The Devoted Friend. Reading comprehension

Choose the adjectives that best describe Little Hans and Hugh, the Miller.

Match the parts of the sentences.

Read the words that the Miller said at Hans' funeral and answer the question. "Little Hans is certainly a great loss to me," said the Miller. "I have given him my wheelbarrow, and now I don't know what to do with it. One certainly suffers for being generous." Why was the Miller sorry?

Fill in the gaps with the given words. "Certainly", cried little Hans, "but you must me your lantern, as the night is so dark that I am afraid of falling into the ditch." "I am very sorry," answered the Miller, "but it is my new , and it would be a great loss to me if anything happened to it." "Well, never mind, I will do without it," cried little Hans and started off. What a terrible storm it was! The night was so black that little Hans could hardly see, and the wind was so strong that he could hardly stand. However, he was very and after he had been walking for about three hours, he arrived at the Doctor's house. The Doctor rode off towards the Miller's house. Little Hans was walking behind him. The storm grew worse and worse, and he could not see where he was going. At last, he lost his way and found himself in a very place which was full of deep holes, and there poor little Hans was drowned. "Little Hans is certainly a great loss to me," said the Miller. "I have given him my , and now I don't know what to do with it. One certainly suffers for being ."

Put the paragraphs in the logical order.

Match the parts of the sentences to make them true.

What did Hans do for the Miller the next two days? Poor little Hans was very anxious to go and work in his garden, for his flowers had not been watered for two days, but he did not like to refuse the Miller, as he was such a good friend to him. So he jumped out of bed, and dressed himself, and went up to the barn. Hans was never able to look after his flowers at all, for his friend the Miller was always coming round and sending him off or asking him to come up and help at the mill.

Why did Hans go to the market the next day? The next day when little Hans was working in his garden he heard the Miller's voice calling to him from the road. The Miller had a large sack of flour on his back. "Dear little Hans," said the Miller, "would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me to the market and selling it for me? As I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, I don't think you will refuse." "Oh, no, no," cried little Hans and he went to the market because the Miller was his best friend. It was a very hot day, and the road was terribly dusty. Hans got very tired when he reached the market. He had waited there for some time and at last, sold the sack of flour at a very good price. "It has certainly been a hard day," he said to himself as he was going to bed, "but I am glad I did not refuse the Miller, for he is my best friend and, besides, he is going to give me his wheelbarrow." Early the next morning the Miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour, but little Hans was so tired that he was still in bed.

Read the text and choose all the correct statements. The next day when little Hans was working in his garden he heard the Miller's voice calling to him from the road. The Miller had a large sack of flour on his back. "Dear little Hans," said the Miller, "would you mind carrying this sack of flour for me to the market and selling it for me? As I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, I don't think you will refuse." "Oh, no, no," cried little Hans and he went to the market because the Miller was his best friend. It was a very hot day, and the road was terribly dusty. Hans got very tired when he reached the market. He had waited there for some time and at last, sold the sack of flour at a very good price. "It has certainly been a hard day," he said to himself as he was going to bed, "but I am glad I did not refuse the Miller, for he is my best friend and, besides, he is going to give me his wheelbarrow." Early the next morning the Miller came down to get the money for his sack of flour, but little Hans was so tired that he was still in bed.

Read the text and fill in the gaps with the words from the drop-down list. "Upon my word," said the Miller," you are very . Really, I think you ought to work harder. Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don't like my friends to be idle. You must not mind my speaking quite plainly to you. Of course, I should not dream of doing so if I were not your . But what is the good of friendship if one cannot say exactly what one means? Anybody can say nice things and try to please and to flatter, but a true friend always says things, and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, if he is a really good friend he prefers it, for he knows that then he is doing good." "I am very sorry," said little Hans, "but I was so that I thought I would lie in bed for a little while, and listen to the birds singing. Do you know that I always work better after hearing the birds ?" "Well, I am glad of that," said the Miller, "for I want you to come up to the mill as soon as you are dressed and mend my barn roof for me."