Online Cloze Test

Haria, a poor barber lived alone in his small hut. He was good to his work and whatever he earned was enough to fulfil his needs.

One evening, after returning from work, Haria was hungry. Just as he was wondering what he could cook for dinner he heard a hen clucking outside his hut. 'That hen would make a great feast for me,' thought Haria and prepared to catch the hen.

With a little effort he succeeded in catching the hen and as he was about to kill the hen, it squeaked, 'Please do not kill me, Oh kind man! I will help you.' Haria stopped.

As he was surprised that the hen spoke, he asked, 'How can you help me?' 'If you ____ my life, I will lay a golden egg for you every day,' said the hen.

Haria stopped. ____ he was surprised that the hen spoke, he asked, 'How can you help me?' 'If you spare my life, I will lay a golden egg for you every day,' said the hen.

Haria’s eyes widened in delight. Haria was surprised to hear this promise. 'A golden egg! That too every day! But why should I believe you? You might be lying,' said Haria. 'If I do not lay a golden egg tomorrow, you can kill me,' said the hen.

'A golden egg! That too every day! But why should I believe you? You might be lying,' said Haria. 'If I do not lay a golden egg tomorrow, you can kill me,' said the hen. After this promise, Haria spared the hen and waited for the next day.

The next morning. Haria found a golden egg lying outside his hut and the hen sitting beside it.

'It is true! You really can lay a golden egg!' exclaimed Haria with great delight. He did not reveal this incident to anyone, ____ that others would catch the hen.

'It is true! You really can lay a golden egg!' exclaimed Haria with great delight. He did not ____ this incident to anyone, fearing that others would catch the hen.

Once upon a time there lived a peacock and a tortoise in close proximity and they became the best of friends. The peacock lived on a tree on the banks of a stream which was the home of the tortoise.

It was a daily phenomenon for the peacock to dance near the stream after he had a drink of water. He would display his great plumage for the amusement of his friend.

One unfortunate day, a bird-catcher who was on the guard caught the peacock and was about to take him away to the market.

The unhappy bird begged his captor to allow him to bid his friend the tortoise good-bye, as it would be the last time, he would see him.

The bird-catcher gave in to his request and took him to the tortoise. The tortoise was in tears to see his friend held captive

The tortoise asked the bird catcher to let the peacock go; but he laughed at the request, saying that it was his means of livelihood. The tortoise then said, 'If I give you an expensive present, will you let my friend go?' 'Certainly,' answered the bird-catcher. Whereupon, the tortoise dived into the water and in a few seconds came up with a handsome pearl, which he presented to the bird-catcher.

This was beyond the man’s expectations, and he let the peacock go immediately. A short time after, the bird-catcher came back and told the tortoise that he thought he had not paid enough for the release of his friend, and threatened, that unless a match to the pearl was obtained for him, he would catch the peacock again.

The tortoise, who had already advised his friend to shift to a distant jungle on being set free, was greatly ____ by the greed of the bird-catcher. 'Well,' said the tortoise, 'f you insist on having another pearl like the one I gave you, give it back to me and I will fish you an exact match for it.'

The tortoise, who had already advised his friend to shift to a distant jungle on being set free, was greatly enraged by the greed of the bird - catcher. 'Well,' said the tortoise, 'f you insist on having another pearl like the one I gave you, give it back to me and I will fish you an exact match for it.'

The greediness of the bird-catcher prevented his reasoning and he promptly gave the pearl to the clever tortoise. The tortoise swam out with it saying, 'I am no fool to give you another pearl, your greediness has left you with nothing.'