One upon a time, there was an elderly man whose entire estate consisted of a house, but he didn't know who to give the house to. Later, he came upon an idea. He instructed his sons to go into society to study a trade. In the future, whoever's skill was the greatest would inherit the house. The three brothers agreed to give their father's idea a try. The eldest son decided to become a blacksmith; the middle son decided to become a barber, and the youngest son decided to become a swordsman. They each agreed to return home after a certain time. Then, they went their separate ways.
Each one went to find a talented teacher and began their trade. The eldest son shod horses for the king. The middle son specialized in giving shaves to respectable people. The third son practiced fencing tirelessly. They each put all their heart into their work. They believed in only success not failure. Otherwise, the house would not be their own.
When the appointed time had come, they each returned to their father's place. The talent competition had arrived. At that moment, a rabbit from the field came running. The second brother, while the rabbit ran quickly, rubbed soap on it, and shaved the fur without damaging a hair. The father watching was very happy.
After a little while, a horse drawn carriage came along. The eldest son ran toward the carriage. He grabbed the four horseshoes of the walking horse and put on new ones. The father said: "You are a man of talent; your work and your younger brother's work are of the same good quality. I don't know who I should give the house to.
At this point, it began to rain. The youngest son brandished his sword above his head. Not a drop of rain fell upon his body. The rain gradually became heavier, and changed into a downpour. His sword play also became faster; his body was completely dry. Amazed, the father said: Your skill is the best; the house is yours."
The two older brothers both nodded in agreement. From then on, the three brothers lived together, loving each other deeply, practicing their craft. Because each one's ability was good,they made a lot of money. Into old age, their lives were very happy. After the three brothers died, they were buried in the same grave (My Translation of Chinese Version).
Vocabulary Matching
Match the following words or phrases with the pictures below: soap, swordsman, shod horses, horse-drawn carriage, blacksmith, barber, downpour, rabbit, and teacher.
Introductory Discussion Questions
1. If you could be a blacksmith, barber, or swordsman, which would you be? Why?
2. If you have/had an estate, who would you give it to?
3. Have you ever inherited something from parents or someone else? What was it?
4. If you had the opportunity to study any trade, what would you study? Why?
5. How should parents decide who to give their estate to?
Synonym Matching
elderly get
instructed best
future oldest
greatest old
inherit taught
eldest later
Antonym Matching:
success sad
eldest failure
went slowly
began youngest
work drizzle
quickly wet
happy play
downpour finish
dry came
Listening Blank Fill
One upon a time, there was an elderly man __________ entire estate consisted of a house, but he ___________ know who to give the house to. Later, he ___________ upon an idea. He instructed his sons to ____________ into society to study a trade. In the ___________, whoever's skill was the greatest would inherit the ___________. The three brothers agreed to give their father's ________ a try. The eldest son decided to become a _______________; the middle son decided to become a barber, ________ the youngest son decided to become a swordsman. _________ each agreed to return home after a certain ________. Then, they went their separate ways.
Matching Adjectives
Each one went to find a 1. ( ) teacher and began their trade. The eldest son shod horses for the king. The middle son specialized in giving shaves to respectable people. The 2. ( ) son practiced fencing tirelessly. They each put 3. ( ) their heart into their work. They believed in only success not failure. Otherwise, the house would not be their own.
a. all
b. third
c. talented
Matching Verbs
When the appointed time had come, they each 1. ( ) to their father's place. The talent competition had 2. ( ). At that moment, a rabbit from the field came running. The second brother, while the rabbit ran quickly, 3. ( ) soap on it, and shaved the fur without damaging a hair. The father watching 4. ( ) very happy.
a. rubbed
b. was
c. returned
d. arrived
Matching Prepositions
After a little while, a horse drawn carriage came 1. ( ). The eldest son ran 2. ( ) the carriage. He grabbed the four horseshoes of the walking horse and put 3. ( ) new ones. The father said: "You are a man of talent; your work and your younger brother's work are of the same good quality. I don't know who I should give the house 4. ( ).
a. to
b. along
c. on
d. toward
Adverb Matching
At this point, it began to rain. The youngest son brandished his sword above his head. Not a drop of rain fell upon his body. The rain 1. ( ) became heavier, and changed into a downpour. His sword play also became faster; his body was 2. ( ) dry. Amazed, the father said: Your skill is the best; the house is yours."
a. completely
b. gradually
The two older brothers both nodded in agreement. From then on, the three brothers lived together, loving each other deeply, practicing their craft. Because each one's ability was good,they made a lot of money. Into old age, their lives were very happy. After the three brothers died, they were buried in the same grave (My Translation of Chinese Version).
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A:
What did you think of this story?
Which son did you think was the most talented? Did you agree with the father? Why or why not?
What do you think the moral of this story is?
Which son do you think could make the most money? Explain.
The sons were buried together. Was this strange?
B:
What did you think of the father's idea of who to give the house to? Was it fair? Why or why not?
Whose skill was the most useful in your opinion? Explain.
Why do you think the three sons got along so well and could live together?
Which son do you think made the least money? Explain.
Do you think you could live with your brothers or sisters into old age? Why or why not?
Debate A
Divide the the class into three teams if possible.
After teams discuss their ideas among themselves, the debate can begin.
Team one believes the blacksmith has the most important trade of the three.
Team two believes the barber has the most important trade of the three.
Team three believes the swordsman has the most important trade of the three.
Each team must explain why their trade is the most important.
Each team must explain why the other two trades are less important.
Debate B
Divide the class into two teams if possible.
Allow teams to discuss their ideas, then the debate can begin.
Team one believes talent is something a person is born with. You either have it, or you don't.
Team two believes talent is all about practice and perseverance. Anyone can learn.
Research and Writing
Using the library or online resources, research the three trades discussed in today's story. Find out how much these careers pay, hours required, and work environment, etc. Write a report of your findings, and be prepared to share in your next class.
Chinese
从前有个老 头,他的全部 财产就是一 幢房子,他不知道把 房子留给谁,最后想到一条 计策,让 儿子到社会上去学手艺,将来谁的本领最大,房子就归谁. 三个儿子同意去试一试. 大儿子要做蹄铁工匠,二儿子要做剃头师傅,三儿子要做击剑师. 他们约好某个时候一起回家,就分头走了. 他们每个人都找了个能干的师傅,开始学手艺.
大儿子給国王的马钉掌,二儿子专门給贵人修面,三儿子练习击剑,毫不厌倦. 他们每个人都尽心地工做着,因为他们相信,只能成功,不能失败,否则房子就不是自己的了. 约定的期限到了,他们一起回到父亲那里. 比试本领的时候到了,这时,一只兔子从田里跑来,二儿子在兔子快跑的时候,给它擦上肥皂,剃了个短胡子,没有伤着一根毛. 父亲看了,非常高兴.
过了一会儿,一辆马车驶来. 大儿子向马车跑去,取下正走着的马的四个铁掌,又给它钉上四个新的.父亲说:"你是一个有本领的人,你做的事和你弟弟一样好,我不知道应该把房子给谁." 这时,天开始下雨了,小儿子在头上舞剑,雨一点也落不到他身上;雨渐渐大了,变成了倾盆大雨,他的剑也越舞越快,身上始终都是干的. 父亲惊讶地说:"你的手艺最好,房子是你的了." 两个哥哥都点头同意. 从此,他们三个兄弟住在一起,相亲相爱,做他们的手艺. 由于每个人的本领都好,所以赚了很多钱. 他们直到老,生活得都很愉快. 三兄弟死后,合葬在一个坟墓里.
Exercise Answers:
Picture Matcting: picture 1-->swordsman, picture 2-->barber, picture 3-->blacksmith, picture 4-->teacher, picture 5-->horse-drawn carriage, picture 6-->shod horses, picture 7-->soap, picture 8-->rabbit, picture 9-->downpour.
Synonym Matching: elderly-->old, instructed-->taught, future-->later, greatest-->best, inherit-->get, eldest-->oldest.
Antonym Matching: success-->failure, eldest-->youngest, went-->came, began-->finish, work-->play, quickly-->slowly, happy-->sad, downpour-->drizzle, dry-->wet.
Listening Blank Fill: whose, didn't, came, go, future, house, idea, blacksmith, and, They, time.
Matching Adjectives: 1. c. talented, 2. b. third, 3. a. all.
Matching Verbs: 1. c. returned, 2. d. arrived, 3. a. rubbed, 4. b. was.
Matching Prepositions: 1. b. along, 2. d. toward, 3. c. on, 4. a. to.
Matching Adverbs: 1. b. gradually, 2. a. completely.
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