Unit 10: The First Peacook

Click or select any word to translate.

Word List

  • n. A benefit is a good thing.
    Being able to fly is a benefit to birds.
  • adj. If you are certain about something, you know it is true.
    I am certain that zebras have stripes.
  • n. A chance is an opportunity to do something.
    I had a chance to see the Coliseum in Rome last summer.
  • n. An effect is a change made by something else.
    The medicine had a good effect on the boy.
  • adj. If something is essential, it is very important and necessary.
    It is essential to have oxygen when you scuba dive.
  • adj. If something is far, it is not close.
    It's far from the east coast to the west coast of America.
  • v. To focus on something is to think about it and pay attention to it.
    My mom always helps me to focus on my school work.
  • n. The function of something is what it does.
    The function of a flashlight is to help you see in the dark.
  • n. Grass is the green leaves that cover the ground.
    The grass looked so soft and green.
  • v. To guard something is to take care of it.
    The police officer will guard us from any harm.
  • n. The image of something is a picture of it.
    The image of her eye was very clear.
  • adj. If something is immediate, it happens quickly.
    An immediate response came from the pizza place.
  • adj. If something is primary, it is the most important thing.
    His primary thoughts are about money.
  • adj. People who feel proud are happy about what they have done.
    She is proud of the picture she drew of her house.
  • v. To remain somewhere is to stay there.
    My sister had to remain home since she was sick.
  • v. To rest is to stop being active while the body gets back its strength.
    I rested on the couch after work.
  • adj. If two things are separate, they are not together.
    New York and Los Angeles are in two separate parts of America.
  • n. A site is a place.
    We found the perfect site for our picnic.
  • n. A tail is a part of an animal's body that sticks out from its rear or back.
    Our dog wags its tail when it's happy.
  • n. Trouble is a problem or a difficulty.
    I have trouble working with my boss.

 

Exercise

A ‣ Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined word(s).

  1. It is very important that you call your mother soon.
    _ _ _ _ _ _
  2. The good thing about being old is that you know many things.
    _ _ _ _
  3. I have problems with my science homework.
    _ _ _ _ _
  4. I am sure that she will come to his party.
    _ _ _ _ _
  5. The job of the stove is to cook.
    _ _ _ _ _ _ _
  6. That is the place where they met.
    _ _ _
  7. I saw his picture on TV.
    _ _ _ _
  8. The twins don't like to be apart.
    _ _ _ _ _ _ _
  9. I like to stay at home on the weekends.
    _ _ _ _ _
  10. The part near the rear of the dog's body was wagging because he was happy.
    _ _ _

 

B ‣ Write the word that best fits each sentence.

  1. effect/benefit
    The _____ of the rain was slippery roads.
    The _____ of waking up early is being at work on time.
  2. primary / immediate
    She had to make a(n) _____ phone call.
    The _____ cause of my problems is laziness.
  3. rested / proud
    He was _____ when he got the best score.
    We _____ in the shade of a tree.
  4. far / separate
    Her new school is _____ from here.
    She and her best friend hate to be in _____ classrooms.
  5. guard / remain
    I have to _____ my money from my little brother.
    I have to _____ in school for four more years.

 

C ‣ Check(✓) the one that best fits the blank.

  1. Every year for my birthday, _____.
    • a. I return to the site of my birth 
    • b. my cat has a short tail
  2. I believe her _____.
    • a. because she has a chance to lie 
    • b. because she's certain of the facts
  3. My new watch is great. _____.
    • a. has many functions 
    • b. It causes me trouble
  4. I was afraid _____.
    • a. because I thought of a scary image of a snake
    • b. because I didn't focus on my work
  5. I eat many fruits _____.
    • a. because they are essential for good health
    • b. because they taste like grass

 

The First Peacock

Argos lived in Ancient Greece. He was a husband and a proud father. He worked hard and did well at his job. But one thing about him wasn't normal. He was born with 100 eyes. Having many eyes was usually a benefit to him. He had a chance to see many things.

Also, since he had so many eyes, he was very good at guarding things. While sleeping, he only rested a few eyes at a time. The others stayed open. He worked for Hera, a great goddess. His primary function was to guard a special cow. The cow was very important to Hera. She loved it. The most essential part of his job was to keep the cow alone. It had to be kept separate from all the other cows and far away from people.

This was an easy job for Argos. The cow just ate grass all day. But the god Zeus wanted the cow. He wanted to take it away from Hera. He had a plan. He found a great music player. He asked the man to play a beautiful song for Argos. Zeus was certain Argos would go to sleep.

The song had an immediate effect. Argos couldn't focus on his job. He fell asleep.

Zeus saw this, and he took the cow. Hera was very angry with Argos. She turned him into a peacock. She put his many eyes on his tail. Argos was very sad. Zeus saw how much trouble he had given Argos. He made another plan. He turned Argos into a group of stars. He wanted Argos to remain in the sky forever. Even today, Argos' image remains there, above the site where all his problems began. We can still see him in the night sky.

 

Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions.

  1. What is this story about?
    • a. Why it is essential to guard cows
    • b. How to play beautiful music 
    • c. How the image of a peacock came to be in the sky
    • d. How being born with 100 eyes benefited a man
  2. Why was guarding Hera's cow easy for Argos?
    • a. All it did was eat grass all day.
    • b. It was kept separate from all the other cows. 
    • c. He had a chance to listen to music.
    • d. He was able to sleep instead of focusing on it.
  3. Why did Zeus turn Argos into a group of stars?
    • a. He wanted Argos to see the site of his trouble.
    • b. He was certain that Argos would fall asleep. 
    • c. He wanted to make Argos remain in the sky forever.
    • d. He wanted to cause Argos immediate trouble.
  4. What was the primary function of Argos' job?
    • a. To make sure the cow was never sad 
    • b. To keep the cow far away from people 
    • c. To see the effects of music on the cow 
    • d. To work for a proud goddess named Hera
  5. How did Argos sleep?
    _____

 

Answer Key

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