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The Geese and The Cranes

Geese and cranes coexisted peacefully in a meadow until hunters arrived; the agile cranes escaped, while the slower geese were captured.

Cranes flying to safety while slower geese are caught by hunters in a meadow

Audio available for B1 version

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In a big field, there are geese and cranes. They live together. They are happy.

One day, the geese and the cranes are eating together in the field. They enjoy the food. Then, they hear a loud noise. Some men come. The men want to catch the birds.

The cranes have long legs and thin bodies. They fly up into the sky. They are light and can fly away fast. The cranes are safe.

The geese are big and slow. They try hard to get away. They flap their wings, but they cannot fly fast. The men catch the geese.

The geese and the cranes live in the same field. They eat the same food. But what happens to them is very different.

In a large open field, geese and cranes lived together, sharing the space happily.

One sunny day, while they were all in the field eating, there was a loud noise. Hunters had come to catch birds for food.

The cranes, with their long legs and light bodies, quickly flew up into the sky. They escaped easily and found safety far away.

But the geese, which were bigger and slower, had trouble flying away. They flapped their wings hard but couldn't escape fast enough. One by one, the hunters caught them, while the cranes watched safely from a distance.

In the end, the geese were caught, but the cranes were safe. Even though they lived in the same field and ate the same food, their fates were very different.

In a large meadow, there lived a group of geese and a group of cranes. They lived peacefully together in their shared home.

One sunny day, while both birds were enjoying the food in the meadow, their peace was broken by a sudden, scary noise. A group of hunters had arrived, hoping to catch birds for their dinner.

The cranes, with their thin and light bodies, reacted quickly. They flew into the air with great speed, rising quickly to safety in the sky. Their light bodies helped them disappear into the distance with ease.

The geese, however, had a difficult time. Their heavier bodies made their escape slow and hard. Even though they tried hard to fly away, they couldn't rise as fast as the cranes. The hunters got closer and closer, and one by one, the geese were caught, while the cranes watched from a safe place.

So, even though they lived in the same place and shared the same food, the geese and cranes had very different outcomes.

Once upon a time, in a gigantic field that seemed to stretch forever, a bunch of geese and cranes were living it up. Best friends, just chilling, munching on tasty grass and bugs. You know, the usual birdie lunch.

Then, on one sunny, perfect-for-a-picnic day, they're all feasting in the meadow like it's a giant birthday party with all-you-can-eat cake. "Mmm, delicious!" says one goose, crumbs flying everywhere.

Out of nowhere—BANG! A super loud noise rings out, like someone banging a pot with a spoon! Hunters have arrived, carrying big nets and looking like they want bird sandwiches for dinner.

The cranes? They're like, "Bye-bye!" They're skinny and light, and they zip up into the sky faster than you can say, "Where'd they go?" They zoom away, almost like they have jetpacks on their backs.

Now, the geese, oh boy, they're flapping and flapping, trying to lift off. "C'mon, team, flap like you've never flapped before!" But it's no use. They're a bit on the pudgy side, and it's like watching a sack of potatoes try to hop.

The hunters are closing in, swinging their nets like they're trying to catch butterflies, and yup, they nab the geese. "Aw, pickles," says one goose, flopping down sadly. "Should've done more flying exercises."

The cranes are way up high, watching the whole thing unfold. "Well," they say, "guess it's true. Being in the same spot and munching the same lunch doesn't mean the same thing happens to everyone!"

Geese and cranes, best pals they were,
In a meadow fair, under skies so clear.
They'd snack and laugh, so full of cheer,
Till hunters came, spreading fear.

The cranes, so light, took to the sky,
With slender frames, they flew up high.
Away they soared, saying "Goodbye,"
Their safety found where eagles fly.

But geese, oh dear, they weren't so fast,
Their bulky build just couldn't last.
Despite their flap, their fate was cast,
The hunters caught them, holding fast.

Cranes up high looked down below,
Their goosey friends caught by the foe.
Though they had shared both sun and snow,
Their fate that day was not to go.

So there in the sky and on the ground,
Two kinds of birds, their lesson found.
Though they had shared each laugh and sound,
That day they learned life's not so round.

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Word Finder
  1. Field

    A big open area of land.
  2. Cranes

    Birds with long legs and necks.
  3. Together

    With each other in one place.
  4. Enjoy

    To feel happy and like something.
  5. Noise

    A sound that you can hear.
  6. Catch

    To get and hold something.
  7. Thin

    Not fat, small in size.
  8. Sky

    The space above the earth.
  9. Away

    To a different place from here.
  10. Happens

    When something takes place.
  1. Cranes

    Large birds with long necks and legs.
  2. Geese

    Large water birds, bigger than ducks.
  3. Hunters

    People who catch or kill animals.
  4. Escape

    Get away from a place or danger.
  5. Safely

    Without any danger or harm happening.
  6. Different

    Not the same in any way.
  7. Sharing

    Using or enjoying something with others.
  8. Together

    With or near to each other.
  9. Quickly

    At a fast speed; very fast.
  10. Trouble

    Difficulties or problems causing worry.
  1. Meadow

    Open field with grass and flowers.
  2. Peacefully

    Without any trouble or conflict.
  3. Sudden

    Happening quickly and unexpectedly.
  4. Reacted

    Responded to something that happened.
  5. Safety

    A place where you are not in danger.
  6. Disappeared

    Went away and could not be seen.
  7. Distance

    The amount of space between two places.
  8. Escape

    Get away from something dangerous.
  9. Heavier

    Weighing more than something else.
  10. Outcomes

    Results of actions or events.
  1. Gigantic

    Very, very big.
  2. Munching

    Eating in a noisy way.
  3. Crumbs

    Tiny pieces of food that fall off when you eat.
  4. Stretch

    To extend or spread out to full length.
  5. Nets

    Tools made of strings tied together, used to catch things.
  6. Zip

    Move very fast.
  7. Pudgy

    A little bit fat.
  8. Flapping

    Moving wings up and down to fly.
  9. Nab

    Grab or catch quickly.
  10. Unfold

    Happen or become known.
  1. Geese

    Large birds with a long neck and webbed feet.
  2. Cranes

    Tall, slender birds with a long neck and long legs.
  3. Meadow

    A field with wild grass and flowers.
  4. Cheer

    Happiness or joy.
  5. Slender

    Thin, slim, or narrow.
  6. Soared

    Flew up high in the sky.
  7. Bulky

    Large, heavy, and difficult to move.
  8. Fate

    What happens to someone or something in the end.
  9. Foe

    An enemy or opponent.
  10. Round

    Here, it means life is not always simple or predictable.
Understanding Questions
  1. Where do the geese and cranes live?
    1. In a house
    2. In a big field
    3. In a forest
    4. In a tree
  2. What do the geese and cranes do together?
    1. They swim.
    2. They eat.
    3. They play.
    4. They sleep.
  3. Who comes to the field?
    1. Some children
    2. Some men
    3. Some dogs
    4. Some cats
  4. Why are the cranes safe?
    1. They hide.
    2. They run.
    3. They fly fast.
    4. They stay.
  5. Why are the geese not safe?
    1. They fly fast.
    2. They run.
    3. They hide.
    4. They are slow.
  1. What did the geese and cranes do in the large open field??
  2. What caused the loud noise in the field?
  3. How did the cranes escape from the hunters?
  4. Why were the geese unable to escape as quickly as the cranes?
  5. What did the cranes do while the hunters were catching the geese?
  1. How did the arrival of the hunters change the peaceful life of the geese and cranes?
  2. What characteristic of the cranes allowed them to escape quickly from the hunters?
  3. Why did the geese struggle to escape from the hunters compared to the cranes?
  4. How did the different physical attributes of the geese and cranes lead to different outcomes when the hunters arrived?
  5. What does the fable suggest about the importance of physical characteristics in facing dangers?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the Cranes were able to escape the hunters but the Geese were not?
  2. How do you think the Geese felt when they were unable to fly away as quickly as the Cranes?
  3. What difference between the Geese and the Cranes led to their different fates?
  4. Can you think of a situation where being quick and light would be more useful than being big and strong?
  5. What important lesson can we learn from this story about preparing for danger?
Fable Quotes

Caution is the wing that carries you to safety amidst the lurking dangers.

Strength lies not in size, but in the ability to adapt and face challenges with courage.

Those who adapt swiftly soar above the challenges, while the inflexible are left grounded.