Originally, the house belonged to robbers, and there were a number of them inside eating and drinking much.
The four comrades thought and discussed a way to get in and get a delicious meal. Their method was this: the donkey used his front legs to step onto the window sill. The dog climbed onto the donkey's back. The cat climbed onto the dog's neck, and the rooster stood on the cat's head.
”One, two, three, start to make music!" The donkey brayed; the cat called out; the rooster screeched; and the dog barked: bray, bray, bray, meow, squawk, squawk, bow wow, bow wow! The robbers were horrified. Each one scurried off into the forest.
The four comrades were very happy. They entered the building and commenced eating and drinking beer. When they had eaten and drank their fill, the four musicians made themselves comfortable, turned off the lights, and went to sleep. The donkey lay upon the trash heap; the dog reclined behind the door; the cat soaked up heat from the stove, and the rooster perched upon the roof of the house.
The robbers returned; they first sent one of them to turn on the light. He thought the cat's eye was the shining of a hot coal. The cat jumped into the man's face; scared, the man promptly ran out the door. While taking a step, he felt pain from the dog's claws, and the dog bit his thigh. He yelled out running near the trash heap. The donkey, using his back leg, vigorously kicked him. The rooster woke up with a start. Standing upon the roof, he called out loudly: cock-a-doodle-do!
Frightened in mind and body, the robber ran out to see his leader. "Impossible, the house has a number of demons, too horrifying!" The robbers were afraid to run into demons, so they went to another place.
The four musicians canceled their planned trip to Bremen Town. They were happy to stay.
Introductory Discussion Questions
What would be an ideal retirement plan?
What different plan could be nice enough to cause you to change your mind?
What kinds of things could scare you away from your house?
Under what circumstances would you return or not return to your house?
Do you believe in haunted houses? Why or why not?
Sounds Animals Make Discussion
In pairs or groups, have students discuss the following questions.
What sounds do common animals make in your first language?
Do you know what sounds common animals make in English?
Make the different animals sounds, and note the differences between languages. What do the differences reveal about languages?
Synonym Matching
house scared
robbers ran away
comrades home
discussed thieves
delicious tasty
horrified planned
scurried off companions
Antonym Matching A
entered cold
commenced exited
comfortable stood
turned off slowly
reclined turned on
hot uncomfortable
promptly stopped
Antonym Matching B
yelled out quietly
vigorously slept on
woke up to leave
loudly kept silent
leader follower
impossible lazily
to stay possible
Listening Blank Fill
Originally, the house belonged to robbers, and there _________ a number of robbers inside eating and drinking _________.
The four comrades thought and discussed a way __________ get in and get a delicious meal. Their ____________ was this: the donkey used his front legs to __________ onto the window sill. The dog climbed onto __________ donkey's back. The cat climbed onto the dog's ___________, and the rooster stood on the cat's head.
”_________, two, three, start to make music!" The ___________ brayed; the cat called out; the rooster screeched; _________ the dog barked: bray, bray, meow, meow, squawk, squawk, bow wow, bow wow! The _____________ were horrified. Each one scurried off __________ the forest.
Multiple Choice
The four comrades 1.(was, were, is, have) very happy. They entered the building and commenced eating and 2.(drink, drank, drinking) beer. When they had eaten and drank their fill, the four musicians 3.(made, make, to make) themselves comfortable, turned 4.(on, down, off) the lights, and went to sleep. The donkey lay upon the trash heap; the dog reclined 5.(on, behind, below) the door; the cat soaked up heat 6.(in, on, from) the stove, and the rooster perched upon the roof of the house.
The robbers returned; they first sent one of them to turn 7.(up, on, off) the light. He thought the cat's eye was the shining of a hot coal. The cat 8.(jumped, jump, jumping) into the man's face; scared, the man promptly ran out the door. While 9.(took, taking, take) a step, he felt pain from the dog's claws, and the dog bit his thigh. He yelled out running near the trash heap. The donkey, using his back leg, vigorously kicked him. The rooster woke 10.(up, down, in) with a start. Standing upon the roof, he called out loudly: cock-a-doodle-do!
11.(frightening, frighten, frightened) in mind and body, the robber ran out to see his leader.
"Impossible, the house has a 12.(number, some, many) of demons, 13.(to, too, two) horrifying!" The robbers were afraid to run into demons, so they went to another place.
The four musicians 14.(canceled, canceling, cancel) their planned trip to Bremen Town. They were happy to stay.
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What did you think of this story?
Why do you think the robbers tried to come back?
If the four musicians had continued to Bremen Town, do you think they would have been successful there? Why or why not?
Have you ever been bitten or kicked by an animal? What happened?
How do you think a story like this could have gotten started?
B
Why do you think this story is popular around the world?
Why do you think the four musicians were happy to cancel their plans and stay in the house?
What do you think the moral of this story could be?
Have you ever been scared by an animal? What happened?
Who were more foolish, the robbers or the animals? Explain.
Research and Writing
Using the Internet, research the Bremen Town fairy tale. Below are some possible questions to research.
Where does the story originate?
How old is the story?
Are there any modern adaptations of the story?
Write about your findings, and be prepared to share.
Chinese Version
原来这是一座强盗的房子，几个强盗正在屋里大吃大喝呢! 它们想商量一个办法，进屋去饱餐一顿。
办法有了-----驴子把前腿伸到窗台上，够爬到驴子的背上，猫起到够的脖子上，公鸡站在猫头上。“一，二，三，开始奏乐！” 驴子吼，猫叫，鸡鸣，狗吠。嘎嘎！喵喵！喔喔！汪汪！强盗们吓坏了，一个个抱头往森林里逃去。四个伙伴真高兴，进屋去有吃菜，有喝酒。吃饱喝足以后，四个音乐家按自己的习惯熄灯睡觉了。驴子躺在粪对上，狗卧在门后边，猫靠在炉子边，公鸡蹲在屋梁上。
强盗们回来了，他们先派一个人去点灯，他把猫眼睛当成了发亮的没球。猫跳到他脸上，有咬又抓，他吓得连忙往门外逃。他一下踩痛了狗爪子，狗咬伤了他的大腿。他喊叫着逃到粪堆边，驴子扬起后腿狠狠地踢他。公鸡惊醒了，站在屋梁上大声叫着：“喔喔！喔喔！”
强盗心惊肉跳地去见头目：“不得了啦，屋里有几个妖怪，太可怕了！强盗们怕遇上妖怪，逃到别处去了，四个音乐家取消了去不来梅镇的计划，快乐地住下来。
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: house-->home, robbers-->thieves, comrades-->companions, discussed-->planned, delicious-->tasty, horrified-->scared, scurried off-->ran away,
Antonym Matching A: entered-->exited, commenced-->stopped,
comfortable-->uncomfortable, turned off-->turned on, reclined-->stood, hot-->cold,
promptly-->slowly.
Antonym Matching B: yelled out-->kept silent, vigorously-->lazily, woke up, slept on, loudly-->quietly, leader-->follower, impossible-->possible, to stay-->to leave.
Listening Blank Fill: were, much, to, method, step, the, neck, One, donkey, and, robbers, into.
Multiple Choice: 1. were, 2. drinking, 3. made, 4. off, 5. behind, 6. from, 7. on, 8. jumped, 9. taking, 10. up, 11. frightened, 12. number, 13. too.
The four comrades thought and discussed a way to get in and get a delicious meal. Their method was this: the donkey used his front legs to step onto the window sill. The dog climbed onto the donkey's back. The cat climbed onto the dog's neck, and the rooster stood on the cat's head.
”One, two, three, start to make music!" The donkey brayed; the cat called out; the rooster screeched; and the dog barked: bray, bray, bray, meow, squawk, squawk, bow wow, bow wow! The robbers were horrified. Each one scurried off into the forest.
The four comrades were very happy. They entered the building and commenced eating and drinking beer. When they had eaten and drank their fill, the four musicians made themselves comfortable, turned off the lights, and went to sleep. The donkey lay upon the trash heap; the dog reclined behind the door; the cat soaked up heat from the stove, and the rooster perched upon the roof of the house.
The robbers returned; they first sent one of them to turn on the light. He thought the cat's eye was the shining of a hot coal. The cat jumped into the man's face; scared, the man promptly ran out the door. While taking a step, he felt pain from the dog's claws, and the dog bit his thigh. He yelled out running near the trash heap. The donkey, using his back leg, vigorously kicked him. The rooster woke up with a start. Standing upon the roof, he called out loudly: cock-a-doodle-do!
Frightened in mind and body, the robber ran out to see his leader. "Impossible, the house has a number of demons, too horrifying!" The robbers were afraid to run into demons, so they went to another place.
The four musicians canceled their planned trip to Bremen Town. They were happy to stay.
Introductory Discussion Questions
What would be an ideal retirement plan?
What different plan could be nice enough to cause you to change your mind?
What kinds of things could scare you away from your house?
Under what circumstances would you return or not return to your house?
Do you believe in haunted houses? Why or why not?
Sounds Animals Make Discussion
In pairs or groups, have students discuss the following questions.
What sounds do common animals make in your first language?
Do you know what sounds common animals make in English?
Make the different animals sounds, and note the differences between languages. What do the differences reveal about languages?
Synonym Matching
house scared
robbers ran away
comrades home
discussed thieves
delicious tasty
horrified planned
scurried off companions
Antonym Matching A
entered cold
commenced exited
comfortable stood
turned off slowly
reclined turned on
hot uncomfortable
promptly stopped
Antonym Matching B
yelled out quietly
vigorously slept on
woke up to leave
loudly kept silent
leader follower
impossible lazily
to stay possible
Listening Blank Fill
Originally, the house belonged to robbers, and there _________ a number of robbers inside eating and drinking _________.
The four comrades thought and discussed a way __________ get in and get a delicious meal. Their ____________ was this: the donkey used his front legs to __________ onto the window sill. The dog climbed onto __________ donkey's back. The cat climbed onto the dog's ___________, and the rooster stood on the cat's head.
”_________, two, three, start to make music!" The ___________ brayed; the cat called out; the rooster screeched; _________ the dog barked: bray, bray, meow, meow, squawk, squawk, bow wow, bow wow! The _____________ were horrified. Each one scurried off __________ the forest.
Multiple Choice
The four comrades 1.(was, were, is, have) very happy. They entered the building and commenced eating and 2.(drink, drank, drinking) beer. When they had eaten and drank their fill, the four musicians 3.(made, make, to make) themselves comfortable, turned 4.(on, down, off) the lights, and went to sleep. The donkey lay upon the trash heap; the dog reclined 5.(on, behind, below) the door; the cat soaked up heat 6.(in, on, from) the stove, and the rooster perched upon the roof of the house.
The robbers returned; they first sent one of them to turn 7.(up, on, off) the light. He thought the cat's eye was the shining of a hot coal. The cat 8.(jumped, jump, jumping) into the man's face; scared, the man promptly ran out the door. While 9.(took, taking, take) a step, he felt pain from the dog's claws, and the dog bit his thigh. He yelled out running near the trash heap. The donkey, using his back leg, vigorously kicked him. The rooster woke 10.(up, down, in) with a start. Standing upon the roof, he called out loudly: cock-a-doodle-do!
11.(frightening, frighten, frightened) in mind and body, the robber ran out to see his leader.
"Impossible, the house has a 12.(number, some, many) of demons, 13.(to, too, two) horrifying!" The robbers were afraid to run into demons, so they went to another place.
The four musicians 14.(canceled, canceling, cancel) their planned trip to Bremen Town. They were happy to stay.
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
What did you think of this story?
Why do you think the robbers tried to come back?
If the four musicians had continued to Bremen Town, do you think they would have been successful there? Why or why not?
Have you ever been bitten or kicked by an animal? What happened?
How do you think a story like this could have gotten started?
B
Why do you think this story is popular around the world?
Why do you think the four musicians were happy to cancel their plans and stay in the house?
What do you think the moral of this story could be?
Have you ever been scared by an animal? What happened?
Who were more foolish, the robbers or the animals? Explain.
Research and Writing
Using the Internet, research the Bremen Town fairy tale. Below are some possible questions to research.
Where does the story originate?
How old is the story?
Are there any modern adaptations of the story?
Write about your findings, and be prepared to share.
Chinese Version
原来这是一座强盗的房子，几个强盗正在屋里大吃大喝呢! 它们想商量一个办法，进屋去饱餐一顿。
办法有了-----驴子把前腿伸到窗台上，够爬到驴子的背上，猫起到够的脖子上，公鸡站在猫头上。“一，二，三，开始奏乐！” 驴子吼，猫叫，鸡鸣，狗吠。嘎嘎！喵喵！喔喔！汪汪！强盗们吓坏了，一个个抱头往森林里逃去。四个伙伴真高兴，进屋去有吃菜，有喝酒。吃饱喝足以后，四个音乐家按自己的习惯熄灯睡觉了。驴子躺在粪对上，狗卧在门后边，猫靠在炉子边，公鸡蹲在屋梁上。
强盗们回来了，他们先派一个人去点灯，他把猫眼睛当成了发亮的没球。猫跳到他脸上，有咬又抓，他吓得连忙往门外逃。他一下踩痛了狗爪子，狗咬伤了他的大腿。他喊叫着逃到粪堆边，驴子扬起后腿狠狠地踢他。公鸡惊醒了，站在屋梁上大声叫着：“喔喔！喔喔！”
强盗心惊肉跳地去见头目：“不得了啦，屋里有几个妖怪，太可怕了！强盗们怕遇上妖怪，逃到别处去了，四个音乐家取消了去不来梅镇的计划，快乐地住下来。
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: house-->home, robbers-->thieves, comrades-->companions, discussed-->planned, delicious-->tasty, horrified-->scared, scurried off-->ran away,
Antonym Matching A: entered-->exited, commenced-->stopped,
comfortable-->uncomfortable, turned off-->turned on, reclined-->stood, hot-->cold,
promptly-->slowly.
Antonym Matching B: yelled out-->kept silent, vigorously-->lazily, woke up, slept on, loudly-->quietly, leader-->follower, impossible-->possible, to stay-->to leave.
Listening Blank Fill: were, much, to, method, step, the, neck, One, donkey, and, robbers, into.
Multiple Choice: 1. were, 2. drinking, 3. made, 4. off, 5. behind, 6. from, 7. on, 8. jumped, 9. taking, 10. up, 11. frightened, 12. number, 13. too.
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