Goal: read fables for their morals, distinguish present simple from present continuous, learn proverbs & idioms, write a short story with a moral, give learning tips. Examined in Test 11 (word-box fill-in), Test 7 (comprehension on a story), Test 16 (story / fable / article).
📐 Present simple vs present continuous
- Simple: habits, truths, routines (verb / verb-s).
- Continuous: action NOW or these days (am/is/are + V-ing).
- Triggers for simple: every day, always, usually, never, often.
- Triggers for continuous: now, at the moment, today, this week.
- NEVER -ing: like, love, hate, know, understand, remember, want, need, believe.
I read a newspaper every morning. (habit)
I am reading a novel this week. (now)
I love cricket. (NOT "am loving")
📚 Top proverbs (learn 10)
- Unity is strength.
- Patience is a virtue.
- Think before you leap.
- Practice makes perfect.
- Better late than never.
- A stitch in time saves nine.
- Birds of a feather flock together.
- Honesty is the best policy.
- Where there's a will, there's a way.
- Slow and steady wins the race.
🗣 Top idioms
- burn the midnight oil — work late
- a piece of cake — very easy
- hit the books — start studying
- under the weather — slightly ill
- let the cat out of the bag — reveal a secret
- once in a blue moon — very rarely
- break the ice — start a conversation
📖 Fable shape
- Short story (200 words max).
- Animals usually act as people.
- One clear conflict → one clear resolution.
- Ends with the moral on its own line.
- Classic morals: unity is strength, patience is a virtue, think before you leap.
✍️ Writing — official word counts
- Notice (Test 6): 40–50 words.
- Short paragraph (Test 8): 50–60 words. Topic → details → close.
- Letter / data description (Test 14): ~100 words.
- Story / article / speech (Test 16): ~200 words. Hook → middle → twist → moral or call to action.