The Snake and the Woodcutter Part 2

papapishu adder "Hah," the snake sneered. "No one believes that."

"Many do," the woodcutter replyreplied. They arguedargued on in this way until at long last the snake said, "Let usLet's test our theorytheories out then."

"I agree,"agree," said the woodcutter. "We willWe'll go into the woods and ask what others think."

"We will," said the snake, "and if we learn that good deeds are repaidrepaid with evil, I will be permittedpermitted to bite you. If we learn the opposite,opposite, I willI'll set you free."

And so the woodcutter and the snake set off intointo the forest. Before long they came uponupon a skinnyskinny old ox walkingwalking sadlysadly down the road. BehindBehind him, he pulledpulled a wagon overloaded withoverloaded with hay. His eyes bulgedbulged as he heaved and huffedhuffed every step of the way.

"Tell me," said the woodcutter, "do you believe that good deeds are rewarded with evil, or are they rewarded with good?"

"That isThat's easy," said the ox. "Let me tell you, my friend. When I was young and healthyhealthy and strong, I served my master by workingworking hard for him. But now that I am old, doesdoes he treat me with kindness?kindness? Not at all! he feeds me rubbishrubbish and straps me to his wagons.wagons. Good deeds are rewarded with evil."

"There!" the snake said, "Now I can bite you."

Comprehension

Summarise what has happened so far in this fable.

Clarify these words: sneered, argued, theories, agree, repaid, permitted, opposite, set off, skinny, overloaded, wagon, bulged, heaved and huffed, straps.

Retell what has happened in this chapter.

Was your prediction correct?

Make inferences or give opinions about:

How they tested their theories.
What we find out about the ox.
How we know that the load is too heavy for him.
Why eyes might bulge.
Who the ox agrees with.
Whether it is fair now for the viper to bite the woodcutter.

Predict what you think might happen next.

What question could you ask about this chapter?

Visualise these uses of descriptive language: the snake sneered; skinny old fox; walking sadly; a wagon overloaded with hay; eyes bulged; heaved and huffed every step.

Make a connection with this chapter.

Word Study

Verb endings: What happens when we add s, ed or ing to: believe, reply, agree, permit, come, bulge, heave, serve, place, prepare, do, strap, bite.

Other affixes: What happens when we add prefixes and suffixes like re, s, y, ly, ness to these words: paid, theory, skin, health, sad, kind.

What other words can you think of that end in -ite, like opposite?

What two words make up these compound words: into, upon, overloaded.

What two words are contracted here: let's, we'll, I'll, that's.