Back to the exercises Back to the story

A. How much did you understand?

The right order for these scenes is 2, 5, 3, 1, 4.

The clever man had an ignorant wife, and the ignorant man had a clever wife. The clever man wanted to exchange wives with the ignorant man.

The clever man and the ignorant man asked the judge to decide between them and the judge asked the ignorant man some questions. The ignorant man couldn't answer the judge's questions. The judge told him to come back the next day.

The ignorant man went home unhappily, and tried to count the stars in the sky. His wife gave him clever answers to tell the judge.

The ignorant man gave his wife's clever answers to the judge, but then he made a mistake. "My dear wife told me," he said. The judge told the ignorant man to go home and get ready to give his wife to the clever man.

The clever wife told her husband to invite the judge and the clever man to dinner. She gave their guests a horrible dinner. The clever man decided not to marry the clever woman.

B. Questions and answers

1. "You want to take my wife?" the ignorant man asked the clever man.
2. "Tell me, sir, how many stars are there in the sky?" the judge asked the ignorant man.
3. "Where is the navel of the earth?" the judge asked the ignorant man.
4. "What are you doing?" the clever woman asked the ignorant man.
5. "Are you ready to see the judge?" the clever man asked the ignorant man.
6. "Don't you believe me?" the ignorant man asked the judge.
7. "Did someone give you the answers to my questions?" the judge asked the ignorant man.
8. "He's stupid, isn't he?" the clever man asked the judge.
9. "What has happened? Why are you sad?" the clever woman asked the ignorant man.
10. "Don't you want this clever woman?" the judge asked the clever man.

C. What were they feeling? 

1. When the clever man saw the ignorant man's wife, he was jealous.
2. When the ignorant man couldn't answer the judge's questions, he was very unhappy.
3. When the ignorant man gave clever answers to the judge, the clever man was angry.
4. When the clever man went away, the ignorant man and the clever woman were happy.

D.  Brain teasers

1. The day before yesterday, Marcos was seven years old. Next year, he will be ten years old. How is this possible?
   Answer: Today is January 1st. Yesterday was December 31st and it was Marcos's eighth birthday. On December 30th, he was still seven. On December 31st this year he will have his ninth birthday, and next year he will be ten. 
2. Three big ladies are standing under an umbrella, but none of them get wet. Why not?
   Answer: It's not raining.
3. Which is heavier, a kilo of feathers, or a kilo of gold?
   Answer: They both weigh the same, one kilo.
4. A girl and her father go out in the rain, but only the girl's hair is wet. Why?
   Answer: The girl's father has no hair. He is bald.