The Hares and the Frogs

THE HARES AND THE FROGS

Some hares gathered together to complain about their unhappiness. They complained about the dangers that they were always exposed to from their enemies -- men, dogs, birds and bears, and they talked about their lack of strength and courage. They said that all their enemies were always killing and devouring them. Because they were so unhappy, they were determined to end their lives; so they rushed to a neighboring pond, intending to drown themselves.

On the bank of the pond were a number of frogs, who, hearing the noise of the hares, leaped into the water and hid themselves there.

Then one of the older, wiser hares cried out, “Stop, friend hares. Take heart. Don’t let us destroy ourselves because here are creatures who are afraid of us and who must be more timid than we are.”

The moral of this story is this:
“There are always others worse off than you are.”






I Vocabulary
1. What’s a word that means “rabbits”? _________________
2. “unhappy “ is an adjective. What’s the non-count noun? _______________
3. “dangerous” is an adjective. What the plural (count) noun? _________________
4. “strong” is an adjective. What’s the non-count noun? ____________________
5. “courageous” is an adjective. What’s the non-count noun? ________________

6. Please write the singular nouns for these plural nouns.
a. _____________________ enemies
b.______________________ men
c. ______________________ dogs
d. ______________________ bears
7. What word means to eat up greedily? _to____________________
8. What word means “strong-minded” and “persistent”? ________________________
9. What phrase means “to commit suicide”? _________________________________
10. In this story, what is another word for “shore”? ____________________________
11. Is “a number of frogs” (a) a lot or (b) a few ?
12. What idiom means “to feel confident or courageous “ _______________________
13. What word mean “shy” ? ______________
14. What’s another word (a synonym) for “creatures”? ____________________
15. When someone doesn’t have as much as you do, they are ________________ than you.

II. Grammar
1. What’s the plural of “myself”? ____________________________
2. What’s the plural of “himself” or “herself” ? ___________________________







3.Comparisons of adjectives are made in English by telling what is different.
Write two sentences using the comparative under each picture.

1. one-syllable adjectives ADD ER + THAN
short and tall
Bob Joe
a.__________________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________

2. adjectives ending in “y” CHANGE THE “Y” to “i” and add “er” + “than”.


pretty and ugly
Betty Martha
a.__________________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________



3. 2 or more syllable adjectives ADD MORE + ADJECTIVE + THAN
beautiful and expensive
the necklace the ring

a.__________________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________

4. You must memorize some irregular comparisons.
adjective comparison
good better (than)

bad worse (than)

far farther (than)

a.__________________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________








5. Please finish these sentences.
a. My brother is older than (I/me).
b. Cindy is heavier than (they/them).
c. Brittany is more beautiful than (she/her).
d. My children are (younger/more young) than her children.
e. That cat is (dumber/more dumb) than that dog.
f. Her sister is (intelligenter, more intelligent) than her brothers.
g. Her new dress is (prettier/ more pretty) than her old one.
h. He is 5 years (old/older) than his sister.

6. Please write your own sentences.
a. a single-syllable comparison
______________________________________________________________________
b. a “y” adjective
______________________________________________________________________
c. a 2- or 3-syllable adjective


IV. Conversation

1. What animals were very unhappy? and why?


2. Who were their enemies and what did they do to them?

3. What did they decide to do about this terrible problem?

4. What creatures made them change their minds? Why?


5. Please explain this sentence:
“There are always others worse off than you are.”