Aesop
|
Greece

The Fox and The Cat

A boastful fox fails to escape from hunting dogs, while a cat's simple trick saves its life.
Resourcefulness
Choice
Wisdom
Aesop's Fables - The Fox and The Cat
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, a Fox and a Cat met in a forest. The Fox boasted about how it had many strategies and tricks to escape from danger, while the Cat said that it only had one strategy - to climb up a tree and hide.

As they were talking, they heard the sound of hunting dogs approaching. The Fox tried to remember all of its strategies, but it became confused with so many options and eventually failed to make a decision. The Cat, on the other hand, immediately climbed up a nearby tree and hid itself in the branches.

The dogs arrived and chased the Fox, but it could not remember any of its strategies and was eventually caught and killed. Meanwhile, the Cat watched safely from the tree.

In the end, the Cat climbed down from the tree unharmed and walked away with its one good trick still intact.

Once upon a time, a Fox and a Cat met in a forest. The Fox boasted about having many strategies and tricks to escape from danger. The Cat said it only had one strategy: to climb up a tree and hide.

While they were talking, they heard hunting dogs approaching. The Fox tried to remember all its strategies but got confused by having so many options and couldn’t decide what to do. The Cat, however, quickly climbed up a nearby tree and hid in the branches.

The dogs arrived and chased the Fox. The Fox couldn’t remember any of its strategies and was caught by the dogs. Meanwhile, the Cat watched safely from the tree.

In the end, the Cat climbed down from the tree unharmed and walked away with its one good trick still intact.

Once upon a time, a Fox and a Cat met in a forest. The Fox boasted about having many strategies and tricks to escape from danger. The Cat said it only had one strategy: to climb up a tree and hide.

While they were talking, they heard hunting dogs approaching. The Fox tried to remember all its strategies but got confused by having so many options and couldn’t decide what to do. The Cat, however, quickly climbed up a nearby tree and hid in the branches.

The dogs arrived and chased the Fox. The Fox couldn’t remember any of its strategies and was caught by the dogs. Meanwhile, the Cat watched safely from the tree.

In the end, the Cat climbed down from the tree unharmed and walked away with its one good trick still intact.

Once upon a time, deep in the heart of the forest—a real hotspot for the wild and wacky—there was a Fox and a Cat. Now, this Fox, thinking he was the superhero of the woods, was always chatting about his gazillion ways to escape trouble. "I've got strategies! I've got tricks! I've even got a secret cave with lasers and all!"

The Cat, cooler than a unicorn on roller skates, just shrugged. "Well, mate, I've got one trick, but it's top-notch. Climb a tree, take a nap, and dream about the next big adventure. Spoiler: I always wake up just fine!"

Just as they were deep in their debate, the roaring sound of hunting dogs echoed. It was like a drumroll, but without the actual drum solo!

Fox went into a whirlwind of thoughts. "Should I dig a hole? No, no, run in zig-zags? Wait, maybe I could put on some leaves and pretend I'm a bush! Oh, did I save my escape plan on my computer?!"

The Cat, not even ruffled, just smirked. "Catch you later, or maybe not!" Quick as a hiccup, it scampered up a tree, finding a comfy spot among the leaves.

The dogs, barking like they'd just seen their favorite toy, came charging. The Fox, trying to remember all the moves from his imaginary superhero manual, just froze. Sadly, it turned out the dogs weren't fans of his "superhero" routine.

From the tree, the Cat, possibly doodling stick figures in the dirt with a paw, climbed down once all the noise and fuss were over.

Strolling away, the Cat mused, "One trick, folks. That's all it takes, especially when it's the cat's meow of all tricks!"

And with that, the Cat strolled away, proving that sometimes, one solid strategy is all you need to shine. Keep it snazzy and simple!

Fox and Cat, one sunny morn,
Met in woods, their views to scorn.
"I've got schemes aplenty, see?"
Fox proclaimed so boastfully.

"Only one trick's mine," Cat mused,
"In a tree, I'm well-amused."
Fox just laughed, "You're quite naive,
With my skills, you wouldn't believe!"

Soon enough, the hounds drew near,
Barking loud for all to hear.
Fox thought hard, which trick to use?
So many options, he was confused.

Cat knew well what must be done,
Climbed a tree, avoiding fun.
Safely hid amid the leaves,
While Fox pondered, full of peeves.

Dogs arrived, their noses keen,
Fox still pondered, lost in dream.
With no choice, his fate was sealed,
In the end, to dogs he kneeled.

From her perch, Cat watched it all,
Her one trick made the Fox's fall.
Down the tree, Cat strolled away,
"Sometimes one trick's enough," she'd say.

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Word Finder

  1. Boasted

    Talked with excessive pride about abilities.

  2. Strategies

    Plans or methods to achieve something.

  3. Escape

    To get away from a dangerous situation.

  4. Approaching

    Coming nearer in distance or time.

  5. Confused

    Unable to think clearly or decide.

  6. Options

    Choices or alternatives available.

  7. Decide

    To make a choice or judgment.

  8. Nearby

    Close in distance; not far away.

  9. Branches

    Parts of a tree that grow out from the trunk.

  10. Unharmed

    Not hurt or injured in any way.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where did the Fox and the Cat meet?
  2. What did the Fox boast about to the Cat?
  3. What was the Cat's one strategy to escape from danger?
  4. Why did the Fox get caught by the hunting dogs?
  5. What happened to the Cat at the end of the story?

Word Finder

  1. Boasted

    Talked with excessive pride about abilities.

  2. Strategies

    Plans or methods to achieve something.

  3. Escape

    To get away from a dangerous situation.

  4. Approaching

    Coming nearer in distance or time.

  5. Confused

    Unable to think clearly or decide.

  6. Options

    Choices or alternatives available.

  7. Decide

    To make a choice or judgment.

  8. Nearby

    Close in distance; not far away.

  9. Branches

    Parts of a tree that grow out from the trunk.

  10. Unharmed

    Not hurt or injured in any way.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where did the Fox and the Cat meet?
  2. What did the Fox boast about to the Cat?
  3. What was the Cat's one strategy to escape from danger?
  4. Why did the Fox get caught by the hunting dogs?
  5. What happened to the Cat at the end of the story?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Fox was boasting about having many strategies to escape danger?
  2. When the dogs were approaching, what happened to the Fox and the Cat? Why do you think they reacted differently?
  3. How do you think the Fox felt when it couldn't remember its strategies?
  4. What does this story teach us about being prepared and making decisions under pressure?
  5. Can you think of a situation where having a simple, effective solution is better than having many complicated ones?

Fable Quotes

In the face of danger, resourcefulness prevails when simplicity and quick thinking lead to survival.
In the face of danger, a single wise choice can outweigh countless options.
It's better to possess one foolproof strategy than a hundred uncertain ones.
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