8 ALICE AND HER MOTHER

Mother said, “Come, Alice.

Sing little sister to sleep.”

Alice said, “I want to play.

I don't want to sing to sister.

I want to play in the meadow.

The sheep plays there all day.

I want to play all day, too.”

Mother said, “You may play all day.

You may go to the meadow.”

Alice ran to the meadow.

She saw a sheep there.

Alice said, “Good morning, sheep.

Will you play with me?

We can play all day.”

The sheep said, “Baa, baa!

I cannot play all day.

I must get my dinner.

I make wool for Master.

I cannot play all day.”

A dog was in the meadow.

Alice ran to the dog.

She said, “Good morning, dog.

Will you play with me?

We can play all day.”

The dog said, “Bow-wow!

I cannot play all day.

I must look after the sheep.

I cannot leave them alone.

I cannot play all day.”

A cow was in the meadow.

Alice ran to the cow.

She said, “Good morning, cow.

Will you play with me?

We can play all day.”

The cow said, “Moo, moo!

I cannot play all day.

I must find my dinner.

I want to find some corn.

I give milk for your dinner.

I cannot play all day.”

A horse was in the meadow.

Alice ran to the horse.

She said, “Good morning, horse.

Will you play with me?

We can play all day.”

The horse said, “Oh, no!

I cannot play all day.

I give rides to boys and girls.

I take milk to your mother.

I cannot play all day.”

Alice said, “I will go home.

No one will play with me.”

Soon she came to a bird.

She said, “Good morning, bird.

Will you play with me?

We can play all day.”

The bird said, “No, thank you.

I must make my nest.

I cannot play all day.”

Alice went home.

She saw her cat there.

She said, “Good morning, Spot.

Will you play with me?

We can play all day.”

Spot said, “No, thank you.

I must find a mouse.

My kittens must have their dinner.

I cannot play all day.

You must play alone.”

Alice went to her mother.

She said, “Mother, I came home.

I could not find any playmate.

No one could play all day.

I do not want to play all day.

I will sing sister to sleep.”

Alice sang and sang.

Soon little sister was fast asleep.

Word list

meadow: an open space with long grass

master: leader, owner

playmate: someone to play and do other things with

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Why did Alice not want to sing her sister to sleep?

2) Why didn't the animals play with Alice?

3) Why did Alice go home?

4) What did Alice do after she got home?

5) What do you think Alice learned in this story?

B) Word groups—complete these word groups with words from the story.

1) cloth, cotton, w _ _ _

2) evening, afternoon, m _ _ _ _ _ _

3) wheat, rice, c _ _ _

4) water, juice, m _ _ _

5) sleep, work, p _ _ _

C) Fill in the blanks—choose the correct words from the story to put in the blank spaces.

1) There were some animals in the m _ _ _ _ _.

2) Alice has a younger s _ _ _ _ _.

3) The cow wanted to eat c _ _ _.

4) The cat's name is S _ _ _

5) After Alice sang, her sister was a _ _ _ _ _.