The Stupid Monkeys

A gardener asked monkeys to water young trees in the king's garden, but their lack of understanding led to the trees dying.

Once upon a time, a kind king decided to give a holiday to all the people in one of his cities. This meant a day of fun and happiness for everyone, including the gardener who took care of the king's garden.

The gardener was a simple man who loved his work. But when he heard about the holiday, he wanted to spend the day with his friends in the city. The only problem was, he needed to water the young trees in the garden. Then he had an idea, "Why not ask the Monkeys to do it for me?"

In the king's garden lived a group of playful Monkeys. The gardener went to their Chief, a wise Monkey. He asked, "You have a nice home here in the king's garden. You play all day and eat the best fruits. Today, my friends are celebrating in the city, and I want to join them. Can you help me by watering the young trees while I am away?"

The Chief of the Monkeys, happy to help, replied, "Oh, yes! We would be glad to do that."

The gardener felt relieved. He said, "Water the trees at sunset. Make sure they have enough water, but not too much," and showed them the watering pots.

As the sun set, the Monkeys picked up the watering pots. The Chief told them, "Make sure each tree has enough water."

"But how will we know when each tree has enough?" the Monkeys asked. The Chief, unsure, said, "Pull up each young tree and look at its roots. Trees with long roots need a lot of water. Trees with short roots need only a little water."

So, the Monkeys, trying to help, did as they were told. They pulled up every tree to check the roots. When the gardener returned the next day, he was very sad. All the young trees were lifeless, their roots out of the soil and dry.

The gardener realized his mistake. He thought the Monkeys, being smart, could take care of the trees. But he forgot that Monkeys, even if they are smart, do not understand how to care for trees like humans do.

Monkeys pulling up young trees to check their roots before watering them

Audio available for B1 version

Text Version
Intermediate (B1)

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Word Finder
  1. Decided

    Made a choice or made up your mind.
  2. Gardener

    A person who takes care of plants and flowers.
  3. Celebrating

    Enjoying a special event or day happily.
  4. Playful

    Full of fun and eager to play around.
  5. Relieved

    Feeling less worried or stressed about something.
  6. Sunset

    Time when the sun goes down in the evening.
  7. Unsure

    Not certain or not having confidence.
  8. Lifeless

    Without life; dead or not alive anymore.
  9. Realized

    Understood or became aware of something.
  10. Roots

    Part of a plant that grows underground, and takes in water.
Understanding Questions
  1. Why did the gardener want to spend the day in the city?
  2. Who did the gardener ask for help with watering the young trees?
  3. What instructions did the gardener give the Monkeys about watering the trees?
  4. What mistake did the Monkeys make when watering the trees?
  5. How did the gardener feel when he returned the next day and saw the young trees?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why do you think the gardener trusted the monkeys with watering the trees?
  2. How do you feel about the monkeys' decision to pull up the trees to check their roots?
  3. Can you think of a time when you or someone else didn't fully understand a task and it resulted in a mistake?
  4. What does this story teach us about the importance of understanding the tasks we're given before we start them?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story to ensure we ask for help or more explanation when we don't fully understand something?
Fable Quotes

Understanding the intricacies of a task is vital, for ignorance can lead to unintended destruction.

Responsibility is the foundation of trust and success; neglecting it can lead to unforeseen consequences.

Knowledge is the key to responsible actions, for without it, good intentions can lead to unintended destruction.

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