This is a short and fun story about a little gnat and a big bull. The gnat is very small. The bull is very big and strong. What happens when the little gnat sits on the bull’s horn?
Read the story and find out!
You will learn new English words, enjoy a simple story, and learn an important lesson about being kind and humble.
This story was rewritten by bestchildrenstories.com for English learners. The story is in the public domain, so it is free from copyright.
The Gnat and The Bull
By Aesop
It was a warm summer morning. The sun was shining, and the sky was bright blue. Colorful flowers grew in the green meadow. Bees flew from flower to flower, and little birds sang in the trees.
A tiny gnat was flying over the meadow. It was very small, but it made a loud buzzing sound.
“Buzz… Buzz… Buzz…”
The little gnat liked to fly everywhere. It looked at the flowers, the trees, and the animals. Then it saw a big brown bull standing in the grass.
The bull was strong and quiet. He was eating fresh green grass. He did not hurry. He looked peaceful and happy.
The gnat flew closer.
“What a big animal!” the gnat thought. “I will sit on one of his horns for a little while.”
The gnat landed softly on the tip of the bull’s long horn.
“This is a nice place to rest,” the gnat said happily.
The bull did not move. He kept eating the grass. A gentle wind blew across the meadow, but the bull stayed calm.
The little gnat sat on the horn for a few minutes. It looked around and enjoyed the beautiful day.
After some time, the gnat decided to leave.
Before flying away, it wanted to be polite.
“Dear Bull,” the gnat said, “thank you for letting me rest on your horn. I am sorry if I was heavy. You must be very happy that I am leaving now.”
The bull slowly lifted his head and looked at the tiny insect.
Then he smiled kindly.
“My little friend,” he said, “that is all right. I did not even know you were there.”
The gnat opened its eyes wide.
“You didn’t know?” it asked.
The bull shook his head.
“No,” he answered. “You are so small that I could not feel you.”
The gnat felt a little embarrassed.
Without saying another word, it quietly flew away into the blue sky.
The bull smiled again and went back to eating the sweet green grass.
The meadow became peaceful once more.
Moral of the Story:
Sometimes we think we are more important than we really are. Other people may not notice us as much as we think. A kind and humble person does not think too much about himself.
Being humble is the beginning of wisdom.
— THE END –
Read the original story: gutenberg.org
Vocabulary
- Gnat – a very small flying insect.
One warm morning, a tiny gnat was flying over the green meadow.
- Bull – a large and strong farm animal.
Then it saw a big brown bull standing in the grass.
- Meadow – a field with green grass and flowers.
A tiny gnat was flying over the green meadow.
- Horn – the hard, pointed part on the head of some animals.
The gnat landed softly on the tip of the bull’s long horn.
- Rest – to stop working or moving for a short time.
“This is a nice place to rest,” the gnat said happily.
- Grass – green plants that grow on the ground.
The bull was eating fresh green grass.
- Quiet – making little or no noise.
The bull was strong and quiet.
- Peaceful – calm and quiet.
He looked peaceful and happy.
- Smile – to show you are happy with your face.
Then he smiled kindly.
- Leave – to go away from a place.
After some time, the gnat decided to leave.
- Friend – a person or animal you like.
“My little friend,” he said, “that is all right.”
- Embarrassed – feeling shy because of something.
The gnat felt a little embarrassed.
- Humble – not thinking you are more important than other people.
A kind and humble person does not think too much about himself.
- Kind – nice and helpful to other people.
Be kind. Be humble.
Questions
1. Where was the gnat flying?
2. What did the gnat see in the meadow?
3. Where did the gnat sit?
4. What was the bull doing?
5. Why did the gnat say sorry to the bull?
6. Did the bull know the gnat was there?
7. How did the gnat feel after the bull spoke?
8. What can we learn from the story?
Test
1. Where was the gnat flying?
A) Over the sea
B) Over the meadow
C) Over the city
2. What animal did the gnat see?
A) A horse
B) A dog
C) A bull
3. Where did the gnat sit?
A) On the bull’s horn
B) On a flower
C) In a tree
4. What was the bull doing?
A) Running
B) Eating grass
C) Sleeping
5. Did the bull know the gnat was there?
A) Yes, he did
B) No, he did not
C) He was not sure
6. What is the lesson of the story?
A) Be humble
B) Be noisy
C) Be angry
Answers:
B 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. B 6. A
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