Shadowing Practice: Three Fables About Truth and Honesty | The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Honest Woodcutter and More - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Little Pops Once upon a time there was a young boy.
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Little Pops Once upon a time there was a young boy.
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He lived in a quiet village where many people owned sheep.
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The boy's job was to watch all the sheep.
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He had to protect them from hungry wolves.
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Looking after the sheep was easy, but it wasn't fun.
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I'm so bored.
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He thought I wish something exciting would happen One day the boy had an idea
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He took a deep breath He shouted help there's a wolf The whole village heard the boys cry.
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Everyone ran to the boy in fright.
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Where is he?
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Where's the wolf?
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An old man asked.
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The boy shrugged and tried to hide his grin.
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Um, I guess it ran away.
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The villagers frowned.
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No one believed the boy.
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But what could they say?
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The next day, the boy was watching the sheep again.
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Yesterday was fun, he thought.
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He giggled as he thought about how he had tricked the villagers.
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I'll do it again!
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The boy took a deep breath.
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A wolf! he shouted.
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Help!
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There's a wolf!
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The frightened villagers ran to the boy and looked around.
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Where's the wolf? a shopkeeper cried.
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Yes, where is it? the old man asked, frowning.
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The boy hid his grin.
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It was just here, and then it ran off.
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The old man sighed.
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Never cry wolf when there is no wolf.
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The villagers nodded.
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That's a bad idea, boy.
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After everyone left, the boy burst out laughing.
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Baa!
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Baa!
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Suddenly, he heard the sheep.
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The boy gulped.
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A big wolf was chasing the sheep.
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A wolf! the boy shouted.
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Help!
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There's a wolf!
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Really?
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All of the villagers heard the boy crying.
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Wolf!
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But this time, they were not going to fall for his trick.
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So everyone ignored his shouts.
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In the evening, the villagers came to check on their sheep.
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But the sheep were gone.
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The wolf had eaten them all up.
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The shopkeeper gasped.
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Where are the sheep?
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I called wolf, but nobody came to help me, the boy said.
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Of course nobody came to help you, the old man snapped.
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The shopkeeper glared at the boy.
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You tricked us twice!
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The old man nodded.
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You called wolf when there was no wolf!
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The boy hung his head.
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Sorry.
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You learned something today.
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The old man said.
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Nobody believes a liar, even when a liar tells the truth.
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Once upon a time, there lived a woodcutter.
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Every day he went to work in the forest.
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One day, after working hard,
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the woodcutter decided to head home.
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He picked up his old wooden axe and began walking.
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Soon he heard the sound of rushing water.
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That's strange, he thought.
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I haven't heard that sound here before.
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Feeling thirsty, the woodcutter followed the sound.
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Through the trees, he saw a waterfall.
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It was falling into a deep pond with clear, sparkling water.
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The woodcutter stepped toward the pond.
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Amazing!
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He thought.
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I never knew this pond was here.
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The woodcutter crouched to take a drink.
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Suddenly, splash!
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He saw several ugly green frogs hop out of the pond.
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Then he noticed something else.
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His axe was missing!
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Oh no!
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He looked around frantically.
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That's my only axe!
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I need it for work!
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His eyes landed on the pond.
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I must have dropped it in the water.
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That was what made the splash.
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The woodcutter slumped down, holding his head in his hands.
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He didn't know how to swim,
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and he didn't have enough money to buy a new axe.
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How will I work?
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He moaned.
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Excuse me, a voice said.
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Something fell into my pond.
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In front of him, a fairy was holding a glimmering axe.
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Is this silver axe yours? the fairy asked.
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No, the woodcutter said.
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My axe fell into the pond,
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but that one isn't mine.
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The fairy slipped silently into the water without making a ripple.
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She quickly returned with another magnificent axe.
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Is this gold axe yours?
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She asked.
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The woodcutter shook his head.
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No, my axe was a simple old axe made of wood.
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I see, the fairy said.
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She disappeared into the water again and reappeared.
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Is this wooden axe yours?
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The woodcutter's face lit up.
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Yes, that's it!
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May I have it back, please?
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The fairy handed the axe to the woodcutter.
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You are a very honest man.
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I would like to reward your honesty.
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I will give you the silver and gold axes.
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Thank you, the woodcutter said,
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delighted with his good fortune.
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At home, the woodcutter told his neighbor what had happened.
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Interesting, the neighbor said.
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The neighbor grabbed a wooden axe and ran into the forest.
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He found the mysterious pond and hurled his axe into the water.
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For a while, nothing happened.
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Meanwhile, some ugly green frog sat around the pond, staring at him.
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What are you looking at?
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The man said.
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Suddenly, the fairy appeared out of nowhere,
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holding a magnificent silver axe.
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Is this your silver axe?
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The fairy asked.
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Yes!
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The man nodded eagerly.
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I guess I dropped it.
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Lies!
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The fairy snapped.
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This is not your silver axe,
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and you did not drop it.
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You are a liar, and I don't like liars.
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Now, I will punish you.
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The man shook with fear.
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I'm sorry!
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Please don't!
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Zap!
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An ugly green frog now sat in the man's place.
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The fairy smiled.
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Nothing good comes from lying.
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Honesty is always the best policy.
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The lion was very strong.
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He was the king of all the other animals.
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One day, the lion met a monkey.
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Good morning, Your Majesty.
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Your mane looks wonderful today, said the monkey.
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Of course, agreed the lion.
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Suddenly, the monkey held his nose.
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Oh, my!
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Is something wrong, little monkey? asked the lion.
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Uh, no, no, nothing, sir.
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Then why did you make such a face?
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Tell me the truth!
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The lion commanded.
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Well, uh, the monkey trembled.
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Your breath smells bad, that's all.
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My breath smells bad?
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Is that all?
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Repeated the lion.
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Oh, yes.
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Yes, that's it.
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That's all.
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Said the monkey.
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Okay, then you will never smell it again.
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And the lion ate the monkey up.
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The lion was still angry,
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so he stopped a rabbit passing by.
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You there, stop!
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Come here and smell my breath, he ordered.
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Me?
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Oh yes, my king!
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The rabbit was scared.
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When the lion breathed, she groaned.
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Oh!
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Does it smell good or bad?
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The lion asked.
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The rabbit knew that the lion ate the monkey.
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So she lied to the lion.
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Oh, my king!
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Your breath smells wonderful!
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Is that so?
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How wonderful does it smell?
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He asked.
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Your breath smells fruity like an apple, said the rabbit.
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You are lying to me, growled the lion.
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So he ate the rabbit up too.
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The fox saw all of this from behind a tree.
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He was so terrified that he tried to run away.
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You, little fox, called the lion.
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Stop there!
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Ah, oh, yes, my king, answered the fox.
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Come here and smell my breath, said the lion.
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The poor little fox had no choice but to smell the lion's breath.
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The lion breathed.
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How was it?
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Was it good or bad?
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What should I tell him?
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Thought the fox.
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The lion's breath smelled really bad.
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The fox could not lie to him,
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but he could not tell the lion what it was really like either.
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Why don't you say something?
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The lion asked.
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Do you think my breath smells bad?
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Oh, no, my king.
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I...
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I.. uh...
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said the fox, thinking quickly.
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I have a cold.
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Yes, I have a cold.
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So my nose is very stuffy.
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I cannot smell anything very well, he said.
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I can only guess that your breath smells good.
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What do you think? he asked.
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Ah!
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Hmm.
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Hmm, yes, I am sure it smells good, said the lion.
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Sure, agreed the fox, and the satisfied lion let the fox live.
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Context & Background
In the fable titled "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," a young boy living in a serene village is tasked with watching over sheep. Bored with his daily responsibilities, he deceitfully calls for help, claiming a wolf is attacking the sheep. His antics lead to serious consequences when a real wolf appears, and the villagers no longer trust him. This story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of honesty and credibility, making it an excellent source for English learners to understand moral lessons while enhancing their language skills.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "Help, there's a wolf!" - A phrase showcasing urgency and the need for assistance, useful in various emergency situations.
- "Where's the wolf?" - This question portrays curiosity and concern, often used in discussions where something seems amiss.
- "Never cry wolf when there is no wolf." - A moral lesson that emphasizes honesty; it's a valuable phrase to remember in conversations about trust.
- "It was just here, and then it ran off." - A way to describe a disappearing act, useful in storytelling or explaining situations to others.
- "The sheep are gone." - A simple statement that can be used when discussing loss or absence and can signal the outcome of a situation.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively tackle the language used in this fable and improve your English pronunciation, consider using the shadowing technique. Here’s a step-by-step guide to enhance your learning experience:
- Watch and Listen: First, watch the video while paying close attention to the pronunciation and intonation of the speaker. This will help you internalize the rhythm of the language.
- Pause and Repeat: Use a shadowing app to pause the video after each sentence. Repeat what you hear, mimicking the speaker's accent and tone. This will aid in improving your fluency and accuracy.
- Record Yourself: As you practice, record your voice. Listen for differences in pronunciation compared to the original. This feedback is essential in your language learning journey.
- Focus on Key Phrases: Make a list of the top phrases mentioned. Practice them in context, using them in sentences of your own to reinforce their meanings.
- Daily Practice: Incorporate the shadowspeak method into your routine by practicing with different sections of the transcript daily; this consistency will help you improve English pronunciation over time.
This structured approach to shadowing can significantly enhance your language skills, allowing you to communicate more effectively and confidently in English.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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