English Learning

  THE MAGIC POT (Adapted from Twinklestar Reading ---Jmi Eikaiwa) One day, Maya, a poor girl, met an old woman. The woman gave her a magic pot and said, "Cook, little pot, cook. " The little pot cooked some kholay.  "Stop, little pot, stop", said the woman.  The little pot stopped cooking.  Maya took the magic pot home and gave the pot to her father.  " Cook, little pot, cook" said Maya's father.  He went out for work.  The pot was cooking kholay. Maya's father forgot about the pot and kholay.  The kholay spilled all over - in the kitchen, in the house and in other people's houses.  Everybody started enjoying the yummy kholay.  Suddenly Maya saw the kholay coming to her friend's house.  She came home running. She said to the pot, "Stop, little pot, stop. " The pot stopped cooking.  People in the village had a kholay party for the next two-three days.  Maya and her father were very happy. 

TOO MANY ANIMALS ON A RAFT (Adapted from 'Too Many Animals on a Raft' by Bruce Larkin)  The monkey is enjoying himself on a raft. The dog jumps onto the raft. The Monkey says, "I hope the raft does not sink!" The cat jumps onto the raft. The dog says, "I hope the raft does not sink!" The squirrel jumps onto the raft. The cat says, "I hope the raft does not sink!" The turtle jumps onto the raft. The squirrel says, "I hope the raft does not sink!" The bear jumps onto the raft. The turtle says, "I hope the raft does not sink!" All the animals say, "I hope the raft does not sink!" Hippo says, "Don't worry! The raft will not sink!" 

THE RED RAIN COAT  (Adapted from 'The Red Raincoat' by Kiran Kasturia)  On Sunday, Ongyal's Ama got him a red raincoat. "Ama can I wear it now?" asked Ongyal. "No, my dear, the rains are near, but just now the sky is clear," said Ama. Monday was sunny. "Will it rain today, Ama?" asked Ongyal. "No Ongyal, not today. If you wear your raincoat, you will look funny." "Ama,  when will my wish come true?" asked Ongyal. "Not today, my dear, there is just one white cloud in the sky!" said Ama. Wednesday was hot. "Ama, why doesn't it rain?" asked Ongyal. "Ongyal I think it will rain very soon. Maybe even before it is noon," said Ama. On Thursday, Ongyal went to play. "Ama, what if it rains? Shall I take the raincoat with me?" asked Ongyal. "No my dear, it will not rain today", said Ama. "The little white clouds are too high in the sky," said Ongyal. Friday was cloudy. ...

  MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB - Sarah Josephha Hale Mary had a little lamb Little lamb, little lamb Mary had a little lamb Its fur was white as snow. Everywhere that Mary went Mary went, Mary went Everywhere that Mary went It was sure to go. It followed her to shool one day School one day, school one day It followed her to school one day Which was against the rule. It made the children laugh and play Laugh and play, laugh and play It made the children  laugh and play To see a lamb at school. And so the teacher sent it out Sent it out, sent it out. So the teacher sent it out But it was stillaround. When Mary took him near, Took him near, took him near, When Mary took him near, He rested on her arm. "Why did the lamb love Mary so? " Mary so? Mar y so?" "Why did the lamb love Mary so?" The little children cry: "Oh, Mary loves the lamb so much, Lamb so much, lamb so much," "Mary loves the lamb so much". The teacher did reply. 

  THE LITTLE HOUSE Adapted from 'The Little Log House', (A Russian folk tale) Once there was a little log house in a forest.  It was made of mud, grass and sticks. On Monday, a Mouse saw the little house. "What a nice little house!" she said. "Yoo-hoo! Any one there?" There was nobody. So, the Mouse started living in that house. On Tuesday, a Frog came near the house. "What a nice house!" she said. "Yoo-hoo! Any one there?" The Mouse said, "Who are you?" "I am a Frog." "Well, why don't you move in with me?" asked the Mouse. The Frog hopped in. The mouse and the Frog lived together. On Wednesday, a Rabbit came near the house. "What a nice house!" she said. "Yoo-hoo!" Anyone there?" The Mouse said, "Who are you?" "I am a Rabbit." "Well,why don't you move in with us?" asked the Mouse. The Rabbit jumped in. Three of them lived together. On Thursday, a...

  THAT IS NOT THABI! THAT IS A HIPPO! ( Adapted from 'That's not Thabi! That's a Hippopotamus!'by Jon Keevy) Lucy woke up. Her sister Thabi was not in her bed. "Where is Thabi?" Lucy asked Ma. "Thabi is in the kitchen eating breakfast." "That is not Thabi!" "That is a hippo!" Lucy looked all over the house. "Where is Thabi?" Lucy asked Pa. "Thabi is swimming in the pool." "That is not Thabi! That is a hippo!  Lucy kept looking around the garden. "Where is Thabi?" Lucy asked the neighbour. "Thabi is playing in the park." "That is not Thabi! That's a hippo!" Then Lucy heard a funny noise. She gave the hippo a big tickle. "There is Thabi!" "Thanks," said Thabi."It's boring inside a hippo."

 FIVE BIG MONKEYS  Five big monkeys drumming on a tree, One fell down and broke his knee. Aaaaaouch! Four big monkeys drumming on a tree, One fell down and broke his knee. Aaaaaa...ouch! Three big monkeys drumming on a tree, One fell down and broke his knee. Aaaaaa...ouch! Two big monkeys drumming on a tree, One fell down and broke his knee. Aaaaa...ouch! One big monkey drumming on a tree, One fell down and broke his knee. Aaaaouch! No more monkeys drumming on a tree. All the birds are now fast asleep.

  LITTLE PAINTERS Adopted from 'Little Painters' by Cheryl Rao One day Veena and Vinay were in the garden. There were many tins of paint. There was white paint and red paint, green paint, blue paint and yellow paint. A group of painters were busy. "Can we help?" asked Veena and Vinay. The painters smiled. He gave them brushes. "Paint the inside of the gate", he said to Veena. "Paint the outside of the gate", he said to Vinay. Veena painted the inside of the gate. Vinay painted the other side of the gate. By afternoon they finished their work. But, the paint fell on the ground. The paint fell on the wall. The paint fell on them. The paint fell everywhere. So, they cleaned the wall. They cleaned their clothes. "I love my red gate!" said Veena. "I love my green gate!" said Vinay. When Amma, Baba, Boju and Bajay came out to look at the gate, Veena and Vinay were worried. They looked at Amma. Amma was smiling. Bajay was smiling. Boju...

  APPLICATION FOR BANK LOAN To, The Branch Manager, New Delhi Date : 21/03/2024 Subject : An application for loan. Dear Sir,                I am in need of a loan of ten lakhs for building my house. I would be much obliged, if you can grant me the above requested loan for the purpose mentioned. All the necessary bank forms required in this connection has been filled in and signed and are enclosed along with this application. Yours Faithfully Name: Signature:

THE GAMBLING MATCH The old blind King Dhritarashtra was excited and impatient about the coming gambling match between his son Duryodhana and the Pandavas. He proudly looked around at the hall he had specially prepared for this purpose. It was packed with rulers from the neighbouring countries and several other distinguished guests. In the centre of the hall sat Duryodhana, his uncle Sakuni and their supporters. Facing them were Yudhistira backed by his brothers. The royal seats were occupied by Dhritarashtra, Sanjaya, Vidura, Karna,the wise old Bhishma and the hundred brothers of Duryodhana. As the game was about to begin, Yudhistira said, ‘Please play a fair game and do not try to win by unfair means.’ Sakuni replied, ‘There can be no such thing as cheating in a game. Winning a game is always a matter of skill.’ ‘I agree,’ said Yudhistira, ‘then let’s begin.’ ‘But,’ said Sakuni, ‘If you have any doubts, let us not play. We are ready to withdraw.’ Yudhistira replied, ’Having accepted t...