Myths and legends-WestAtrica

英國大使館文化教育處

Before you read，decide which word or words go with which meaning.

a. understanding things that most people don't understand

b. let something fall

C. without wanting to

d. make something like water fall out of a cup

e. a small animal with eight legs

The story of Anansi

There was once a spider called Anansi. One day he took all the wisdom in the world and put it in a box. He closed the box but was still worried that someone might steal it.So he took the box to the tallest tree in the village. He tried to carry it and climb the tree but he fell down. He tried again and fell. And then again. He was becoming more and more angry.

A little child was watching Anansi trying to climb the tree with the box in his arms.He laughed and laughed.“Why don't you carry it on your back？”said the child. “Thisway，you can climb the tree." Anansi was soupset that a young child had a better mind than he had that he dropped the box by mistake. All the wisdom fell out. At that moment，a storm started and took the wisdom to the river. Then the river took it out to sea. Then the sea took it all over the world.

This is why there is now a little bit of wisdom for everyone.

Read the story and put what happened in order（first，second，third，etc.）.

a. Anansi was upset that someone else was cleverer than him.

b. Anansi put the wisdom in a box.

c. The wisdom spilled out of the box.

d. The river took the wisdom to the sea.

e. A child laughed at Anansi.

f. Anansi tried to climb the tree.

g. The storm took the wisdom to the river.

Activity 3

Complete the table below with the verb in the past simple or the infinitivewithout 'to'（see examples）.

Complete the sentencesbelow with the past simple.

Yesterday（1）______（be）a very bad day. I（2）______（get up）too late because I（3）______（not hear）the alarm. Myboss（4）______（shout）at me.Then I（5）______（leave）workin the evening and（6）______（go）to a restaurant to meet mygirlfriend. She（7）______（notcome）so I（8）______（eat）alone and all the waiters（9）______（laugh）at me.

What do you think about this story？Do you have a story like it your country？

Why did the spider want to keep all the wisdom for himself？

參考答案

Activity 1：1. e; 2. c;3. a; 4.d;5. bActivity 2：b，f，e，a，C，g，

Activity 3