The Monkey and the Wedge
A curious chief monkey leads his group to pull a wedge out of a wooden log, resulting in his tail getting trapped.
In a thick forest, a group of monkeys lived together, always playing and causing trouble. One day, they found a wooden log with a wedge stuck in it. A woodcutter had put the wedge there while he took a break from his work.
The monkeys were curious about the log and the wedge. The leader of the monkeys wanted to try something new, so he decided to pull out the wedge. He asked the others for help, but it wouldn't move. Then the leader had an idea and said, "Let's all pull the wedge out together. We're stronger as a team!"
The monkeys agreed and gathered around the wedge. The leader monkey put his tail into the crack of the log and told the others to pull the wedge out at the same time. With great excitement, the monkeys started pulling with all their strength. Suddenly, the wedge came loose, and the log snapped shut, trapping the leader's tail inside.
The leader monkey screamed in pain, and the other monkeys didn't know what to do. They panicked and ran away, leaving the leader trapped and unable to escape.
In the end, the leader monkey learned that curiosity can be dangerous, and the other monkeys realized it's better not to mess with things they don't understand.
Audio available for B1 version
In a thick forest, a group of monkeys lived together, always playing and causing trouble.
One day, they found a wooden log with a wedge stuck in it.
A woodcutter had put the wedge there while he took a break from his work.
The monkeys were curious about the log and the wedge.
The leader of the monkeys wanted to try something new, so he decided to pull out the wedge.
He asked the others for help, but it wouldn't move.
Then the leader had an idea and said, "Let's all pull the wedge out together.
We're stronger as a team!"
The monkeys agreed and gathered around the wedge.
The leader monkey put his tail into the crack of the log and told the others to pull the wedge out at the same time.
With great excitement, the monkeys started pulling with all their strength.
Suddenly, the wedge came loose, and the log snapped shut, trapping the leader's tail inside.
The leader monkey screamed in pain, and the other monkeys didn't know what to do.
They panicked and ran away, leaving the leader trapped and unable to escape.
In the end, the leader monkey learned that curiosity can be dangerous, and the other monkeys realized it's better not to mess with things they don't understand.
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Word Finder
Woodcutter:
Person who cuts trees for wood.Wedge:
A tool used to split something apart.Curious:
Wanting to learn or know about something.Leader:
The person in charge of a group.Crack:
A narrow space or gap in something.Strength:
The power to move or lift heavy things.Excitement:
A strong feeling of happiness and eagerness.Snapped:
Quickly closed with a sharp sound.Trapped:
Unable to escape from a place or situation.Panicked:
Felt extreme fear and acted without thinking.
Understanding Questions
- What did the monkeys find in the forest that made them curious?
- Why did the leader monkey want to pull the wedge out of the log?
- How did the leader monkey plan to remove the wedge from the log?
- What happened to the leader monkey when the wedge finally came out?
- How did the other monkeys react after the leader got trapped by the log?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the chief monkey decided to pull out the wedge from the log, even though it was difficult?
- How do you think the monkeys felt when the chief's tail got trapped, and why did they run away?
- Can you remember a time when you were curious about something and it led to unexpected results?
- What lessons does this story teach us about curiosity, teamwork, and understanding our limitations?
- How can we apply the moral of this story in our lives, particularly when facing something we don't fully understand?
Fable Quotes
Understanding is the key to avoiding the jaws of misfortune.
True leadership navigates the group away from the precipice of harm.
Foolish curiosity without wisdom leads to trapped consequences.
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