Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? ”The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs” is a great story with an amazing moral message about the strength of unity. We have three versions of the story for different levels of English readers: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Use the appropriate level for you or your students.
In this article, we also provide the moral of the story of the goose and golden eggs, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.
The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs Story
If you know your English reading level, jump to the appropriate one. If not, start with the beginner level and see if you’d be able to challenge yourself to read the intermediate or advanced version of “The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs.”
Beginner
Once in a small village, there was a farmer named Jack and his wife, Emma. They had a special goose that laid a golden egg every morning, making them rich. People from all around came to see this magical goose.
Jack and Emma became very wealthy, but they wanted more. Jack thought there might be more golden eggs inside the goose, so he cut it open. Sadly, there were no more golden eggs. They lost their magical source of wealth because of their greed.
The lesson is: being too greedy can lead to losing what you already have. Jack and Emma learned this lesson, and the village understood the importance of being content.
Intermediate
Once upon a time in a small village, a poor farmer named Jack and his wife, Emma, owned a farm with a remarkable goose. This special goose laid a golden egg every morning, bringing unexpected wealth to the couple. As the news spread, people from all around came to witness the magical event.
Jack and Emma’s life transformed with each golden egg. Their simple farmhouse turned into a grand mansion, and they became the envy of the village. However, their growing wealth fueled their greed.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Jack decided to cut open the goose, thinking there might be more golden eggs inside. To his dismay, there were none. Jack’s hasty decision had cost him the source of their fortune.
The moral of the story is that greed can lead to loss. Jack and Emma, once living a good life, learned a valuable lesson about contentment and the consequences of wanting more. The village returned to its peaceful ways, and the ordinary goose served as a reminder of the perils of greed.
Advanced
Once upon a time in a quaint village, there was a poor farmer named Jack and his wife, Emma. They owned a small farm with a few animals, including a goose. One day, to their surprise, the goose laid a golden egg. The couple was overjoyed and couldn’t believe their luck.
The news spread quickly, and soon, the whole village learned about the magical goose. Every morning, the goose would lay a single golden egg. Jack and Emma became the talk of the town, and people from far and wide came to witness the extraordinary event.
As time went by, Jack and Emma’s life changed. They became wealthier with each golden egg, and their once simple farmhouse transformed into a grand mansion. The couple was living a comfortable life, thanks to the magical goose.
However, as their wealth grew, so did their greed. Jack couldn’t help but wonder if there were more golden eggs inside the goose. One day, unable to resist his curiosity, he decided to cut the goose open, thinking he could get all the golden eggs at once. To his dismay, the goose had no more golden eggs inside. Jack’s hasty decision had cost him the source of his fortune. The couple was left with regret and an ordinary goose.
The moral of the story is that greed can lead to loss. Jack and Emma had a good life with the golden eggs, but their desire for more made them lose everything. It teaches us to be content with what we have and not to let greed cloud our judgment.
And so, the once-magical goose continued to live on the farm, reminding everyone in the village about the consequences of greed. Jack and Emma learned a valuable lesson, and the village returned to its peaceful ways, realizing that true wealth comes from appreciating the blessings we already have.
The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs: Moral of the Story
The moral of the story about the goose and the golden eggs is: Be happy with what you have and don’t be too greedy, or you might lose what’s important.
Vocabulary
Learn the words that appear in the story to build your vocabulary.
- golden: made of gold.
- wealthy: very rich.
- greedy: having a selfish desire for something.
- unexpected: surprising.
- mansion: a very large house.
- perils: serious dangers.
- curiosity: strong desire to know something.
The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs: Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension activities assess and ensure that the reader has understood the story. These questions test the basic understanding and thinking skills such as analysis and interpretation. If you are an English teacher, use these reading comprehension questions to evaluate your student’s ability to extract meaning, make connections, and apply the information they’ve acquired.
Comprehension Questions
- What did the special goose do every morning?
- How did Jack and Emma’s life change with the golden eggs?
- Why did Jack cut open the goose?
- What happened when Jack cut open the goose?
- What is the moral of the story?
Answers
- The special goose laid a golden egg every morning.
- Jack and Emma became wealthy, and their simple farmhouse turned into a grand mansion.
- Jack was curious and greedy, thinking there might be more golden eggs inside the goose.
- To Jack’s dismay, there were no more golden eggs, and he lost the magical source of wealth.
- The moral of the story is to be content with what you have and not let greed lead to losing what’s important.
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The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs: Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on this classic moral story about a greedy man and the golden goose? Do you agree with the moral of the story? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.
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