Cloze Fable - The Man, the Horse, the Ox and the Dog

This is an English translation of a fable by Aesop.

Read the story once or twice. Be sure you understand most of it, then make a choice in the various "Select" fields, then click "Show Solutions" to see the correct answer. [If you find the text difficult, you might read the Solutions first, then try the exercise.]

Study the Words to insert:

averse= ostile -- chiefly= soprattutto -- chose= scelse -- comfort= comodità -- endowed= donò -- favors= favori -- hay= fieno -- headstrong= cocciuto -- hence= quindi -- lighted= accese -- middle= mezza -- meat= carne -- oats= avena -- old= vecchio -- purpose= scopo -- received= accolse -- repay= ricompensare -- reserved= riservata -- selfish= egoista -- shelter= riparo -- straits= sofferenze -- snappish= permaloso -- term= periodo -- wealth= ricchezza

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A Horse, an Ox, and a Dog, driven to great by the cold, sought and protection from Man. He them kindly, a fire, and warmed them. He let the Horse make free with his , gave the Ox an abundance of , and fed the Dog with from his own table. Grateful for these , the animals determined to him to the best of their ability.

For this , they divided the term of his life between them, and each one portion of it with the qualities which characterized himself.

The Horse his earliest years and gave them his own attributes: every man is in his youth impetuous, , and obstinate in maintaining his own opinion.

The Ox took under his patronage the next of life, and therefore man in his age is fond of work and resolute to amass and to administer his resources.

The end of life was for the Dog, wherefore the man is often , irritable, hard to please, and , tolerant only of his own household, but to strangers and to all who do not administer to his or to his necessities.

[ Show Solutions ] ---- [ ]

A Horse, an Ox and a Dog, driven to great straits by the cold, sought shelter and protection from Man. He received them kindly, lighted a fire, and warmed them. He let the Horse make free with his oats, gave the Ox an abundance of hay, and fed the Dog with meat from his own table. Grateful for these favors, the animals determined to repay him to the best of their ability.

For this purpose, they divided the term of his life between them, and each endowed one portion of it with the qualities which chiefly characterized himself.

The Horse chose his earliest years and gave them his own attributes: hence every man is in his youth impetuous, headstrong, and obstinate in maintaining his own opinion.

The Ox took under his patronage the next term of life, and therefore man in his middle age is fond of work and resolute to amass wealth and to administer his resources.

The end of life was reserved for the Dog, wherefore the old man is often snappish, irritable, hard to please, and selfish, tolerant only of his own household, but averse to strangers and to all who do not administer to his comfort or to his necessities.