Premchand's story of a festival day, a poor little boy with three coins, and a very unusual present.
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Ten words open the story. Do the four short activities. Say your answer out loud first, then click Reveal.
Three words: tongs · clay · coin. Say the right word, then reveal.
This is a famous story from India, retold here in simple English. Read each part. Then answer the questions from memory, and talk about one question.
It was the morning of Eid, and the whole village was happy. The children were the happiest of all. They counted their money again and again. Mahmood had twelve coins. Mohsin had fifteen.
Hamid had three coins. He was only five years old. His father and mother were dead, and he lived with his old grandmother, Amina. But Hamid did not know the truth. His grandmother told him, "Your father is working far away, and your mother is visiting God. They will come back with lots of presents." So Hamid was happy.
Amina was very poor. She had almost no food in the house, and Hamid had no shoes. She cried a little. But Hamid smiled and said, "Don't worry, Granny! I'll come back soon!" Then he ran down the road with his friends to the Idgah, three miles away.
1. Where are Hamid's parents really? What does he think?
2. Why is his grandmother sad?
1. They are dead. Hamid thinks his father is working and his mother is visiting God.
2. She is very poor: there is almost no food, and Hamid has no shoes for the long walk.
The walk was long and hot, and Hamid had no shoes. But the children saw big houses, a police station and a shop full of sweets, and they talked and laughed all the way. At the Idgah, thousands of people prayed together in long lines.
After the prayers, the children ran to the fair. There were rides, and the boys paid one coin each and went round and round. Hamid only watched. Then the boys bought clay toys: a soldier, a water-carrier and a lawyer. Hamid wanted a toy too, but he said, "They're only clay. If they fall, they will break." Then the boys bought sweets and ate them in front of Hamid. They teased him and laughed.
Then Hamid saw a shop with metal things, and he stopped. There was a pair of iron tongs. He thought, "Every day Granny makes bread on the hot pan, and she burns her fingers. With tongs, her fingers will be safe!" The tongs cost six coins. Hamid had only three. "Three?" he asked. The shopkeeper said no, and Hamid walked away. Then the shopkeeper called him back. "OK. Three." Hamid put the tongs on his shoulder like a soldier with a gun and walked back proudly.
1. What do the other boys buy at the fair?
2. Why does Hamid buy the tongs?
1. Rides, clay toys (a soldier, a water-carrier, a lawyer) and sweets.
2. Because his grandmother burns her fingers every day when she makes bread.
"Tongs? That's a stupid present!" laughed Mohsin. But Hamid said, "My tongs are a gun on my shoulder. They are also a musical instrument. And they are strong too. Your toys are clay. If they get wet, they will break. My tongs can go in the fire as well!" The boys stopped laughing. Soon they all wanted to hold the tongs. And by the evening, all the clay toys were broken.
When Hamid got home, his grandmother was angry. "Tongs? You didn't eat anything all day, and you bought tongs?" Hamid said quietly, "You burn your fingers on the hot pan. So I bought them for you." Amina's anger went away. She held Hamid and cried, and she thanked God for him again and again. The little boy was like a wise old man, and the old woman cried like a little girl.
1. Give two reasons Hamid says his tongs are better than the toys.
2. How does Amina feel first — and then?
1. Any two: they are a gun, a musical instrument, strong, and they can go in the fire; the clay toys break.
2. First angry, then very happy and full of love — she cries.
Hamid wins the argument because he gives his friends more and more reasons. To add an idea, we use also, too and as well. They mean the same thing, but they go in different places in the sentence.
Write one word or two words. Look at the place in the sentence!
1. Mahmood bought a toy. He bought sweets.
2. The tongs are useful. They are strong .
3. Hamid had no shoes. He had no money for sweets .
1. also 2. too (or as well) 3. as well (or too)
Write too or either.
1. Hamid didn't ride on the wheel. He didn't eat sweets .
2. Mohsin laughed at Hamid. Mahmood laughed .
3. The soldier broke. The lawyer broke .
1. either (negative) 2. too 3. too
Write also, too, as well or either in each gap. Then read it aloud like Hamid!
"My tongs are a gun. They are a musical instrument. They are very strong . They can go in the fire . Your soldier can't fight. He can't hold a gun . Your toys are pretty, but they are fragile. And my grandmother will be happy !"
also · too / as well · as well / too · either · also · too / as well
Six reasons, one after another — that's how Hamid wins!
Keep these words ready — in the Speak tab you will give your own reasons.
Premchand (1880–1936) is one of the most famous writers in India. He wrote in Hindi and Urdu, and he wrote about poor people in villages. He wrote "Idgah" in 1933. Today, children in India and Pakistan still read it at school.
This is the most important part of the lesson. Do everything out loud. Use the timer and try to speak for the whole time.
Tell Idgah in your own words. Follow the steps: Eid morning → Hamid and his three coins → his grandmother → the fair, the toys and the sweets → the tongs → the argument → the broken toys → Granny's tears.
Use also, too and as well at least once each, and at least five key words (orphan, fair, tease, coin, tongs, clay, fragile, haggle, spend on, burn).
Say what you think and give three reasons. Was Hamid right to buy the tongs? Or should a little boy buy something fun on a festival day? Use also and too to add your reasons.
Then change sides! Speak for one minute for the other opinion.
Talk about presents, money and festivals.
No idea? Choose one of these: