The Man Who Couldn’t Sleep

Written byAndrew Regan

Vocabulary1. Honest ------ 정직한2. Polite ------ 예의 바른3. Hard working ---- 근면한4. Cobbler ------ 구두수선공5. Toss and turn --- ( 잠을 자다가 ) 뒤척이다6. Butcher ------ 정육점주인 ( 점원 )7. Advice ------ 충고8. Farmer ------ 농부9. Solution ------ 해결 /해결책10.Wise ------ 현명한11.Blanket ------ 담요12.Pillow ------ 베개13.Mattress ------ 매트리스14.Sharp ------ 날카로운 , 뾰족한15.Shiny ------ 빛나는16.Thumbtack ------ 압정

There once was a man named Pollywog. Pollywog was a good man. He was honest, polite, hard working and kind. Everyone liked Pollywog and he had many friends.

Pollywog did the same thing almost every day. First, he got up early and had a big breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and coffee. Next, he read the newspaper and walked downtown, where he worked in his shop as a cobbler. Finally, at the end of the day he went home, drank his tea and went to bed.

One day, Pollywog went home after work as usual. He drank a nice cup of hot tea and went to bed. But something was different. Pollywog had no idea why, but for some reason he just couldn’t fall asleep. He tossed and turned all night long.

In the morning, Pollywog was very tired and he had a hard time keeping his eyes open at work. “No problem” he told himself “tonight I’ll sleep like a baby.” But he did not sleep like a baby. In fact, he didn’t sleep at all. Once again he tossed and turned all night long. Now he was beginning to look terrible. He wasn’t smiling, his hair was messy and he had big dark circles under his eyes.

Pollywog’s friend Bill the butcher offered him some advice. “Why don’t you try drinking warm milk before you go to bed? That always works for me.” But it didn’t work. Pollywog drank warm milk before he went to bed, but he still could not fall asleep.

The next day Pollywog’s friend Peter the police man offered him some advice. “If I were you, I would exercise for one hour before going to bed. That always works for me.” But it didn’t work. Pollywog exercised for one hour before he went to bed, but he still couldn’t fall asleep.

The following day Pollywog’s friend Fred the farmer offered him some advice. “If I were in your shoes, I would count to one hundred while trying to sleep. That always works for me.” But it didn’t work. In fact, Pollywog counted to one million and he still couldn’t fall asleep.

It had been five days since Pollywog had slept. His problem was very serious. His friends had no more advice for him. He had to find a solution to his problem so he decided to visit the old wise man of the village. The old wise man was very old. Some people said that he was about 120 years old. He was also very wise and many people came to him for solutions to their problems.

“I haven’t slept for five days.” Pollywog explained. “I’ve tried drinking warm milk, I’ve tried exercising and I’ve tried counting. So far, nothing has helped me sleep.”

The old man thought for a minute, and then he began to speak. “Maybe the problem is with your bed” said the old man. “Check your bed when you go home. I think you will find the problem.”

When Pollywog went home, he checked his bed. He checked the blankets and he checked the pillow but he didn’t find a problem. Next, Pollywog decided to check the mattress.

When Pollywog looked under the mattress, he saw something very small, sharp and shiny. “I can’t believe it!!” Pollywog shouted. “There was a thumbtack under my mattress. No wonder I couldn’t sleep.”

After removing the thumbtack, Pollywog got into his bed and fell fast asleep. He slept all day and all night. While he was sleeping, he had wonderful dreams and he woke up feeling fantastic.

QUESTIONS

1. What are four words that describe Pollywog’s personality?

1

2

3

4

honest

politeHard working

kind

2. List six things that Pollywog did every day.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Got up early.

Had a big breakfast.

Read the newspaper.Walked downtown.

Drank tea.

Went to bed.

3. What was Pollywog’s job?

He was a cobbler.

4. What problem did Pollywog have?

He couldn’t fall asleep.

5. List 3 things that his friends advised him to try.

1

2

3

Drinking warm milk.Exercising for one hour.

Counting.

6. What was the reason Pollywog couldn’t sleep?

There was a thumbtack under his mattress.

Giving AdviceIn the story, Pollywog received advice from three of his friends. Each of the friends gave advice in a different way. Here are the ways in which they gave advice.

1. Bill the butcher: “Why don’t you try drinking warm milk before you go to bed.”

2. Peter the police man: “If I were you, I would exercise for one hour before going to bed.”

3. Fred the farmer :“If I were in your shoes, I would count to one hundred while trying to sleep.”

Here are some problems that a person might have. Let’s practice giving advice.

Problems:

1.I have no money.

2.My mother is angry with me.

3.I got a bad grade on the test.

4.I am always tired in class.

5.A mean kid at school always punches me and takes my money.

Ways to give advice:

Why don’t you.........?

If I were you, I would.............

If I were in your shoes, I would.............

I think you should........