny hole in a tree and then climb in, the fox said.
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He added, I have a lot of friends.
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If I am in trouble, I can call them to lend their help.
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I can escape an entire army if I have to.
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Then the fox asked, What are your potential plans?
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The cat said, I have only one plan.
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The fox said, I hope you have good fortune then.
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Do you want me to be your tutor?
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I can teach you many things.
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The cat said, I guarantee that my plan works every time.
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We can quit talking about it.
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Soon, they saw a group of wolves.
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It was an emergency.
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The cat quickly used her plan.
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She ran up a tree.
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The fox could not decide which plan to use.
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What should my initial move be?
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Should I consult my friends?
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The fox felt intense anxiety.
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All he could do was spin in a circle.
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The wolves caught the fox.
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The cat was full of pride.
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This is proof that having a good plan is better than having many bad plans.
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The Good Student Sue left her dormitory early that morning.
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She had even washed her uniform the night before.
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She wanted to look nice for the day.
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Sue was committed to learning, and she had a talent for getting good grades.
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In fact, Sue didn't sleep much.
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She composed a paper and found the perfect thesis about the importance of greenhouses.
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She also studied for her physics test.
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Sue was already tired.
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During the test, she calculated her answers.
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Soon, she felt sick.
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Her face got hot, and her vision began to blur.
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She was blind for a moment.
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The teacher saw
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Sue's apparent sickness.
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He wanted to send her to the nurse, but she wouldn't go.
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Sue still had a portion of the test to finish.
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After that, Sue went to the nurse.
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After seeing the secretary, she waited.
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A few minutes later, the nurse came in with a glass of juice and told
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Sue they needed to chat.
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It is obvious you have exhausted yourself, the nurse said.
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If you keep working so hard, it could have severe results.
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My parents tell me that all the time.
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I guess I shouldn't ignore them, Sue said.
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You have to remind yourself it is okay to rest, the nurse said.
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When Sue got back to her room, she went right to bed.
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She made sure she got enough rest every night after that.
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The Lucky Knife I've devoted my life to studying past generations.
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Last year, I had a unique chance to work with my uncle.
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Our job was to find old treasures for a school's history foundation.
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He also hired a crew of students.
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They signed a contract to work with him.
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He was the boss.
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The place was strange, though.
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I dined on many things that I had never tasted before.
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They had an unusual flavor.
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We had been there about a month and hadn't found anything.
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One day, I began to dig in the soil.
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The ground's layers got wetter.
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Soon, I was digging in the mud.
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My shovel began to get very heavy.
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It felt like it had doubled in weight because the ground had absorbed a lot of water.
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Finally, I saw something in the mud.
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It was an old knife.
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The handle felt smooth in my hand.
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I elevated it so I could see it better.
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There was writing on it.
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It says it will bring good luck, my uncle said with a smile.
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Why don't you keep it?
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I put it in my tent.
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The next day, we found many more things.
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There were pots, jewelry, and weapons.
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My uncle donated all of the things to a special committee.
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Many newspapers wrote stories about it.
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It seemed the knife really did bring good luck.
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Prince Sam Sam's mother cooked at the royal palace.
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One day, he went to work with her.
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She emphasized that he should stay in the kitchen.
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But Sam was bored.
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Thus, he decided to look around.
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He went around a corner.
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It shocked him to see a boy who had a strong likeness to him.
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Sam soon recovered.
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The other boy stared at him.
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Then he spoke.
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Come with me.
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He needed to be rational, but he couldn't deny that he wanted to go.
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So he followed the boy to a chamber.
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I am Prince Bertram, the boy said.
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Sam felt shy talking to a prince.
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I'm Sam.
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Trade places with me, the prince said.
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We can't.
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My mother will kill me.
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Moreover, I don't know anything about being a prince.
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No one will find out, the prince interrupted.
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We look the same, and even our gestures are the same.
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It will only last for a week.
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Sam said okay.
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Soon, Sam's perspective on being a prince changed.
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He spent most of his day signing royal documents.
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At night, the prince's chamber was cold.
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He thought he was going to freeze or get sick with a fever or the flu.
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He was happy when the week ended.
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So was the prince.
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I didn't know how to do anything, the prince said.
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I've always relied on my servants to do everything for me.
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I think I like being a regular person, Sam said.
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Being a prince isn't fun.
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So, they both returned to their normal positions and enjoyed their lives more than before.
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Henry Ford's Famous Car My name is Henry Ford, and I invented a car called the Model T.
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I used to watch carriages on the streets.
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They fascinated me.
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Then I got a job as a junior mechanic.
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My father criticized me.
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He wanted me to run the farm, but I did not shift my plans.
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Then I worked for the Detroit Auto Company.
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But I wanted to make cars using less labor.
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That way there would be fewer expenses.
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I started the Ford Motor Company in 1903.
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At first, the company did not do well.
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But many people were betting on my success.
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I also had a sincere aim to make a car that anybody could buy.
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Then in 1908, I introduced the Model T in a formal ceremony.
446
It confirmed that I was right it was possible to build a car my way.
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The Model T differed from other vehicles.
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Workers could attach different parts for cars or trucks.
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This saved time.
450
One Model T could be put together in 93 minutes.
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All of them had the same classic design.
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They were all the same size and height.
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The prime reason for doing this was to save money.
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Over 19 years, I sold over 15 million Model Ts.
455
This sent a signal to other companies.
456
People would buy cars to commute to work if the price was low enough.
457
The Priest A young priest was always sad.
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He was good at his profession, but he still had no joy.
459
He visited a group of wise monks.
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When he got to the monk's house, they greeted him and let him in.
461
The monks asked the priest, What is the matter?
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The priest said, I should be happy, but I am not.
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I don't know what to do.
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The wise monks paused for a minute.
465
Then one said, We are convinced of your faith.
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You are a very good priest.
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But to find joy, you have to do more.
468
Above all, investigate the elements of your life that you love.
469
The priest thought that this answer was odd.
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But he was curious.
471
The next day, the priest thought about his abilities.
472
He got a few ideas, and he did not want to delay any longer.
473
He liked to draw, so he made some cartoons.
474
He also liked to write, so he started a diary.
475
He was interested in agriculture.
476
So he planted some grains.
477
He made jam from berries.
478
He made his own labels to put on the jars of jam.
479
He painted his ceiling.
480
The priest learned something.
481
It is not too hard to be happy after all.
482
All one has to do is find things they like doing and do them.
483
Mrs. May and the Green Girl One morning, people from a small town found a little girl by a stream.
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She seemed to be wearing a green costume.
485
As the people got closer, they saw that the girl's skin was green.
486
Oh, my! the people exclaimed.
487
What if her motive for coming to our town is bad?
488
What if she has a strange origin?
489
An old woman kindly went to her.
490
Look how scared she is.
491
Please, she begged, do not reject her.
492
I will adopt her.
493
There was silence until the judge spoke.
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I don't know, he said in a worried tone, but we cannot forbid you.
495
I indeed hope you're not being a fool.
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Mrs. May extended her hand to the girl.
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Come with me.
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I won't hurt you.
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The girl spoke a language Mrs. May didn't know, but she was able to interpret what the girl was trying to say.
500
Sometimes the girl drew pictures to illustrate what she meant.
501
The green girl was from a place far beyond the sun.
502
There, people lived in nests built in trees.
503
They only ate green leaves, which made their skin green.
504
Well, you can't just eat leaves, Mrs. May said.
505
She fed the green girl home -cooked meals, and soon the girl wasn't green anymore.
506
The people had a huge reception to welcome her as a citizen of the town.
507
Albert Einstein My name is Albert Einstein.
508
Many people know about the great things I've accomplished.
509
But I had many barriers before I became famous.
510
I was born in Germany.
511
When I was in elementary school, I already knew about math and statistics.
512
When I was a boy, I pretended to be a great scientist.
513
I loved school, but my life at home was hard.
514
My father lost his job, so my family lived in poverty.
515
We could not pay the rent in Germany.
516
We became immigrants and went to Italy.
517
I finished high school and went to college in Switzerland.
518
After college, I began writing about science.
519
I did not reach success in an instant, though.
520
At first, other scientists did not approve of my work.
521
They thought I was a failure.
522
Rising to the rank of an admired scientist was a gradual process.
523
Soon, people started to notice that I was right.
524
At last, I began to get some recognition.
525
I showed how to find the approximate size of very big things, like stars.
526
I also detected and explained the movement of very small things, like atoms.
527
And for fun, I made a machine that could refrigerate food by inserting heat.
528
I never retired.
529
It was my duty to keep working.
530
I overcame many hard times.
531
And I will be remembered for my important works.
532
From the Earth to the Stars Jeremy was from a family of miners.
533
Like them, he worked underground during the day.
534
His job was to gather raw minerals and jewels.
535
Each night after work, he lay awake in an open field.
536
With his telescope, he looked at the stars.
537
He was amazed by the scale of space.
538
He wished someday he might travel there.
539
One day there was an accident in the mine.
540
Water poured into the mine.
541
Everything was dark.
542
Jeremy stretched out and grabbed a piece of wood.
543
It kept him from sinking.
544
Jeremy felt a presence nearby.
545
I am an angel, said a voice.
546
What?
547
Jeremy exclaimed.
548
You must never come underground again.
549
Have the courage to make your wishes come true.
550
For a long time he floated in silence.
551
Then he heard other voices.
552
The other miners were coming to rescue him.
553
The next day, Jeremy skipped work.
554
He decided to become an astronaut.
555
For the next two years, he studied hard.
556
One day, he was given permission to participate in a mission to space.
557
His wish had been granted.
558
His spaceship left the ground.
559
It went higher until there was no more gravity.
560
He saw satellites floating next to the ship.
561
Then Jeremy saw a beautiful angel outside his spaceship.
562
It smiled at Jeremy.
563
For some minutes, Jeremy could not speak.
564
Finally, he said, Thank you.
565
The Farm Festival Once there was a farm.
566
Many animals lived there.
567
One day, they had a contest in the yard.
568
They were going to race from the barn to the farmer's garage.
569
The barn and the garage were far apart.
570
It would be a long race.
571
The winner qualified to win a bag full of apples as an award.
572
But the race did not start well.
573
The cart with all the apples was not stable, and the animals had to repair it.
574
Then the pup knocked over the apples.
575
The pig yelled, We are going to slip.
576
We must clean up this mess.
577
The pup felt bad, and she began to cry.
578
The dog gave her a tissue to wipe her tears.
579
Then the race resumed.
580
But the duck tried to rob them and take all the apples.
581
The cat said, I will have you arrested.
582
The duck said, You can't convict me.
583
You can't prove I took it.
584
The race stopped yet again.
585
The animals tried to race one more time.
586
Then they heard an alarm coming from the barn.
587
There was a fire.
588
They got buckets of water to put out the fire.
589
A journalist came to write a story about the festival and the race.
590
The horse told her, I am a special breed of horse.
591
I would have won the race easily.
592
The pig said, It was somewhat hard to have the race, but we had fun.
593
That is what's important.
594
The Clever Thief A new king inherited a lot of gold.
595
He loved his gold very much.
596
He even wanted to keep it after he died.
597
Therefore, he had a large tomb built for himself and his riches.
598
However, the tomb's builder had a plan.
599
Most of the stones were solid, but he put one special stone on the roof.
600
It was made of a lighter substance.
601
When the tomb was done, the king moved in his stock of gold.
602
One night, the builder went to the tomb.
603
His excitement mounted.
604
Because all the stones looked alike, he had left a distinct mark on the artificial block.
605
The mark helped him distinguish the difference in the architecture.
606
The builder lifted the stone.
607
Using a chain, he climbed into the tomb.
608
He filled his pockets with gold.
609
The builder followed this manner night after night.
610
Soon, the king noticed a shortage in his gold.
611
This annoyed the king.
612
At last he hired a guard to hide inside the tomb.
613
When the builder entered the tomb, the guard wounded him.
614
He climbed a pole to the roof.
615
The builder left drops of blood in the dust.
616
The guard followed them and caught him.
617
When the builder healed, he explained to the king that he didn't keep any of the gold.
618
He had given it all away to the poor.
619
The Doctor's Cure James Fry was a fantastic doctor.
620
His surgeries helped many disabled people overcome their injuries.
621
He also wrote for a popular medical journal.
622
James was very busy.
623
His son, Steve, rarely saw him.
624
One day, James was walking and inspecting a patient's file.
625
There was water all over the floor.
626
James slipped on the liquid and fell.
627
He fell on a broken glass tube.
628
He was hurt.
629
Steve came to visit him in the hospital.
630
James said, It will be tough for me to stay in bed, but I can hardly bend my legs.
631
Then let's watch a movie, Steve said.
632
It made them laugh together.
633
Steve said, I have to leave, but here's some fiction to read.
634
James started to recall fun parts of life.
635
He marveled at small things, like food.
636
He was too busy to notice them before.
637
Steve, he said, you get more nutrients when you chew slowly.
638
But I think it makes food taste better, too.
639
Weeks later, James said, Steve, I haven't spent enough time with you.
640
I regret this.
641
Even my soul feels better when you visit.
642
But I have spent sufficient time here.
643
We should go home.
644
Outside, there was a warm breeze.
645
James watched a flag blow.
646
Finally, James said, I'm not ready to work.
647
I'm going to take a long bath, and then we'll watch a movie together.
648
The Criminal A man had been in jail because he stole things.
649
The criminal never felt bad.
650
One day, he escaped and ran into the woods.
651
He found a cabin with a fence.
652
The cabin was very neat.
653
Inside, the criminal found a bowl of fruit, a bottle of milk, and a dozen eggs.
654
He ate the fruit and drank the milk.
655
But the eggs smelled funny, so he put them in the trash bin.
656
Soon he heard the sound of a vehicle's motor.
657
An old man came in and saw the criminal.
658
The old man yelled, Why are you in my house?
659
The criminal lied.
660
I am a policeman.
661
The old man replied, I am your elder.
662
You cannot fool me.
663
You are the criminal.
664
The criminal's facial expression became very sad.
665
He admitted that he was a criminal.
666
He said, I'm sorry.
667
It was rude for me to come into your home.
668
Please take the cash from my wallet.
669
It is a mere amount, but it will settle our problem.
670
The old man said, I do not want your money.
671
I just want to inspire you to be good.
672
There will be no penalty for taking my food.
673
On this occasion, the criminal realized that he had been bad.
674
He listened to the old man and never stole from anyone ever again.
675
The Two Captains Once there were two ships.
676
Both ships carried cotton.
677
The captains were very different.
678
Thomas was strict.
679
He made his crew engage in difficult tasks.
680
Make sure the ship's deck is firm and that nothing falls.
681
Put more fuel in the tank, he said.
682
His ship was very plain, but he never had a problem with it.
683
The second captain, William, was not serious.
684
He had a grand ship, and he loved having fun.
685
His crew amused him by singing and dancing.
686
But his crew never fixed anything on the ship.
687
They just wanted to surf.
688
One day, Thomas saw a hurricane ahead.
689
He knew that his ship needed to turn around.
690
But he was sure William did not see the storm.
691
He adjusted the dials on the radio and called his friend.
692
Thomas said, You'll hit the reef.
693
It's made completely of coral.
694
Turn around to ensure that you do not crash.
695
William said, We will go under the deck and shut the door.
696
We will dance and sing until we are past the danger zone.
697
When William's ship got to the hurricane, the wind blew it into the reef.
698
The ship crashed, and water flowed below the deck.
699
William's crew accused him of being a bad captain.
700
The loss of the ship taught William a lesson.
701
There are times to have fun, but there are also times to be serious.
702
The Duke and the Minister A mean duke grew tobacco, and his cardinal rule was to always keep the plants healthy.
703
The duke's top minister was his twin brother.
704
They closely resembled each other.
705
One day, the tobacco plants started to die.
706
He hired men to watch the fields.
707
Soon, the men brought a woman to him and said, We captured a witch.
708
The duke asked, How do you know?
709
She sang magic words.
710
I can't pronounce them.
711
She has cursed us.
712
The death of the plants is a symptom of her curse, the man said.
713
I am just an ordinary woman.
714
I was singing a song in a different language, the woman protested.
715
The Duke didn't listen.
716
You are guilty.
717
You will go to jail.
718
The minister thought that she was innocent.
719
He needed to expose the truth.
720
He asked the Duke to loan him one of his plants.
721
He looked at it closely.
722
He saw hundreds of small bugs eating it.
723
Then the minister went to the jail and did something bold.
724
Let this woman go, he said.
725
The guards thought he was the Duke.
726
They let her go.
727
The minister said, I owe you an apology.
728
Thank you.
729
I thought my stay in jail was permanent, the woman answered.
730
The minister thought the duke would punish him, but he didn't.
731
The duke was too busy trying to preserve his plants.
732
The Fisherman Every day A fisherman sat on a bridge.
733
He ate apples and spit the seeds into the water.
734
He had a simple way to catch fish.
735
He cut a branch off of a tree and tied a line to it.
736
He put a sharp hook on it and made a tight knot.
737
Then he whispered, Come here, fish.
738
Like magic, the fish bit the hook.
739
He put them in a big net and took them home to make big pots of fish soup from them.
740
One day, another man walked up to him.
741
He said, My name is George.
742
I am staying at the inn.
743
I bet that I am a better fisherman than you.
744
I will accompany you today.
745
I dare you to prove your skill.
746
The fisherman cast his line.
747
George had a lot of electronic tools.
748
One machine gave him the virtual locations of fish.
749
His rod weighed fish.
750
At the end of the day, George subtracted his fish from the fisherman's.
751
The fisherman had beaten him by forty -seven.
752
George asked, How do you catch fish with only a branch and a bare line?
753
I have many different sorts of tools.
754
The fisherman told George, My philosophy is simple.
755
I am patient and I believe in myself.
756
Take a breath and try it my way.
757
Osiris and the Nile Long ago, Osiris was the king of Egypt, and Isis was the queen.
758
They ruled the fertile land by the Nile River.
759
They ruled the fertile land by the Nile River.
760
They had great intelligence, and they shared their abstract ideas with everyone.
761
Osiris taught the Egyptians how to make wheels and furniture.
762
Isis taught them how to make things from clay and cloth.
763
The people thought they deserved a gift.
764
So they built Osiris and Isis a pyramid.
765
Everyone loved Osiris except his brother Set.
766
Set wanted to be king.
767
Osiris made his annual trip around Egypt and led religious events.
768
The villages gave him beautiful shells and colorful feathers as gifts.
769
When Osiris returned, Set brought a beautiful wooden box from behind a curtain.
770
If someone fits inside this box, I will give it to him or her, Set said.
771
Osiris got in it.
772
It was an ideal fit.
773
Suddenly, Set closed the box and threw it into the river.
774
Now I will be king, Set said.
775
The box washed up on a foreign shore after a flood.
776
Isis brought his body home and obtained a grave for him in Egypt.
777
The Egyptian gods thought
778
Isis had done something very romantic.
779
Because of her love, the gods made him the god of the underworld.
780
Osiris returned every spring to help the farmers.
781
Even nowadays, people say Osiris keeps their crops alive.
782
The Taxi Driver Peter's job was driving a taxi downtown.
783
He made a small salary.
784
But he liked his job because it wasn't dull.
785
Every day he saw new things that appealed to him.
786
Peter was practical about the future.
787
Maybe I can get a scholarship to college, he thought.
788
I could learn mathematical formulas and get a job at a bank.
789
I could help clients invest their money.
790
Peter stopped to pick up a passenger. Where to?
791
he asked.
792
Go to the Fourth Street Bank and don't talk to me.
793
I've had a rough day.
794
The man said.
795
Peter was angry, but he had a peaceful philosophy.
796
When they stopped, the man's fare came to $10 .25.
797
He put his hands in his pockets.
798
I can't find my wallet, he said.
799
I can't pay the fare.
800
Peter said, maybe I'll give you a temporary loan.
801
You can borrow $10 .25 for me.
802
The man was embarrassed, saying, I was mean to you, but now I want to help you.
803
I founded this bank.
804
I want to give you $1 ,000.
805
That much money was like a treasure to Peter.
806
The man urged him to take the money, but he didn't.
807
You're an honest person, the man said.
808
I assumed you would take it.
809
I want you to work for me.
810
The next day, Peter started his job at the bank.
811
He was happy to be done with his former job.
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Woordenschat en spreektips bij deze les
Deze spreekles is gebaseerd op de video “4000 Essential English Words 2 – Full Story”. Deze video bevat 811 zinnen en 6952 woorden om na te spreken. Het gesproken deel duurt 49:37. De spreker praat in een gelijkmatig tempo van ongeveer 140 woorden per minuut, prettig om te shadowen. Slechts 80% van de woorden hoort bij de 3.000 meest gebruikte Engelse woorden, dus de woordenschat is pittig.
Belangrijke woorden in deze video
15 woorden uit de video die het leren waard zijn, met uitspraak en betekenis:
| Woord | Uitspraak | Betekenis |
|---|---|---|
| deer zelfstandig naamwoord | /dɪɹ/ | hert |
| duke zelfstandig naamwoord | /dʒuːk/ | hertog |
| priest zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈpɹiːst/ | priester, pastoor |
| chef zelfstandig naamwoord | /ʃɛf/ | chef-kok |
| dragon zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈdɹæɡən/ | draak, lintworm |
| builder zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈbɪl.dəɹ/ | bouwer, bouwster |
| tomb zelfstandig naamwoord | /tum/ | tombe |
| nurse zelfstandig naamwoord | /nɝs/ | verpleegkundige |
| climb werkwoord | /ˈklaɪ̯m/ | klimmen |
| thick bijvoeglijk naamwoord | /θɪk/ | dik, dikke |
| pirate zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈpaɪɹət/ | piraat, zeerover |
| yell werkwoord | /jɛl/ | schreeuwen |
| dinosaur zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈdaɪnəsoɹ/ | dinosaurus |
| meal zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈmiːl/ | maaltijd |
| uncle zelfstandig naamwoord | /ˈʌŋ.kl̩/ | oom, nonkel |
Phrasal verbs die je zult horen
| Woord | Uitspraak | Betekenis |
|---|---|---|
| wake up werkwoord | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | wakker worden, ontwaken |
| clean up werkwoord | schoonmaken | |
| find out werkwoord | ontdekken, onderzoeken | |
| knock over werkwoord | omgooien | |
| look up werkwoord | /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ | opkijken |
| pick up werkwoord | oppakken, optillen | |
| put out werkwoord | buitenzetten, uitwerpen | |
| run away werkwoord | vluchten, weglopen |
Zinnen om te herhalen
Korte, volledige zinnen uit de video die je in alledaagse gesprekken kunt gebruiken:
- I'll put them in a frame and hang them.
- Do you want me to be your tutor?
- What should my initial move be?
- Should I consult my friends?
- Why don't you keep it?
Grammatica in deze video
De structuren die de spreker het meest gebruikt, met de exacte woorden uit de video:
| Structuur | In de video |
|---|---|
| Lijdende vorm be + voltooid deelwoord — het gaat om wat er gebeurt, niet om wie het doet | could be completely filled · were killed · had been tricked |
| Present perfect have/has + voltooid deelwoord — iets uit het verleden dat nu nog telt | have concluded · have exhausted · I've devoted |
| Betrekkelijke bijzinnen who / which + zin — extra informatie over een persoon of ding | people who had · people who came |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — iets dat op een moment in het verleden bezig was | was sleeping · was running · was still looking |
Uitspraak om op te letten
De spreker gebruikt 56 samentrekkingen en verkorte vormen, zoals didn't, can't, don't. Spreek ze kort uit, zoals je ze hoort.
- De “th”-klanken: thick /θɪk/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, feather /ˈfɛðə/, bath /bɑːθ/, smooth /smuːð/
- De klanken “sh” en “zh”: chef /ʃɛf/, wash /wɑʃ/, shield /ˈʃild/, garage /ɡəˈɹɑʒ/, sharp /ʃɑɹp/
- Lange woorden — let op de klemtoon: mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, temporary /ˈtɛmp(əˌɹ)ɛɹi/, recognition /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, superior /sʊˈpɪɹ.i.ɚ/
Klanken die Nederlandstaligen lastig vinden:
- Stemhebbende eindmedeklinker — /b/, /d/, /g/, /z/, /v/ niet verscherpen: twelve /twɛlv/, sword /soɹd/, underground /ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/, shield /ˈʃild/, garage /ɡəˈɹɑʒ/
- /æ/ — opener dan de Nederlandse “e”: dragon /ˈdɹæɡən/, palace /ˈpælɪs/, taxi /ˈtæksi/, tobacco /təˈbækoʊ/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/
- /g/ — een harde plofklank, geen Nederlandse “g”: dragon /ˈdɹæɡən/, ugly /ˈʌɡli/, underground /ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/, garage /ɡəˈɹɑʒ/, garbage /ˈɡɑɹ.bɪd͡ʒ/
Zo oefen je met deze video
- Luister de hele video één keer zonder te spreken en noteer de woorden die je niet kent.
- Spreek zin voor zin na op normale snelheid en herhaal elke zin tot je ritme gelijk is aan dat van de spreker.
- Neem jezelf op en vergelijk met het origineel; let daarbij op woorden als deer, duke, priest.
Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?
Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.