Home reading. Text 18

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE.

Once there lived a grumpy king. He never laughed and didn’t allow anyone in the kingdom to laugh. People were angry and sad.

One day, a small boy couldn’t control his laughter. He was the first person who laughed in the kingdom. Later, scared of the punishment, he thought of a plan. He wrote a funny story. The boy didn’t say that it was a funny story; he told everyone that it was a drama.

Then he went to the palace and asked the king, “May I present my drama to you?” The king liked dramas because they were sad. Then the boy started the play. When he came to the funniest part of the story, the king started to laugh.

All people present in the court were amazed. The king then allowed everybody to laugh. After that everyone lived happily there.

grumpy - сварливый

allow - позволять, разрешать

punishment - наказание

court - двор

amaze - изумлять

laughter - смех

I. Find English equivalents in the text.

1. король

2. королевство

3. смех

4. смешная история

5. дворец

II. Complete the sentences.

1. Once there lived.

2. People were.

3. The boy didn’t say that it was a funny story; he.

4. The king liked dramas.

5. After that everyone lived.

III. Who in the story.

1. . was grumpy?

2. wrote a funny story?

3. didn’t allow people to laugh?

4. was the first person who laughed in the kingdom?

5. went to the palace?

IV. Say if the sentences are true or false.

1. Once there lived a happy king.

2. People were happy too.

3. The boy thought of a plan.

4. When the boy came to the funniest part of the story, the king started to laugh.

5. The king then allowed everybody to laugh.

V. What do you think?

1. . about the title of the text?
2. . why the king was grumpy?
3. . why the king allowed people to laugh?