PRE-READING ACTIVITIES

1. Match the words from the box with the pictures:

1. slave 2.thorn 3.cave 4.paw 5.arena

2. Write the past simple of these verbs:

flee go take
turn put rush
tell come find
recognize to lead out get into
escape pull out see

3. Answer the following questions:

 Have you ever got into trouble? Who helped you in that situation?
_________________________________________________________________________________
 Who is your best friend? Why is this person important for you?
_________________________________________________________________________________
 How do you usually behave when you see people or animals who need your help?
_________________________________________________________________________________
 Have you ever been grateful to somebody for something?
_________________________________________________________________________________

4. Read Aesop’s fable about Androcles and do some after-reading activities:

A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the forest. In the forest he came
across a Lion lying down moaning and groaning. At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion did not
rush after him, he turned back and went up to him.
 As he came near, he saw that the Lion’s paw was all swollen and bleeding. Androcles found that a huge
thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw. The Lion
was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion took Androcles to his cave,
and every day used to bring him meat for dinner.

But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured. The Emperor decided to throw the
slave to the Lion, who had been kept without food for several days. The Emperor and all his Court came to
see the spectacle, and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the Lion rushed bounding
and roaring towards his victim. But as soon as he came near to Androcles he recognized his friend, and
fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog. The Emperor was very surprised to see that and
wanted Androcles to explain everything to him. Androcles told the Emperor the whole story about their
friendship. After that, the slave was freed and the Lion could live in his native forest.

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.

AFTER-READING ACTIVITIES

5. Read the text carefully and answer the questions.

 Who was Androcles? _______________________________________________________
 Why was the lion moaning and groaning? _______________________________________
 What did Androcles do to the lion? ____________________________________________
 What did the Emperor do to Androcles? ________________________________________
 Did the lion show its gratitude? Explain. _________________________________________

6. Complete the sentences with information taken from the text.

 The lion licked Androcle’s hand because _______________________________________

 The Emperor sent Androcles to the arena______________________________ by the lion.
 The Emperor and his court__________________________________________________
 In the end the Emperor _____________________________________________________

7. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the simple past tense.

Once upon a time ___________________ (1. there to be) a slave called Androcles that
___________________ (2. run) away from his master. He ___________________ (3. go) to the forest
to hide and there he ___________________ (4. find) a lion hurt. The lion ___________________ (5.
have) a thorn in his paw. Androcles ___________________ (6. help) the lion and
___________________ (7. take) the thorn out. After that the Emperor ___________________ (8. catch)
the slave and ___________________ (9. decide) to kill him in the arena, but the lion
___________________ (10. recognize) the slave and ___________________ (11. not attack) him. The
Emperor was impressed by this and ___________________ (12. let) the slave go.