TONY, THE HUMAN WASP

Tony was going home again without having eaten. As usual, one of the older boys had taken his packed lunch, threatening to beat him. On his way, Tony stopped at the park and sat on a bench. Suddenly he saw a wasp flying about among the rosebushes, and he was scared.

While getting away from the roses, a thought came into his head. How is it possible that something so much smaller than himself could frighten him like that? That was exactly what he needed to do against the older boys!

He spent a while looking at the insect, and by the time he arrived home he had a good understanding of the wasp's trick: it was FEAR. A wasp could never fight a person, but everyone was so afraid of its sting that they left the wasp in peace. So Tony spent that night wondering what his 'sting' could be. He tried to think of what could frighten the bigger boys.

The next day, Tony seemed like a new boy: he was confident, ready to face up to anyone, and on his back he carried a schoolbag full of 'stings'. The boy who stole his packed lunch that day ate an extremely spicy sausage sandwich. The sausage was so hot that he ended up crying and coughing. Never again did he want to eat Tony’s lunch! Another older boy wanted to hit Tony, but this time Tony didn't run away. From memory, he told him the phone numbers of his parents, his teacher, and the boy's own mother:"If you hit me, I’ll tell them and you'll be severely punished," Tony told him, looking at the boy so determinedly and bravely that the boy left him alone. Another bully wanted to take one of Tony's toys. Instead of giving it to him in fear, Tony gave the boy a small card written by a policeman he knew. It read:"If you rob this boy, I’ll come after you and I'll even lock you up." The tactic worked!

Just like Tony had been afraid of their beatings, those big kids too were afraid of many things. On one occasion, a bully hit him a couple of times, and Tony had to be brave and carry out his warning: he spoke to his parents and they reported him to the police. The bully got such a fright that from that day he preferred to protect Tony.

So, in the end, Tony became like the wasp he had seen: without stinging anyone, he frightened them, and made sure that no one would mess with him.

(adaptation from “Tony, the Human Wasp”, by Pedro Pablo Sacristán)(http://freestoriesforkids.com/)

VOCABULARY TIPS

bench: rosebushes: bushes with roses bush:

sting: part of an insect’s body used to hurt people or animals. Also verb (“Wasps and bees sting”)confident: sure of himself, not scaredcarry out his warning: do what he had saidreport: tell the police about someone’s crimemess with him: annoy him (beat him, tease him)

PART 1 - Understanding and reporting information

a)Are the sentences TRUE or FALSE? CORRECT THE FALSE ONES.

1. Tony ate his lunch as usual2. Tony was often bullied by bigger boys3. In the park, a wasp frightened him4. Tony understood that people leave wasps in peace because they can sting5. He decided he wanted to be “like a wasp”: he wanted to keep bullies away with

some scary tricks6. The next day, Tony was still very sad7. He prepared a very good sandwich for lunch8. He ran away when a bully wanted to hit him9. Bullies weren’t afraid of anything10. The bullies stopped teasing Tony and changed their attitudes

b)Answer the following questions. Please write COMPLETE SENTENCES.

1. How was Tony probably feeling while he was walking home? Why?2. Where did he stop?3. What insect did he see there?4. What happened the next day to the boy who stole Tony’s lunch? Why?5. What happened to the bully who hit Tony a couple of times?

PART 2 - Reflecting on grammar and vocabulary – learn to learna)Find synonyms to the following words in the text above:-hit= -afraid= -scare (verb)=-spicy= -courageously=

b)Fill in the table with the words from the text:

ADJECTIVE SUBSTANTIVE VERBscarefright

Afraid fear

c)Complete the bullies’ intimidations and threats with the INDEFINITE PRONOUNS:-Go _____________ else, we don’t want you with us!-Don’t tell _____________ what we did to you!-____________ knows you are a little coward!-__________ can help you! You’re alone!-Give me _____________ you have in your pockets!-Don’t run away! You can’t go _____________!

PART 3 - Personal opinions and experiences

a) What do you think of Tony’s new attitude?(Write about 30 words)

b) Can you suggest other ways of fighting bullying at school?(Write about 50 words)