A shepherd boy looked after the village sheep on a hill near the forest. Every day he sat alone while the sheep ate grass, and he felt bored.
One day he had an idea for some fun. He shouted, “Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is eating the sheep!” The villagers dropped their work and ran up the hill to help. But there was no wolf. The boy laughed at them, and they went back angrily.
A few days later he did it again. “Wolf! Wolf!” he cried. Once more the villagers came running, and once more there was no wolf. “Do not lie to us again,” they warned him.
Then one evening a real wolf came out of the forest and began to chase the sheep. The boy was frightened. “Wolf! Wolf! Please help!” he shouted as loudly as he could. But the villagers thought he was playing a trick again, and nobody came.
The wolf scattered the flock, and many sheep were lost. The boy went home crying. He had learnt a hard lesson.
Moral of the story
Nobody believes a liar, even when he tells the truth.
New words
- shepherd
- a person who looks after sheep
- bored
- tired because nothing interesting is happening
- warned
- told someone about a danger
- frightened
- afraid
- scattered
- made to run in different directions
- flock
- a group of sheep
Questions and answers
- What was the boy’s job?
Show answer
He looked after the village sheep on a hill.
- Why did he shout “Wolf!” the first time?
Show answer
He was bored and wanted some fun.
- How did the villagers feel when they found no wolf?
Show answer
They were angry.
- Why did nobody come when the real wolf came?
Show answer
They thought he was lying and playing a trick again.
- True or false: The boy laughed at the end of the story.
Show answer
False. He went home crying.
- What is the moral of the story?
Show answer
Nobody believes a liar, even when he tells the truth.
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