The Rivers and The Sea
Three Rivers confront the Sea for turning their fresh water salty, but realize it's their nature to flow into it.
Once upon a time, there were three happy rivers. They flowed through the land, giving fresh water to all the animals and plants nearby.
But one day, the rivers started to feel upset. Their water, which was always fresh and sweet, turned salty when they reached a big sea.
The rivers decided to talk to the sea. "Why are you making our water salty?" they asked angrily. "We want our water to stay fresh and nice."
The sea listened to the rivers quietly. After they finished speaking, the sea said, "If you don't want your water to become salty, you just need to stop flowing into me."
The rivers thought about this. They knew they couldn't stop flowing because that was what rivers do. They understood that it wasn't the sea's fault their water became salty. It was just the way things were.
In the end, the rivers accepted that their water would always turn salty when it mixed with the sea. They learned to live happily with this, knowing it was part of the natural world.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there were three happy rivers.
They flowed through the land, giving fresh water to all the animals and plants nearby.
But one day, the rivers started to feel upset.
Their water, which was always fresh and sweet, turned salty when they reached a big sea.
The rivers decided to talk to the sea.
"Why are you making our water salty?" they asked angrily.
"We want our water to stay fresh and nice."
The sea listened to the rivers quietly.
After they finished speaking, the sea said, "If you don't want your water to become salty, you just need to stop flowing into me."
The rivers thought about this.
They knew they couldn't stop flowing because that was what rivers do.
They understood that it wasn't the sea's fault their water became salty.
It was just the way things were.
In the end, the rivers accepted that their water would always turn salty when it mixed with the sea.
They learned to live happily with this, knowing it was part of the natural world.
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Word Finder
Flowed:
Moved smoothly in one direction like water.Nearby:
Close in distance to something or someone.Upset:
Feeling sad, angry, or unhappy about something.Fresh:
Clean, new, or not salty, especially water.Decided:
Made a choice after thinking about something.Salty:
Having the taste of salt, not sweet or fresh.Angrily:
In a way that shows strong feelings of anger.Quietly:
Without making much noise or sound.Mixed:
Combined two or more things together.Accepted:
Agreed to something even if it's not perfect.
Understanding Questions
- What was the main problem the rivers faced in the story?
- How did the rivers feel when their water became salty?
- What suggestion did the sea give to the rivers when they complained?
- Why did the rivers realize they couldn't stop flowing into the sea?
- What lesson did the rivers learn at the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
- Why were the Rivers unhappy with the Sea?
- What was the Sea's response to the Rivers' complaint, and why do you think it chose that response?
- Can you think of a time when you blamed someone for something, but then realized it wasn't entirely their fault?
- What does this story teach us about understanding and accepting the natural order of things?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story in our lives, especially when we feel upset or disappointed with a situation?
Fable Quotes
In accepting our nature, we embrace the responsibility that comes with it, shaping our destiny.
Acceptance is the first step towards understanding and coexistence.
True understanding is realizing that every river has its course, every sea its salt.
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