Do this test tonight when you go to bed. Put a plate on the floor next to your bed. Lie down with o...
The wisest man
Many years ago a king wanted to find the wisest man in his kingdom. He wanted the man to be his prime minister. "How can I find the wisest man?" he asked his wife and his friends. "Ask everyone in the kingdom to make a wish." the queen said. "Choose the man who makes the wisest wish...
The closest planet of Earth
Of the six outer planets, Mars, commonly called the Red Planet is the closest to Earth. Mars, 4200 miles in diameter and 55% of the size of Earth is 334,600,000 miles from Earth and 141,000,000 miles from the Sun. It takes this planet along with its two moons, Phobos and Deimos 183 ...
Communication
Ever since humans have inhabited the earth they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally this expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a language barrier, communication is accomplished through sign language in which mot...
An intelligent parrot
A man had a parrot. It was a very beautiful bird and every day the man talked to it. "Pretty Parrot," he said. "You are a pretty Polly". "Pretty Parrot" the parrot said. "You are a pretty Polly". Everyday the man spoke new words to the parrot. "Hallo" he said and "Good bye". One day...
A bad-tempered king
Many years ago there was a king who was very bad-tempered. Everyone was afraid of him. The king was bad-tempered because he was often ill. He was often ill because he ate and drank too much. "I am always ill", the king told his doctor. "Why can't you cure me?" The doctor didn't want...
A stupid girl
A very beautiful girl lived in a small country town. She had red lips, golden hair and blue eyes, a slim figure and a soft gentle voice. A young man lived in the same street. He loved her very much and he wanted to marry her. He went to the girl and asked her to be his wife. "Po...
Stone soup
One day a man called at the house of an old woman. Most people did not like the old woman because she was very unpleasant. "I am very hungry," the man said. "Can you give me something to eat?" "I have little food in the house," the old woman said "I can give you only a piece of brea...
A lazy man
An old man worked as a night watchman outside a bank. He had to walk round the bank all night and shout for help if he saw a thief. But the old man was very lazy. He did not like walking. He likes to lie on his bed and sleep. At the same time he wanted people to think that he was do...
Who is cleverer?
A merchant and a farmer were walking along the road together. The merchant thought the farmer was a fool. He planned to play a trick on him. "Let's play a game", he said. "I will tell you a story. If you do not believe my story, you must give me ten pieces of silver. Then you tell m...
A provident father
A rich man had one daughter. All the young men the city wanted to marry her. The rich man did not want his daughter to marry anyone. He was frightened. "When I die", he thought, "my daughter will have all my money. Her husband may kill me to get my money." Some young men came to his...
The Wind and the Sun
The Wind and the Sun are having an argument. The Wind says that it is stronger but the Sun doesn't agree. "I can blow down trees and tear off the roofs of houses," the Wind says proudly. "Ah, but I give warmth to people and make plants grow", the Sun says. "I still think I am strong...
A clever old man
Mrs. Brown's grandfather lived with her and her husband. Every morning he went for a walk in the park and came home at half past twelve for his lunch. But one morning a police car stopped outside Mrs. Brown's house at twelve o'clock, two policemen helped Mr. Brown to get out. On...
An artist and a farmer
An artist went to a beautiful part of the country for a holiday, and stayed with a farmer. Everyday he went out with his paints and his brushes and painted from morning to evening, and then when it got dark, he went back to the farm and had a good dinner before going to bed. At ...
A roguish boy
John chocolates very much, but his mother never gave him any, because they were bad for his teeth, she thought. But John had a very nice grandfather. The old man loved his grandson very much, and sometimes he brought John chocolates when he came to visit him. Then his mother let him...
