Back to the story

A. How much did you understand?

 A little bird takes a message from Fatuma to her mother and father.

Put these sentences in the right order.

1. Then the bird went to Fatuma's father. He was sewing a pair of shoes.
2. She looked up. A little bird was sitting on a branch beside her.
3. "Be quiet," she said. "Go away."
4. "Woman, what are you doing? Why are you shaking your butter churn?"

A prince meets Fatuma.

Put these sentences in the right order.

1. "Beautiful girl, how did you climb this tree?"
2. "Give these people food," she said to her servants. 
3. The years passed, and Fatuma's mother and father became very poor.
4. "If my spit reaches you, and if it changes to gold, I will marry you."

B. Who is speaking?

Who said these sentences? Sometimes more than one person says the same thing.

1. "I will fly to your mother and father and give them your message."
2. "I don't believe you. It's impossible."
3. "You stupid bird, what do you mean?"
4. "What is it, shepherd? What do you want?"
5. "First I must test you."
6. "We are dying of hunger! Give us something to eat!"
7. "Give them clothes and shoes."

C. Questions with "what"

Answer these questions

1. What had the bird broken?
2. What did Fatuma promise to give the bird?
3. What was Fatuma's mother doing when the little bird came to her?
4. What was Fatuma's father doing when the little bird came to him?
5. What did the little bird bring to Fatuma every day?
6. Fatuma told her servants to give three things to her parents. What were they?

D. What do you think?

Can you find any words to describe Fatuma's mother and father?

Did you like the little rhymes in the story? Do you think that they make the story more interesting?

Was Fatuma right to help her parents when they were old and hungry? Didn't they deserve to be punished?

Check the answers