Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of a lush green forest, there lived a young boy named Max. Max had a keen interest in ancient history and loved exploring the woods in search of hidden treasures. One sunny afternoon, while he was wandering through the dense foliage, he stumbled upon a mysterious rock protruding from the ground. Curiosity piqued, Max dusted off the dirt to reveal what appeared to be a fossil.

Excitement surged through Max’s little body as he hurriedly took the fossil home. He couldn’t wait to show his parents and share his amazing find. As the days went by, the fossil became the talk of the town. Scientists and historians arrived from far and wide to examine it. They were astounded to discover that the fossil belonged to a rare prehistoric creature. Max became the hero of the village, famous for his fantastic find.

One evening, a renowned museum curator arrived to collect the fossil, intending to display it in a museum far away. Max was heartbroken and pleaded with the curator to let him keep the fossil. But the curator insisted that it should be showcased to the public. “This fossil will educate and inspire many,” he explained. Max, realizing the importance of sharing knowledge, reluctantly agreed.

The next day, Max’s entire village joined him in a grand farewell ceremony for the fossil. It was paraded through the streets amidst colorful flags and joyful music. As the fossil was being transported away, a thunderstorm unexpectedly swept through the village. Just as lightning struck, the vehicle carrying the fossil broke down. With no way to fix it on the spot, the officials decided to leave the fossil in the village until the storm ended.

During the storm, Max sat by the fossil, feeling somewhat puzzled. He wondered if the storm was nature’s way of saying that the fossil should stay in the village after all. Just then, lightning struck once more, illuminating the fossil in an extraordinary way. Max’s eyes widened with revelation. He realized that while the fossil was one-of-a-kind, so was the village. The fossil belonged there – it was a part of their history.

Max shared his newfound insight with the museum curator, who reluctantly accepted his proposal to allow the village to keep the fossil. Grateful and overjoyed, the villagers held a magnificent celebration, returning their beloved fossil to its rightful home. From then on, children and adults alike were inspired to explore their surroundings, hoping to stumble upon their own fantastic discovery.

And so, the fantastic fossil became a symbol of curiosity, unity, and the importance of staying true to one’s roots. Max, now grown and wise, continued to explore, uncovering even more extraordinary treasures in the forest. The village became a sought-after destination, attracting people from all walks of life seeking their own fantastic finds. And to this day, the village thrives, where legends of the fantastic fossil are passed down from generation to generation.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was Max’s interest?
2. What did Max find in the woods?
3. How did Max feel when he found the fossil?
4. Why did scientists and historians come to the village?
5. Why did Max not want to give up the fossil?
6. What happened during the grand farewell ceremony?
7. What made Max realize that the fossil belonged in the village?
8. What did the village become known for?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, in a small (1)______ nestled in the heart of a lush (2)______ forest, there lived a (3)______ boy named Max. Max had a keen interest in ancient history and loved exploring the woods in search of hidden treasures. One sunny (4)______, while he was wandering through the dense foliage, he stumbled upon a mysterious rock protruding from the ground. Curiosity piqued, Max dusted off the dirt to reveal what appeared to be a fossil.

Excitement surged through Max’s little body as he hurriedly took the fossil home. He couldn’t wait to show his parents and share his amazing find. As the days went by, the fossil became the talk of the town. Scientists and historians arrived from far and wide to examine it. They were astounded to discover that the fossil belonged to a rare prehistoric creature. Max became the hero of the village, famous for his (5)______ find.

One evening, a renowned museum (6)______ arrived to collect the fossil, intending to display it in a museum far away. Max was heartbroken and pleaded with the curator to let him keep the fossil. But the curator insisted that it should be showcased to the public. “This fossil will educate and (7)______ many,” he explained. Max, realizing the importance of sharing knowledge, reluctantly (8)______.

The next day, Max’s entire village joined him in a grand farewell ceremony for the fossil. It was paraded through the streets amidst colorful flags and joyful music. As the fossil was being transported away, a thunderstorm unexpectedly swept through the village. Just as lightning (9)______, the vehicle carrying the fossil broke down. With no way to fix it on the spot, the officials decided to leave the fossil in the village until the storm ended.

During the storm, Max sat by the fossil, feeling somewhat (10)______. He wondered if the storm was nature’s way of saying that the fossil should stay in the village after all. Just then, lightning struck once more, illuminating the fossil in an extraordinary way. Max’s eyes widened with revelation. He realized that while the fossil was one-of-a-kind, so was the village. The fossil belonged there – it was a part of their history.

Max (11)______ his newfound insight with the (12)______ curator, who reluctantly accepted his proposal to allow the village to keep the fossil. Grateful and overjoyed, the villagers held a magnificent celebration, returning their beloved fossil to its rightful home. From then on, (13)______ and adults alike were inspired to explore their surroundings, hoping to stumble upon their own fantastic discovery.

And so, the fantastic fossil (14)______ a symbol of curiosity, unity, and the importance of staying true to one’s roots. Max, now grown and wise, continued to explore, uncovering even more (15)______ treasures in the (16)______. The village became a sought-after destination, attracting people from all walks of life seeking their own fantastic finds. And to this day, the village thrives, where legends of the fantastic fossil are passed down from generation to generation.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a fossil and why do you think people find them interesting?
2. How would you feel if you made an amazing discovery like Max did? Why?
3. Do you think it was fair for the museum curator to take the fossil away from Max? Why or why not?
4. How do you think Max felt when he had to say goodbye to the fossil?
5. Do you think it was a good decision for Max to let the village keep the fossil? Why or why not?
6. How do you think the villagers felt when they found out they could keep the fossil?
7. Do you think the storm was a sign that the fossil should stay in the village? Why or why not?
8. What do you think the fossil symbolized for the village?
9. How do you think Max’s discovery changed the village and its people?
10. Do you think it’s important to explore and be curious about the world around us? Why or why not?
11. Have you ever made a fantastic find or discovery? If so, how did it make you feel?
12. Why do you think it’s important to stay true to one’s roots and history?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. nestled
2. foliage
3. protruding
4. piqued
5. astounded
6. renowned
7. relic
8. heartbroken
9. curator
10. reluctant
11. paraded
12. amidst
13. thunderstorm
14. revelation
15. sought-after

Meanings:
(A) Surrounded by; in the middle of
(B) Overwhelmed with sadness or disappointment
(C) An object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical interest
(D) Displayed publicly in a procession or celebration
(E) Settled comfortably within a surrounding area
(F) A violent storm with thunder and lightning
(G) Sticking out above the surface or edge
(H) The cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches on plants or trees
(I) Hesitating or showing unwillingness
(J) Stimulated interest or curiosity
(K) A person responsible for managing and organizing a collection of artifacts or artworks
(L) Highly desired and in demand
(M) Greatly surprised or amazed
(N) A sudden and important discovery or realization
(O) Widely known and esteemed, especially in a particular profession
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Max find in the forest?
(a) A fossil
(b) A treasure chest
(c) A rare flower
(d) A magical creature

2. Why did Max become famous in the village?
(a) Because he won a contest
(b) Because of his fantastic find
(c) Because he saved a life
(d) Because he became a mayor

3. Who arrived to collect the fossil?
(a) Max’s parents
(b) A museum curator
(c) A famous archaeologist
(d) A group of scientists

4. Why did Max initially want to keep the fossil?
(a) Because he wanted to sell it
(b) Because he wanted to study it more
(c) Because he was attached to it
(d) Because he wanted to show it to his friends

5. What happened to the vehicle carrying the fossil?
(a) It was stolen by thieves
(b) It crashed into a tree
(c) It got lost in the forest
(d) It broke down during a thunderstorm

6. What did Max realize during the thunderstorm?
(a) That he should become a scientist
(b) That he should sell the fossil
(c) That the fossil should stay in the village
(d) That the fossil was cursed

7. How did the villagers feel when they were able to keep the fossil?
(a) Angry and disappointed
(b) Indifferent and uninterested
(c) Sad and heartbroken
(d) Grateful and overjoyed

8. What did the fossil become a symbol of?
(a) Curiosity, unity, and staying true to one’s roots
(b) Greed, power, and fame
(c) Fear, isolation, and change
(d) Adventure, discovery, and exploration

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Max realized that the fossil belonged in the village and convinced the curator to take it away.
2. The fossil became the talk of the town, attracting scientists and historians from far and wide.
3. An infamous museum curator arrived to collect the fossil and display it in a museum.
4. Max deliberately stumbled upon a mysterious rock that turned out to be a fossil.
5. During a thunderstorm, the vehicle carrying the fossil broke down, leaving it in the village.
6. Max’s hatred for ancient history led him to explore the woods in search of hidden treasures.
7. The village thrived and became a sought-after destination, inspired by the fantastic fossil.
8. Max reluctantly agreed to let the fossil be showcased to the public.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was Max’s interest?
Max had a keen interest in ancient history.

2. What did Max find in the woods?
Max found a fossil in the woods.

3. How did Max feel when he found the fossil?
Max felt excited when he found the fossil.

4. Why did scientists and historians come to the village?
Scientists and historians came to the village to examine the rare prehistoric fossil.

5. Why did Max not want to give up the fossil?
Max did not want to give up the fossil because he wanted to keep it for himself.

6. What happened during the grand farewell ceremony?
During the grand farewell ceremony, the fossil was paraded through the streets of the village.

7. What made Max realize that the fossil belonged in the village?
Max realized that the fossil belonged in the village when lightning struck and illuminated it, showing its connection to the village’s history.

8. What did the village become known for?
The village became known for its fantastic fossil and its reputation as a destination for people seeking their own extraordinary discoveries.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) village
(2) green
(3) young
(4) afternoon
(5) fantastic
(6) curator
(7) inspire
(8) agreed
(9) struck
(10) puzzled
(11) shared
(12) museum
(13) children
(14) became
(15) extraordinary
(16) forest
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. nestled
Answer: (E) Settled comfortably within a surrounding area

2. foliage
Answer: (H) The cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches on plants or trees

3. protruding
Answer: (G) Sticking out above the surface or edge

4. piqued
Answer: (J) Stimulated interest or curiosity

5. astounded
Answer: (M) Greatly surprised or amazed

6. renowned
Answer: (O) Widely known and esteemed, especially in a particular profession

7. relic
Answer: (C) An object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical interest

8. heartbroken
Answer: (B) Overwhelmed with sadness or disappointment

9. curator
Answer: (K) A person responsible for managing and organizing a collection of artifacts or artworks

10. reluctant
Answer: (I) Hesitating or showing unwillingness

11. paraded
Answer: (D) Displayed publicly in a procession or celebration

12. amidst
Answer: (A) Surrounded by; in the middle of

13. thunderstorm
Answer: (F) A violent storm with thunder and lightning

14. revelation
Answer: (N) A sudden and important discovery or realization

15. sought-after
Answer: (L) Highly desired and in demand
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Max find in the forest?
Answer: (a) A fossil

2. Why did Max become famous in the village?
Answer: (b) Because of his fantastic find

3. Who arrived to collect the fossil?
Answer: (b) A museum curator

4. Why did Max initially want to keep the fossil?
Answer: (c) Because he was attached to it

5. What happened to the vehicle carrying the fossil?
Answer: (d) It broke down during a thunderstorm

6. What did Max realize during the thunderstorm?
Answer: (c) That the fossil should stay in the village

7. How did the villagers feel when they were able to keep the fossil?
Answer: (d) Grateful and overjoyed

8. What did the fossil become a symbol of?
Answer: (a) Curiosity, unity, and staying true to one’s roots
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Max realized that the fossil belonged in the village and convinced the curator to take it away. (Answer: False)
2. The fossil became the talk of the town, attracting scientists and historians from far and wide. (Answer: True)
3. An infamous museum curator arrived to collect the fossil and display it in a museum. (Answer: False)
4. Max deliberately stumbled upon a mysterious rock that turned out to be a fossil. (Answer: False)
5. During a thunderstorm, the vehicle carrying the fossil broke down, leaving it in the village. (Answer: True)
6. Max’s hatred for ancient history led him to explore the woods in search of hidden treasures. (Answer: False)
7. The village thrived and became a sought-after destination, inspired by the fantastic fossil. (Answer: True)
8. Max reluctantly agreed to let the fossil be showcased to the public. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧