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Fiction “It seems to me that almost everything is a waste of time,” Milo remarks as he walks dejectedly home from school. Until for no logical or predictable reason he is transported to a strange world of words, numbers and confusion. ‘Isn’t it beautiful?’ gasped Milo. ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ answered a strange voice. ‘It all depends on how you look at things.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ said Milo, for he didn’t see who had spoken. ‘I said it depends how you look at things,’ repeated the voice. Milo turned around and found himself staring at two very neatly polished brown shoes, for standing directly in front of him (if you can use the word ‘standing’ for someone suspended in mid-air) was another boy just about his age, whose feet were easily three feet off the ground. ‘For instance,’ continued the boy, ‘if you happen to like deserts, you might not think this was beautiful at all.’ ‘For instance,’ said the boy again, ‘if Christmas trees were people and people were Christmas trees, we’d all be chopped down, put up in the living room, and covered with tinsel, while the trees opened our presents.’ ‘What does that have to do with it?’ asked Milo. 83 Year 6, Sequence 11 ‘Nothing at all,’ he answered, ‘but it’s an interesting possibility, don’t you think?’ ‘How do you manage to stand up there?’ for this was the subject that most interested him. ‘I was about to ask you a similar question,’ answered the boy, ‘for you must be much older than you look to be standing on the ground.’ ‘What do you mean?’ Milo asked. ‘Well,’ said the boy, ‘in my family everyone is born in the air, with his head at exactly the height it’s going to be when he’s an adult, and then we all grow towards the ground. When we’re fully grown up, or as you can see, grown down, our feet finally touch. Of course, there are a few of us whose feet never reach the ground, no matter how old we get, but I suppose it is the same in every family.’ He hopped a few steps in the air, skipped back to where he started, and then began again. ‘You certainly must be very old to have reached the ground already.’ ‘Oh no,’ said Milo seriously, ‘in my family we all start on the ground and grow up, and we never know how far until we actually get there.’ ‘What a silly system,’ the boy laughed. ‘Then your head keeps changing its height and you always see things in a different way? Why, when you’re fifteen things won’t look at all the way they did when you were ten, and at twenty everything will change again.’ ‘I suppose so,’ said Milo, for he had never really thought about the matter. ‘We always see things from the same angle,’ the boy continued. ‘It’s much less trouble that way. Besides it makes more sense to grow down and not up. When you’re very young, you can never hurt yourself from falling down if you’re in mid-air, and you certainly can’t get into trouble for scuffing your shoes or marking the floor if there’s nothing to scuff them on and the floor is three feet away

STUDENTS THINK FAKE NEWS IS FACT AND ARE USING IT IN THEIR SCHOOLWORK, SAY TEACHERS

Teachers are frustrated that students can’t accept that some stories on social networks are false, while experts suggest that students need better education about online dangers. Students believe that fake news is a fact, and are repeating it in lessons and using it in written work, teachers have warned. More than a third of teachers say their students have used false information that they found online, according to a survey by a teacher’s union.

The union’s general secretary Chris Keates said that the information was "worrying" and it showed that internet companies have a lot of power to influence people’s opinions, especially young people. International education experts are becoming more worried about the situation and say that teachers will need to teach children how to spot fake news. Others were frustrated that students didn’t believe that news they had seen on Facebook and other social media sites was not true, even when the problem was explained to them. One teacher said that students often thought that fake news sites were real, and also that anything that President Donald Trump said was a fact. Last week, German officials said they would give fines of up to 50 million euro to social networks if they didn’t take down illegal fake news posts. The new law would give social networks 24 hours to delete or block the content and seven days to concentrate on more complicated cases. Commenting on the results of the survey, Ms. Keates said that she was worried about the trend, particularly because many young people have never known a world without internet, and are less able to judge whether information that they read online is real or fake. She added that: "It is important for children and young people to be made aware that not everything they see and read online is real."

She said that teachers are trying to help educate students about using false information, but added that it was important for internet providers and websites to take responsibility for any material that is available, and also to deal with people who misuse their services. Last month, Andreas Schleicher, the director of education and skills at OECD (The Organization of Economic co-operation and Development) said that in the modern age, being able to tell the difference between what is real and what is fake is a critical skill. He added that: "This is something that we believe schools can do something about."

Adapted from the Independent by Rachel Pells, April 12th, 2017

·  I didn’t study for the test, so I failed.
→ If I __________, I __________.

·  She didn’t wake up early, so she missed the bus.
→ If she __________, she __________.

·  They forgot to bring their tickets, so they couldn’t enter the concert.
→ If they __________, they __________.

·  He didn’t eat breakfast, so he was hungry during class.
→ If he __________, he __________.

·  We didn’t leave the house on time, so we were late for the meeting.
→ If we __________, we __________.

·  She didn’t read the instructions, so she made a mistake.
→ If she __________, she __________.

·  I didn’t ask for directions, so I got lost.
→ If I __________, I __________.

·  They didn’t bring enough money, so they couldn’t buy the tickets.
→ If they __________, they __________.

·  He didn’t repair the car, so it broke down on the highway.
→ If he __________, it __________.

·  I didn’t wear a coat, so I caught a cold.
→ If I __________, I __________.

Since I don't feel like grading a final paper and I KNOW you don't feel like doing a final paper, your final project for this year will be...(drumroll please)... a creative project!

What does that mean? It means that your project is up to you.

TASK: 

Part 1: You are going to create some type of project (digital or physical) that illustrates 3 things: a visual representation of AT LEAST ONE novel we've read in class, what you've learned from said novel, and some indicator of your emotions towards the novel. In Part 1, you must submit a written proposal to me as to what your project will be: your proposal must include: the 3 components of your project (see above), a plan for what you intend to do each day in class, what materials you intend to use to make your project, and what texts you are going to get your sources from.

Part 2: Create the project using the guidelines listed above

Part 3: You are going to write me a 2 page argument explaining how your creative project represents your chosen novel. Your write-up should include: a claim, 3 pieces of evidence (quotes) from the book, 3 pieces of elaboration, and why you chose to do your project the way you did (or put another way: why DIDN'T you do another type of project?)

Dear David,

How are you? I hope this email finds you well and ready for a good story! I wanted to tell you about an adventure that I had recently, which I thought you may find funny!

Last Friday, I went to the park with my brother and friend Tony. It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone was having fun. Everything was going well until I decided to walk near the little pond. I didn’t notice the very slippery ground so I ended up slipping and falling down! Everyone turned to look at me. I was so embarrassed, but luckily, I didn’t injure myself.

But my misfortune didn’t end there. As we were walking home from the park, I tripped over a small rock. You can imagine what happened next…I fell again and this time I injured my leg. As it turned out, I sprained my ankle and had to go to the doctor! I am now recovering in bed, but my ankle is still in pain!

Anyway, I hope you had a better weekend than me! Haha! Please write back soon, I’m looking forward to your news!

Love,

Theano

writing what you did or didn't do

Didn't + past simple

Complete the gap with one of the three conjunctions (and / but / or).

The dog wants to go outside,__________ it is raining.
She has a doll, ___________ she has a big dollhouse. 
Do you like this one __________ do you prefer that one? 
I wanted to buy you something, __________ I didn’t have any money. Do you prefer cats __________ do you prefer dogs? 

Complete the text with one word in each gap.Use relative clauses, too much/many, enough, very and language for buying things.

Tia loved her job. She worked with VERY creative people and the work was challenging ENOUGH to be interesting, without being TOO MUCH stressful. Her boss was a VERY dynamic person WHO inspired everyone. The office was in a great area WHERE there were lots of good restaurants and interesting shops. The salary wasn’t VERY high, but Tia didn’t mind TOO MUCH. It was ENOUGH to live on.

Her friend Hugo was working as an intern – a kind OF volunteer. He worked in a bank WHERE no one seemed to have ENOUGH time to talk to anyone, and everyone was in TOO MUCH of a hurry to even eat.

Tia and Hugo met for coffee one Saturday:

Barista: Can I HELP you?

Tia: Yes, please. Two large coffees.

Barista: Cash or CREDIT card?

Tia: Cash.

Tia: Right. Here’s your coffee, Hugo. Now tell me all about your job …

Complete the conversation.

 A: Hi. Can I help you?

 B: Sure. This is too small – I NEED A LARGER SİZE.

 A: We’ve got it in a 12. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY IT ON?

 B: Good idea. WHERE ARE THE FITTING ROOMS?

 A: They’re over there.

 A: Any good?

 B: Yes, the 12 fits well. I’ll take it.

 A: Great. ARE YOU PAYING BY CASH OR CREDIT CARD?

 B: By credit card.

 A: OK CAN YOU ENTER YOUR PIN PLEASE.

 B: Sure.

 A: HERE IS YOUR RECEIPT

 B: Thank you. Goodbye.

Read the questions and choose the correct variant. 

1) How did Ellie's family feel about their marriage? 

a) They were happy. 

b) They were silent. 

c) They were shocked. 

d) They were angry. 

2) How did their house look like when they just moved in? 

a) It was new and big.

b) It was old and big.

c) It was new and small. 

d) It was old and small. 

3) What colour was Ellie's armchair? 

a) Green. 

b) Yellow. 

c) Black. 

d) Red. 

4) What tradition did they have? 

a) Watching movies. 

b) Cloudwatching. 

c) Horseriding. 

d) Painting. 

5) Where did Carl and Ellie work? 

a) At the cinema. 

b) At the museum. 

c) At the zoo. 

d) At the park. 

6) Which their dream didn't come true? 

a) To have children. 

b) To buy a car. 

c) To go to Italy. 

d) To buy a big house in the forest. 

7) They broke their piggy bank for the first time to .....

a) buy a new dress for Ellie. 

b) fix the car

c) buy a new tie for Carl. 

d) fix the roof. 

8) Carl prepared ..... as a gift for Ellie. 

a) a ticket to the zoo

b) a new book

c) plain tickets

d) a new car

used to / didn't use to

Name: ____________________ 

SUCCESS

to set a goal 

to work hard

to face obstacles

to acquire new skills

to stay humble and hungry

Before Reading – Think & Discuss 

1. What do you think makes a person successful? 

2. Have you ever seen a painting with flying people, animals, or dream-like scenes? How did it make you feel? 

Reading Comprehension 

Read the biography of Marc Chagall . Then answer the questions.*

True (T) or False (F)? Correct the false sentences. 

1. Marc Chagall was born in Paris. 

   → Correction: _____________________________________ 

2. He came from a wealthy family. 

 → Correction: _____________________________________ 

3.  He stopped painting during World War II. 

 → Correction: _____________________________________ 

4.  His art often included memories of his childhood. 

 → Correction: _____________________________________ 

5. _ He only painted on canvas. 

 → Correction: _____________________________________ 

6. He painted his most famous works in Paris.

 → Correction: _____________________________________ 

7. Unfortunately, Chagall`s paintings didn`t see many exhibitions during his lifetime.

 → Correction: _____________________________________ 

Find the evidence of his success in the text. Give the details from the text 

to set a goal 

________________________________________________

to work hard

________________________________________________

to face obstacles

________________________________________________

to acquire new skills

________________________________________________

to stay humble and hungry

________________________________________________

A picture description

• Useful vocabulary

a flying couple, a violinist, a vibrant colour palette, floating figures, distorted perspective, symbols of childhood / love / hometown, euphoria of love, soaring happiness, nostalgia for the goal, connection to roots, the artist at work, between his homeland and new life

Topics to highlight while describing

• How does this picture reflect Chagall`s goals, dreams, obstacles etc
• What do main figures symbolize in the picture?

Reflection 

• Marc Chagall never gave up on his dream, even when life was hard. 
• What is your dream or big goal? What will help you achieve it? 

He (go) to the cinema last night.

   a) goed

   b) gone

   c) went

2. They (play) football every Saturday when they were kids.

   a) played

   b) play

   c) playing

3. She (not/like) the movie we watched.

   a) didn’t like

   b) not liked

   c) doesn’t like

4. We (visit) Paris last summer.

   a) visits

   b) visited

   c) visiting

5. I (see) her at the party last week.

   a) seen

   b) saw

   c) see

Write phrases that are true for you using "used to" or "didn't use to" to complete the poem about your younger years.

Grade 4 Moral Science – Online Revision Worksheet Page 1 – Multiple Choice 1. The tree in The Generous Tree teaches us that true giving means: a) Giving only when asked b) Giving without expecting return c) Giving only to friends d) Giving when we are forced 2. Reggie finally understood that: a) Clothes shrink b) Healthy food and exercise are important c) Cheese is best food d) Clothes were bad quality 3. Shirley avoided stage because she: a) Didn’t know poem b) Was sick c) Was not confident d) Didn’t like audience 4. The businessman made his son work because he wanted him to learn: a) Business tricks b) Value of hard work c) Earn quickly d) Save money 5. Sally shared her last hoop because she: a) Was bored b) Was kind and sharing c) Didn’t want to play d) Was scared 6. Control over senses helps us to: a) Make wrong choices b) Make right decisions c) Eat junk always d) Avoid work 7. Balanced diet includes: a) Only fruits b) Only sweets c) Different nutrients in right amount d) Only milk 8. Hard-earned money is valuable because: a) It is shiny b) We work for it c) It is heavy d) It is new 9. Self-acceptance means: a) Comparing with others b) Being unhappy c) Accepting ourselves as we are d) Copying others 10. Sharing usually results in: a) Loneliness b) Friendship c) Punishment d) Loss Page 2 – Fill in the blanks 11. Reggie became healthier by eating __________ food. 12. The tree never asked anything except __________ from Ruhi. 13. Shirley was talented in writing __________. 14. The son refused to throw the third coin because he had __________ for it. 15. Sharing shows we __________ for others. True or False 16. The generous tree only helped Ruhi sometimes. __________ 17. Reggie changed his habits after understanding his mistake. __________ 18. Shirley’s parents discouraged her. __________ 19. The son got first two coins by working. __________ 20. Sharing and kindness help build relationships. __________ Page 3 – Short / Long Answers 21. Why did Rita mouse worry about Reggie’s eating habits? 22. Why did Rita mouse worry about Reggie’s eating habits? 23. Why did Shirley think people would laugh at her? 24. How did the tree help Ruhi in different ways? 25. Why did Sally feel happy even after sharing her chance? 26. How does balanced diet help our body? 27. What change came in the son after working in the market? 28. How can you practice control over senses in daily life? Long Answers 29. Explain why generosity is important in society. 30. What would happen if Reggie continued eating only cheese? 31. How did Shirley’s parents help her become confident? 32. Why did the father make his son throw first two coins? 33. Explain how sharing creates strong friendships. 34. Why is it important to respect people who do physical work? 35. How can students show responsibility towards environment and trees? 36. Explain importance of self-control in studies and health. Very Long Answers 37. A girl found a new pencil box in class but returned it to teacher. a) Which value did she show? b) Why is this value important? c) What would you do? 38. Your friend is shy like Shirley. How will you help your friend become confident? 39. Make a 1■day healthy routine plan for Reggie (food + exercise). 40. You see food being wasted at a party. What will you do?

📘 Vocabulary Worksheet – 7th Grade

Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________

🔤 Part 1 – Match the words

Match the words with their meanings:

• Brave

• Hungry

• Fast

• Happy

• Tired

a) Feeling you need food
b) Feeling good and joyful
c) Moving quickly
d) Feeling you need rest
e) Not afraid

✍️ Part 2 – Fill in the blanks

Choose the correct word:

(brave – tired – happy – fast – hungry)

1. I am very __________ because I didn’t eat lunch.

2. She feels __________ after running.

3. The cheetah is very __________.

4. He is __________ because he won the game.

5. The firefighter is very __________.

🧠 Part 3 – Write the meaning

Write the meaning of each word in your language:

1. School → __________________

2. Teacher → __________________

3. Friend → __________________

4. Homework → __________________

5. Book → __________________

📝 Part 4 – Make sentences

Write one sentence with each word:

Happy → ______________________________________

1. Fast → ________________________________________

2. School → _____________________________________

🎯 Bonus

Circle the correct word:

1. I am (happy / hungry) when I smile.

2. A lion is (fast / tired) when it runs.

⭐ Teacher’s note:

Read the sentences out loud!

    Prefixes

• UN/DIS/RE/IL/ANTI

1. It is important to __________ (cycle). 
2. That many is a bit strange. He wears ________ (usual) clothes.
3. I can't find my phone anywhere, it has _________ (appeared). 
4. It is________ (legal) to chew chewing gum in Singapore. 
5. A. What is the opposite of clockwise? B. It's___________ (clockwise).
6.  
7.  
8. Suffixes

• NESS/LESS/OUS/ISE/ATION

1. Lion's are one of the most __________ (danger) animals in the world.
2. The word _____________ (happy) is a noun meaning 'the state of being happy.
3. He is the total opposite of careful. He is _______ (care). He is always dropping things and bumping into people.
4. A. What is the verb of the word 'Advert'? B. It's ___________ (advert).
5. Today I created a new ________ (create).

1. Identify the Prefix or Suffix
2. He walked quietly so that he didn't wake his parents.
3. It is impossible for humans to fly.
4. We must coordinate before the meeting. I have some things to discuss with you.
5. What is your superpower?
6. You are the most helpful person I know.
7.      

Have you ever been to the beach? Did you see a man with a headset pointing a long pole at the ground? If so you might have seen a person using a metal detector. People use these devices to find metal. Metal detectors make magnetic waves. These waves go through the ground. The waves change when they hit metal. Then the device beeps. This lets the person with the device know that metal is close. The first metal detectors were meant to help miners. They were big. They cost a lot of money. They used a lot of power. And worst of all, they didn't work well. People kept trying to make them better. Metal detectors got smaller. Now they are light and cheap. They also work better. That is why people bring them to the beach. They can look for rings in the water. They can look for phones in the sand. Metal detectors help them find these things. They usually just find junk though. Metal detectors also protect people. They help to keep guns out of some places. They are in airports. They are in courthouses. Some schools use them. They help guards look for weapons. Guards use special wands to find metal on a person.

These devices save lives in other ways too. During wars, people plant bombs in the ground. When the war ends, they don't clean up their messes. This is unsafe for the people who live in those places. Others use metal detectors to find bombs. They remove them and help the people. These devices also make clothes safer. It sounds funny, but it's true. Most clothes are made in big factories. There are lots of needles in these places. Needles break from time to time. They get stuck in the clothes. They would poke people trying them on. They don't though. That's because our clothes are scanned for metal. Isn't that nice? Let's hear it for metal detectors. They make the world a safer place

Talking About Past Habits and Situations

Names: ………………………………………………………….

"Used to" and "Would"

1. Explanation

🔹 "Used to"

We use "used to" to talk about:
✅ Past habits (things we did regularly in the past but don’t do now).
✅ Past states (situations that were true in the past but have changed).

📌 Form:

• Positive: I used to play football every weekend.
• Negative: I didn’t use to like coffee.
• Question: Did you use to have long hair?

🚫 We don't use "would" for past states. I used to have long hair. (Correct). I would have long hair. (Incorrect)

🔹 "Would"

We use "would" to talk about:
✅ Repeated past actions and habits (but NOT past states).

📌 Form:

• Positive: When I was a child, I would visit my grandma every Sunday.
• Negative: She wouldn’t eat vegetables when she was younger.

🚫 No question form with "would" for past habits. Use "Did you use to...?" instead.

2. Exercises

A. Complete the Conversations

Fill in the blanks using "used to," "didn't use to," "would," or "wouldn't."

1. A: You’re so fit now! But I remember you ______________ (not/exercise) much before.
   B: Yeah, I ______________ (spend) all my weekends watching TV.
2. A: ______________ (you/play) the piano when you were a child?
   B: Yes! I ______________ (practice) every day, but I stopped when I was 15.
3. A: My grandpa ______________ (tell) me bedtime stories when I was little.
   B: That’s sweet! My parents ______________ (not/read) to me much, but I loved books.

B. Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences using "used to" or "would" where possible.

1. I often played outside with my friends after school.
   → _______________________________________
2. She was very shy when she was younger.
   → _______________________________________
3. My brother always helped me with my homework.
   → _______________________________________
4. They had a small shop in our town.
   → _______________________________________

C. Past vs. Now

Look at the situations below. Write one sentence about the past and one about now using "used to" and "but now..."

1. I hated vegetables before. Now, I eat them every day.
   → I ________________ vegetables, but now I ________________.
2. My parents were strict. Now, they are more outgoing.
   → They ________________, but now ________________.
3. I didn’t enjoy studying English before. Now, I love it!
   → I ________________, but now ________________.

D. Short Paragraph Exercise

Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about how your life has changed. Use "used to," "didn’t use to," "would," and "wouldn’t."

Example:
"When I was a child, I used to be very shy. I wouldn’t talk much in class, and I used to feel nervous meeting new people. I used to love playing outside, and my friends and I would ride our bikes every day. Now, I’m more confident, and I love socializing."

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Talking About Past Habits and Situations

Names: ………………………………………………………….

"Used to" and "Would"

1. Explanation

🔹 "Used to"

We use "used to" to talk about:
✅ Past habits (things we did regularly in the past but don’t do now).
✅ Past states (situations that were true in the past but have changed).

📌 Form:

• Positive: I used to play football every weekend.
• Negative: I didn’t use to like coffee.
• Question: Did you use to have long hair?

🚫 We don't use "would" for past states. I used to have long hair. (Correct). I would have long hair. (Incorrect)

🔹 "Would"

We use "would" to talk about:
✅ Repeated past actions and habits (but NOT past states).

📌 Form:

• Positive: When I was a child, I would visit my grandma every Sunday.
• Negative: She wouldn’t eat vegetables when she was younger.

🚫 No question form with "would" for past habits. Use "Did you use to...?" instead.

2. Exercises

A. Complete the Conversations

Fill in the blanks using "used to," "didn't use to," "would," or "wouldn't."

1. A: You’re so fit now! But I remember you ______________ (not/exercise) much before.
   B: Yeah, I ______________ (spend) all my weekends watching TV.
2. A: ______________ (you/play) the piano when you were a child?
   B: Yes! I ______________ (practice) every day, but I stopped when I was 15.
3. A: My grandpa ______________ (tell) me bedtime stories when I was little.
   B: That’s sweet! My parents ______________ (not/read) to me much, but I loved books.

B. Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences using "used to" or "would" where possible.

1. I often played outside with my friends after school.
   → _______________________________________
2. She was very shy when she was younger.
   → _______________________________________
3. My brother always helped me with my homework.
   → _______________________________________
4. They had a small shop in our town.
   → _______________________________________

C. Past vs. Now

Look at the situations below. Write one sentence about the past and one about now using "used to" and "but now..."

1. I hated vegetables before. Now, I eat them every day.
   → I ________________ vegetables, but now I ________________.
2. My parents were strict. Now, they are more outgoing.
   → They ________________, but now ________________.
3. I didn’t enjoy studying English before. Now, I love it!
   → I ________________, but now ________________.

D. Short Paragraph Exercise

Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about how your life has changed. Use "used to," "didn’t use to," "would," and "wouldn’t."

Example:
"When I was a child, I used to be very shy. I wouldn’t talk much in class, and I used to feel nervous meeting new people. I used to love playing outside, and my friends and I would ride our bikes every day. Now, I’m more confident, and I love socializing."

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The moon shines down on the land of a remote village in Padang Bolak. The sound of howling coyotes was carried by the night breeze. Sampuraga looked up at the moon with an uneasy feeling.

His landlord's words three days ago made it difficult for him to close his eyes. “Still not sure, Raga?” asked Tondi, who faithfully accompanied Sampuraga. “I'm capable of migrating, what's the harm in just walking a long way?” replied Sampuraga.

Tondi sighed for a moment before speaking again, “But Raga, what about...” Before Tondi could continue, a woman with a frail body and bleached hair appeared from behind the door.

“Umak...” called Sampuraga. “Nape modom ho, amang? (Haven't you slept yet, son?)” asked the old woman approaching Sampuraga.

“Ahadei, amang?” she continued. Hearing the question, Sampuraga looked down.

“I cooked holat with your favorite pakkat but you didn't eat it. You have been sleeping late for the past three days. Tell me about it with Umak,” said the old woman. “Raga wants to migrate Umak,” said Sampuraga.

The request made Mrs. Sampuraga's blood boil, “Do you want to leave Umak?” Raga revealed his heart. “Raga wants to change our fate by going to Mandailing. Giot pasonang Umak do au so ke au marantau (I want to please my mother that's why I'm going overseas)” Sampuraga explained.

“Saotik peindaadong hu bayangkanmarsarak dot hu (Not even a little bit I imagine amang inda can hu pasonang ho (I apologize for not being able to make you happy),” said Mrs. Sampuraga softly. “Umak...” Sampuraga replied no less softly.

Sampuraga immediately knelt before his mother. “Thank you Umak! Raga promised to come back after he succeeded,” Sampuraga promised his mother. Tondi, who witnessed the emotional event in front of him, could not hold back his tears.

For days Sampuraga walked with Tondi through the wilderness and various villages. They finally arrived at a place called Pidoli, Mandailing. Sampuraga was mesmerized after seeing the prosperity and well-being in the Pidoli region.

“Raga, look!” pointed Tondi at a crowd. “Try approaching the merchant,” he continued. Raga took Tondi's advice by introducing himself and expressing his desire to work for the merchant.

The merchant granted Sampuraga's request. Thanks to the tenacity and honesty always taught by his mother, Sampuraga won the trust of his employer. After a long time, Sampuraga was asked to become the merchant's son-in-law.

“Since the beginning of our meeting, I have always believed that you are a diligent and good young man. I have never met a young man as good as you, would you like to be my son-in-law?” asked the master expressing his wish. “I would gladly marry your daughter,” Sampuraga said happily. “Soon I will be very rich!” said Sampuraga. Tondi, who heard this, was stunned because he caught the arrogant tone of his words.

The news of Sampuraga's marriage to a noble princess quickly spread throughout the country, including his mother who was unsure of the truth. She traveled step by step to reach the land of Pidoli in Mandailing.

Upon arriving in the land of Pidoli, the old woman was greeted by the sound of gondang sambilan, indicating a festive occasion. She was surprised to see a young man she recognized sitting side by side with a beautiful princess.

Sampuraga's mother broke through the front row of the crowd and shouted her son's name. “That's Umak's voice...” whispered Tondi, who was accompanying Sampuraga. “Ah, no way!” argued Sampuraga when he heard a familiar voice.

“Sampuraga, it's me, your umak, son!” exclaimed his mother. Tondi repeatedly reassured Sampuraga but Sampuraga was suddenly embarrassed and angry. “You ugly old woman! How dare you. My Umak has been dead for a long time!” said Sampuraga.

“How dare you Sampuraga! How dare you disown your umak,” his mother hissed. “Bow down Raga! Ro ma ho mangido maaf selagi mangolu umakmu (Come you son apologize while your mother lives),” ordered Tondi. However, Sampuraga called the guards to chase his mother away.

After leaving the party with tears in her eyes, Sampuraga's mother prayed, “God, if the young man is really Sampuraga then teach him a lesson. For the greatest sin is to disobey one's parents.”

The sky seemed to change suddenly until lightning struck each other. Rain fell heavily followed by the sound of thunder. All the invitees including Sampuraga and his wife tried to run for their lives. Unfortunately, the place sank in no time.

Sampuraga's party venue turned into a pool of extremely hot water. The locals believed that everything was the incarnation of Sampuraga's wedding party that was cursed. The local people then named the place as “Kolam Sampuraga”.

Dear David,

How are you? I hope this email finds you well and ready for a good story! I wanted to tell you about an adventure that I had recently, which I thought you may find funny!

Last Friday, I went to the park with my brother and friend Tony. It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone was having fun. Everything was going well until I decided to walk near the little pond. I didn’t notice the very slippery ground so I ended up slipping and falling down! Everyone turned to look at me. I was so embarrassed, but luckily, I didn’t injure myself.

But my misfortune didn’t end there. As we were walking home from the park, I tripped over a small rock. You can imagine what happened next…I fell again and this time I injured my leg. As it turned out, I sprained my ankle and had to go to the doctor! I am now recovering in bed, but my ankle is still in pain!

Anyway, I hope you had a better weekend than me! Haha! Please write back soon, I’m looking forward to your news!

Love,

Theano