What is comprehensive reading?
Learning to read is an achievement because reading is a learning power.
Pre-reading task
1 Look at the phrase. "A witty answer".
Choose the correct translation.
- умный друг;
- весёлый совет;
- лучший ответ;
- остроумный ответ.
2 Make a word out of the letters.
r, w,o,c.
Hint: it can fly.
3 Continue the phrase
a) to ask a very strange ...
- home;
- sky;
- question;
- glasses.
b) to take much ...
wisdom;
wind;
rain;
river.
4 What is the correct number of "fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine"?
- 50958;
- 50859;
- 50589;
- 58059.
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Answers
1 Look at the phrase. "A witty answer".
the correct translation is number 4 - остроумный ответ.
2 Make a word out of the letters.
CROW
Hint: it can fly.
3 Continue the phrase
a) to ask a very strange ... question;
b) to take much ... wisdom.
4 What is the correct number of "fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine"?
50589
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Now it is time to read a story.
Emperor Akbar was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his courtiers. He often asked questions which were strange and witty. It took much wisdom to answer these questions.
Once he asked a very strange question. The courtiers were dumb folded by his question.
Akbar glanced at his courtiers. As he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of an answer. It was at this moment that Birbal entered the courtyard. Birbal who knew the nature of the emperor quickly grasped the situation and asked, "May I know the question so that I can try for an answer".
Akbar said, "How many crows are there in this city?"
Without even a moment's thought, Birbal replied "There are fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine crows, my lord".
"How can you be so sure?" asked Akbar.
Birbal said, "Make you men count, My lord. If you find more crows it means some have come to visit their relatives here. If you find less number of crows it means some have gone to visit their relatives elsewhere".
Akbar was pleased very much by Birbal's wit.
Conclusion
A witty answer will serve its purpose.
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Put your finger up if you have answered all the questions correctly or or you liked the story.