The Lion and the Mouse The lion was sleeping under the tree. Suddenly he heard a noise and opened his eyes. He saw a little mouse quite near his nose. He caught the mouse by tail. The mouse was frightened and cried, “Oh, please, sir, let me go!”
“Why did you make so much noise?” said the lion angrily. “I am sorry. I was only looking for something to eat. Let me go. Perhaps. I’ll be able to help you some day. “The lion laughed, but he let me go; he was a kind lion. Now one day a young hunter was walking in the forest. Suddenly he heard the lion’s roar. He called up the other hunters and they put up a net near the lion’s drinking place. When the lion was thirsty he went to the river. He didn’t see the net and was caught in it. He roared and struggled and struggled. At last he was tired and hungry and lay still. In a few minutes he saw the mouse. The little animal was working on the net with her sharp teeth. Soon she cut the first rope, then another and another. At last the lion was able to free himself.
“You laughed at me when I promised to help you,” said the mouse. “When I heard your roar I ran to help you, and now see what I have done for you.”
LISTENING COMPREHENSION VARIANT 86 1. Listen to the text and decide if the statements are true or false. 1. One day a lion was sleeping on the tree.
2. Suddenly he saw a small mouse near his nose.
3. The mouse was looking for the food there.
4. The lion began to play with the mouse.
5. One day some hunters were walking in the forest.
6. They put up a net near the lion’s cave.
7. The lion and the mouse were caught in the net.
8. The mouse cut the rope with her teeth.
9. The hunters were afraid of the lion and they ran away.
10 The mouse said: “I promised to help you and now see what I have done for you.”
2. Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences. 1. One day a lion … under a tree .
a) was sitting b) was sleeping c) was catching a mouse
2. Suddenly he saw a mouse and he caught it by … .
a) the ear b) the tail c) the head
3. The mouse was … and cried.
a) angry b) happy c) frightened
4. The lion was … and he let the mouse go .
a) clever b) strong c) kind
5. One day the lion was caught with … .
a) a net b) a trap c) a rope
6. When the lion was … he went to the river.
a) hungry b) thirsty c) tired
7.The lion struggled and struggled, at last he was tired and … .
a) lay still b) died c) fell asleep
8. The ropes held him and he … .
a) could not roar b) could not jump c) could do nothing
9. The little mouse … the ropes of the net with her sharp teeth.
a) broke b) cut c) tore
10 At last the lion was able … .
a) to free himself b) to eat something c) to thank to the mouse.