35 THE ELEPHANT AND THE MONKEY

Once upon a time an elephant and a monkey had a quarrel.

The elephant was proud because he was so strong.

“See how big and strong I am! ”he said, “Can you pull a tree down? ”

Now the monkey was proud because he was so quick. “See how fast I can run and climb! ”he said, “Can you climb a tree? Can you hang by your tail from a branch? ”

At last they went to a wise old owl.

“We cannot agree, ”they said, “Tell us what you think about it. Which is better—to be strong, or to be quick? ”

The owl said to them, “Do just as I tell you, so that I may find out which is better. Do you see that great fruit tree across the river? Go and pick the fruit and bring it to me.”

So they went to the river, but the water was so swift that the monkey was afraid.

“Get on my, back, ”said the elephant proudly, “I am big and strong. I am not afraid to swim across a swift river.”

So the monkey got on the elephant's back, and they soon got across the river.

On they went until they came to the tree. It was so tall that the fruit hung high above them.

The elephant tried to break the tree down, but it was too strong. He tried to reach the fruit with his trunk, but it was too high.

“Wait a minute, ”said the monkey proudly, “I can climb.”He ran quickly up the tree, and threw down the rich, ripe fruit.

The elephant put it into his great mouth.

Then they crossed the stream, and gave the fruit to the owl.

“Now, ”they said, “which is better—to be strong, or to be quick? ”

“Can anyone tell which is better? ”asked the owl. “Neither of you could get the fruit alone.

“It took the elephant's strength and the monkey's quickness. One crossed the stream; the other gathered the fruit.”

(A Tale from India)

Word list

quarrel: an argument

trunk: the long nose of an elephant

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Why were the elephant and the monkey quarreling?

2) Why do you think the elephant and the monkey went to the owl for advice?

3) What did the owl tell the elephant and the monkey to do?

4) Why was the monkey afraid of the river?

5) Why could the elephant not get the fruit fruit by himself?

B) What's the word? Using the clues, write the correct words from the story.

1) a limb of a tree: b _ _ _ _ _

2) another word for fast: q _ _ _ _

3) an animal that is thought to be wise: o _ _

4) another word for scared: a _ _ _ _ _

5) with no help: a _ _ _ _

C) Positive and negative: What are two positive and two negative things about the elephant and the monkey?