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The Story of the Great Monkey

A wise and brave monkey leader saves his tribe from danger, earning admiration and protection from a human king.

A brave monkey leader standing before his tribe and an approaching human king

Audio available for B1 version

Text Version
Basic (A1)Intermediate (B1)Advanced (C1)

Once upon a time, in a thick forest near the Himalayas, there was a tribe of monkeys. Their leader was a wise, kind, and brave monkey, loved and respected by all the others. He always took care of his tribe.

The monkeys lived happily in a big tree full of fruit by a river. The river was wide and dangerous, with strong currents. The monkeys, being good climbers and jumpers, stayed safe by keeping away from the water.

One day, a human king and his men came to the forest to hunt. After a while, they got tired and thirsty, so they stopped by the river to rest and drink some water. The king saw the beautiful tree with all its fruit and wanted to taste them. But the tree was too tall, and its branches hung over the river.

The king, eager to eat the fruit, told his men to cut down the tree so they could get to the fruit. The sound of chopping echoed through the forest, and the leader monkey heard it. He quickly understood the danger and decided to save his tribe.

Without wasting time, the leader monkey jumped from branch to branch, gathering all the monkeys. Then, he made a big jump to another tree on the other side of the river. He grabbed a strong branch but didn’t climb up. Instead, he let his body swing back towards the tree where the monkeys were.

As he swung back, he called out to his tribe, "When I come close, jump onto my body. Then, when I swing back, jump off to safety." One by one, each monkey jumped onto the leader’s body as he swung back and forth and then jumped off to safety on the other side.

In the end, all the monkeys were safe, and they thanked their brave leader. The leader monkey, though tired and hurt from carrying his tribe, was happy that he saved them.

The king, who watched the whole thing from the riverside, was impressed by the monkey leader’s bravery and cleverness. He told his men to stop cutting the tree and decided that the monkeys and other animals in the forest should be protected from that day on.

In the wild jungles near the towering Himalayas, where trees chat with the breeze and rivers dance to a lively beat, there was a tribe of very sophisticated monkeys. Their leader? A wise, kind, and brave monkey, who wore his wisdom like a crown and his kindness like a cozy sweater. He was the "Big Banana" of monkey business, and all his followers loved him to bits.

These monkeys called a beautiful, fruit-loaded tree home. It was a fruit party every day! The river next door, though, was as sneaky as a fox, hiding all sorts of dangers beneath its sparkling surface. But no worries! Our monkey friends were ace jumpers and climbers and avoided the water like a cat avoids a bath.

Then came along a human king, with his royal parade of hunters, horses, and pointy hats. They were tired, thirsty, and lost enough to make any GPS give up. When the king spotted the grand fruit party in the tree, he said, "Well, I fancy some of that! Let's have a royal fruit feast, lads!" But alas, the tree was tall, like, REALLY tall.

"Chop it down!" ordered the king, with the enthusiasm of a child in a candy store. Axes and saws sang their terrible song, and the great monkey, our 'Big Banana', knew it was time for some serious monkey action.

With moves that would make a gymnast jealous, the great monkey swung through the trees, gathering his tribe. He then made the biggest leap of his life, landing on a sturdy branch. But he didn't climb up. Oh no! He had a plan, as cunning as a detective's mustache.

Swinging back, he yelled, "Grab hold, you bunch of banana enthusiasts! It's jumping time!" The monkeys clung to their leader like stickers on a treasure chest, swinging back and forth, jumping to safety. It was like the greatest circus show, but without the clowns.

Finally, all the monkeys were safe, cheering and thanking their wise leader. The great monkey, a bit scruffy and scratched but with a smile as big as a watermelon, said, "Well, that's just another day in Monkeyville!"

The king, eyes wider than his royal tea saucers, stopped the tree massacre and said, "That monkey's got more brains than my entire court! Let's make this a place where every animal can dance in peace!"

And so, it was done. The area became a happy land for all animals, where you could hear laughter mixed with chirps, roars, and monkey chatters, all living in peace, love, and a whole lot of bananas.

Beside the towering Himalayan peaks,
Where rivers gleamed and forests had mystique,
A tribe of monkeys, lively and neat,
Lived high on a tree, their fruity treat.

Their leader, wise with eyes so kind,
Guided each monkey with a protective mind.
Below, dangerous waters did foam and churn,
Warning the monkeys, "Tread not, return."

Into this forest, a human king did come,
With royal followers, beating the drum.
His eyes spied the fruits, shining so fine,
"Oh! How I wish those treasures were mine!"

To cut the tree, his men did start,
But the monkey leader, with a brave heart,
Swung from branches, his plan so clear,
To save his tribe from looming fear.

With leaps and swings, strong and true,
To the other side, the leader flew.
"Hold onto me, fear not the height!"
Monkey by monkey, they reached the other site.

The king, touched by this brave act apart,
Ordered his men, "Let the tree stand, don’t tear it apart!"
For he realized, in those moments so small,
That the forest was home, for creatures one and all.

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Word Finder
  1. Tribe

    A group of animals living together peacefully.
  2. Currents

    Strong movements of water flowing in one direction.
  3. Eager

    Very excited to do something or get something.
  4. Chopping

    Cutting something, usually wood, into pieces.
  5. Echoed

    A sound repeated as it bounces off surfaces.
  6. Danger

    A situation that can cause harm or trouble.
  7. Gathering

    Collecting things or bringing people or animals together.
  8. Swing

    Move back and forth like a pendulum.
  9. Impressed

    Feeling admiration for someone or something.
  10. Cleverness

    The ability to think quickly and solve problems easily.
  1. Sophisticated

    Smart and experienced, knowing how to do things well.
  2. Towering

    Very tall or high, reaching great heights.
  3. Sneaky

    Acting in a secretive or sly way.
  4. Parade

    A public procession, often with music and celebration.
  5. Fancy

    To desire or like something a lot.
  6. Enthusiasm

    Strong excitement or eagerness about something.
  7. Terrible

    Very bad, causing fear or worry.
  8. Cunning

    Clever or sly, often in a tricky way.
  9. Clung

    Held on tightly, not letting go.
  10. Treasure

    Something very valuable or precious.
  1. Towering

    Very tall, standing high above everything.
  2. Mystique

    A special, mysterious, and attractive quality.
  3. Tribe

    A group of people or animals living together.
  4. Protective

    Wanting to keep someone safe from harm.
  5. Churn

    Move or shake forcefully, usually creating bubbles.
  6. Tread

    Walk or step on something carefully or lightly.
  7. Royal

    Related to a king, queen, or their family.
  8. Treasures

    Valuable things, often hidden or hard to find.
  9. Looming

    Appearing as a large, threatening shape.
  10. Apart

    Separated by distance or space from others.
Understanding Questions
  1. Where did the tribe of monkeys live, and what kept them safe from the river?
    1. In the trees
    2. In the jungle
    3. By the river
    4. On the mountain
  2. Why did the king want his men to cut down the tree by the river?
    1. To build a house
    2. To clear a path
    3. To use the wood
    4. To see the river better
  3. What did the leader monkey do when he heard the sound of chopping?
    1. He ran away
    2. He climbed higher
    3. He called the others
    4. He ignored it
  4. How did the leader monkey help his tribe cross the river to safety?
    1. He built a bridge
    2. He showed them a safe path
    3. He carried them
    4. He found a boat
  5. What decision did the king make after watching the leader monkey’s actions?
    1. To leave the monkeys alone
    2. To capture the monkeys
    3. To destroy the trees
    4. To build a dam
  1. Where did the tribe of monkeys live, and what kept them safe from the river?
  2. Why did the king want his men to cut down the tree by the river?
  3. What did the leader monkey do when he heard the sound of chopping?
  4. How did the leader monkey help his tribe cross the river to safety?
  5. What decision did the king make after watching the leader monkey’s actions?
  1. Where did the tribe of monkeys live, and what kept them safe from the river?
  2. Why did the king want his men to cut down the tree by the river?
  3. What did the leader monkey do when he heard the sound of chopping?
  4. How did the leader monkey help his tribe cross the river to safety?
  5. What decision did the king make after watching the leader monkey’s actions?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the Great Monkey decided to save his tribe instead of just saving himself?
  2. How did the Great Monkey's actions change the king's mind about cutting the tree?
  3. Can you think of a time when you helped someone else, even though it was hard or tiring?
  4. What does this story teach us about leadership and caring for others?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story in our lives to be brave and selfless, just like the Great Monkey?
Fable Quotes

Leadership is not about being in front, but about making sure no one is left behind.

Love swings courageously, bearing the weight of others, and leaps fearlessly to ensure their safety.

In the heart of the brave, courage is the rhythm that keeps the beat.