Unit 26: Archie and His Donkey

Click or select any word to translate.

Word List

  • n. Advice is an opinion about what to do.
    I don't know how to study for my exams. Can you give me some advice?
  • prep. Along means down the length of a road, river, etc.
    Walk along this tunnel for ten minutes, and you'll see a door on the left.
  • n. Attention is the notice, thought, or consideration of someone.
    His work got the attention of two of his co-workers.
  • v. To attract means to make a person or thing come closer or be interested.
    The magnet attracted the metal.
  • v. To climb means to use your hands and feet to go up something.
    The girls climbed to the top of the mountain.
  • v. To drop is to fall or allow something to fall.
    A small amount of water dropped from the bottle.
  • adj. If something is final, it is the last part.
    In the final part of the film, the man and the woman got married.
  • adj. Further means at or from a greater distance or time.
    The escalator is further than I thought.
  • v. To imply something is to suggest it without saying it.
    The man implied that he wanted the job, but he didn't say so.
  • v. To maintain means to make something stay the same.
    The balls maintain constant movement.
  • conj. You use neither to connect two negative possibilities.
    Neither the path on the left nor the path on the right will lead us home.
  • adv. Otherwise means in another way if you don't do this.
    It's good to stay active; otherwise, you'll gain weight.
  • adj. If something is physical, it is related to your body and not your mind.
    Biking is good for your physical health.
  • v. To prove something is to show that it is true.
    My teacher proved the answer on the board.
  • v. To react is to respond by acting in a certain way.
    James reacted badly to the news.
  • v. To ride something is to travel on it. You can ride an animal, a bike, etc.
    I will ride a roller coaster for the first time today.
  • adj. If something is situated somewhere, it is in that place.
    The whiteboard is situated between the two men.
  • n. Society is a group of people who interact and share a culture.
    Society expects people to be good and honest.
  • n. A standard is what people consider normal or good.
    This older model TV is below our store's standards.
  • v. To suggest something means to give an idea or plan about it.
    He suggested that we go to see his boss.

 

Exercise

A ‣ Circle the word that fits the definition.

  1. to keep something going
    • a. maintain 
    • b. react
    • c. standard
    • d. prove
  2. not this one or that one
    • a. neither
    • b. further
    • c. along 
    • d. situated
  3. people and how they act
    • a. otherwise 
    • b. society
    • c. advice
    • d. climb
  4. describing the body
    • a. final
    • b. drop 
    • c. physical 
    • d. attention
  5. to make someone interested
    • a. imply
    • b. suggest
    • c. attract
    • d. ride

 

B ‣ Complete the puzzle with the word that is similar in meaning to the bolded part.

DOWN
  1. In this group of people, wearing hats is common. _____
  1. How did Clare act when you told her about the party? _____
ACROSS
  1. I can jump higher than you. Watch me, and I will show you that I can do it. _____
  2. I've nearly finished the book. I'm on the last page. _____
  1. I invited Jane and Lisa to my house, but not Jane or Lisa could come. _____

 

C ‣ Write the word that best fits each sentence.

  1. suggest / advice
    Can I give you some _____ ?
    I _____ that you do your homework before you go out.
  2. situated / attention
    I got everyone's _____ with my new dress.
    Where is your office _____ in the building?
  3. dropped / standard
    The _____ of his work is very high.
    I accidentally _____ my phone in the snow.
  4. attracted / reacted
    He _____ my attention by waving to me.
    She _____ badly to the news.
  5. further / along
    How much _____ is the beach? I'm tired!
    We walked _____ the path for two hours.

 

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

  1. She was angry when _____.
    • a. he implied that she was not smart 
    • b. he proved that she was right
  2. If you want to win the race, you need to _____.
    • a. be in good physical condition
    • b. gain more weight
  3. His advice was that I should play sports, so I _____.
    • a. thought about playing football 
    • b. watched more television
  4. The sound of the car's horn _____.
    • a. got everyone's attention 
    • b. proved something
  5. Are we nearly at Jack's house? _____.
    • a. It's much further down the road
    • b. He wants my advice

 

Archie and His Donkey

Old Archie needed some money. He decided to sell his donkey. So he and his son Tom went to town. It was situated many miles away.

Soon, they met a woman. “Where are you going?" she asked. “To town,” said Archie.

"Any smart person would ride the donkey," she said.

"What are you implying?" Archie asked. "I'm very smart!" Archie wanted to look smart. So he climbed onto the donkey. Then they continued in the direction of the town.

Further along the road, they met a farmer.

"Hello," said Archie. "We want to sell this donkey. Do you want to buy it?"

“I don't need a donkey,” said the farmer. “But if you want my advice, don't ride it. The donkey needs to be in good physical condition."

"Good idea," said Archie. "Tom, I want you to ride it. You're lighter."

"Neither you nor your son should ride it. It looks very tired. You should carry the donkey," suggested the farmer.

"You're right," said Archie. "Come on, Tom! We'll carry it for the final few miles!" The donkey was very heavy, and they couldn't maintain a good speed. They didn't arrive until late in the evening. At last, they walked into the town. But there, they attracted the attention of some teenage boys. They laughed at Tom and Archie. They started to throw stones at them. The donkey reacted by kicking. Tom and Archie dropped the donkey. It fell on the ground and then ran away. Archie lost his donkey. He went home with no money.

What does this story teach us? We cannot please everyone in our society. Don't take everyone's advice, but set your own standards. Prove to everyone that you can make decisions by yourself. Otherwise, you may end up with nothing at all.

 

Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions.

  1. What is the main idea of this story?
    • a. You should always take the advice of older people. 
    • b. Teenage boys are the nicest people in society.
    • c. You should set your own standards.
    • d. You should neither ride nor carry a donkey.
  2. Why did Archie get on the donkey?
    • a. The woman implied that he wasn't smart. 
    • b. The town was situated further away than he had thought. 
    • c. He did not want to climb the final hill.
    • d. His walking speed was too slow.
  3. Why did the farmer suggest carrying the donkey?
    • a. To attract people's attention
    • b. To keep the donkey in good physical condition
    • c. To maintain their speed 
    • d. To prove that Archie was strong
  4. Why did the donkey start kicking?
    • a. It didn't want to be carried along the road.
    • b. It didn't want to go in the direction of the river. 
    • c. It reacted badly to a group of teenage boys' teasing. 
    • d. It became very angry at Archie and Tom.
  5. What did the teenage boys do when they saw Archie, Tom, and the donkey?
    _____

 

Answer Key

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