How to Hunt a Monkey (Inspirational Story about Letting Go)

How to Hunt a Monkey (Inspirational Story about Letting Go)

By Simply English

“Do you know how hunters of old used to trap monkeys?” A man asked his child. “Rather than chasing them up a tree or shooting arrows from below, they’d put a heavy glass jar with a narrow neck on the floor, which had the monkeys’ favourite food inside. They’d then step back and hide, waiting for the unsuspecting animal to approach. When it did, the monkey would reach inside, clench a fist around the food, and try to pull it out. However, the narrow neck of the jar would stop the poor monkey from getting its hand out!

It’d pull and pull, but to no avail. There was simply no way to get its hand out of the jar without releasing the food. Rather than letting go, though, the monkey would persevere, refusing to drop its dinner.

The hunters would then approach and catch it to enjoy a meal of their own.” “Don’t be like that monkey,” warned the man, “In life, to fight another day and grow as person, you must know when to quit, when to move on, and when to let go of whatever’s holding you back.”

You will read the story again, but this time you must find the missing words.

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Before you read lets learn the vocabulary.

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Multiple Choice

come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.

• trap

• arrows

• narrow

• unsuspecting

• approach

Multiple Choice

a device or enclosure designed to catch and retain animals, typically by allowing entry but not exit or by catching hold of a part of the body.

• trap

• arrows

• narrow

• unsuspecting

• approach

Multiple Choice

become or make less wide.

• trap

• arrows

• narrow

• unsuspecting

• approach

Multiple Choice

a shaft sharpened at the front and with feathers or vanes at the back, shot from a bow as a weapon or for sport.

• trap

• arrows

• narrow

• unsuspecting

• approach

Multiple Choice

(of a person or animal) not aware of the presence of danger; feeling no suspicion.

• trap

• arrows

• narrow

• unsuspecting

• approach

Multiple Choice

indicate or show that one is not willing to do something.

• clench

• fist

• avail

• persevere

• refusing

Multiple Choice

without success

• clench

• fist

• no avail

• persevere

• refusing

Multiple Choice

a contraction or tightening of part of the body.

• clench

• fist

• avail

• persevere

• refusing

Multiple Choice

continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.

• clench

• fist

• avail

• persevere

• refusing

Multiple Choice

a person's hand when the fingers are bent in toward the palm and held there tightly, typically in order to strike a blow or grasp something.

• clench

• fist

• avail

• persevere

• refusing

Multiple Choice

“Do you know how hunters of old _____ to trap monkeys?” A man asked his child.

• use

• uses

• used

• using

Multiple Choice

“Rather than chasing them __ a tree or shooting arrows from below, they’d put a heavy glass jar with a narrow neck on the floor, which had the monkeys’ favourite food inside.

• up

• in

• on

• at

Multiple Choice

They’d then step back and _____, waiting for the unsuspecting animal to approach.

• watch

• hide

• see

• run

Multiple Select

When it did, the monkey would reach inside, clench a fist around the food, and try to pull it out. However, _____ narrow neck of _____ jar would stop _____ poor monkey from getting its hand out!

• a

• an

• the

Multiple Select

It’d pull and pull, but __ no avail. There was simply no way to get its hand out __ the jar without releasing the food.

• on

• of

• to

• by

Multiple Choice

Rather than letting go, though, the monkey would persevere, refusing to drop its _____.

• food

• meal

• jar

• dinner

Multiple Choice

The _____ would then approach and catch it to enjoy a meal of their own.”

• hunter

• hunting

• hunted

• hunters

Multiple Select

“Don’t be like that monkey,” warned the man, “In life, to fight another day and grow as person, you must know when to quit, when to move __, and when to let go __ whatever’s holding you back.”

• in

• on

• at

• of

Multiple Choice

What is the moral of the story?

• Don’t let these challenges alter your feelings of self-worth. You’ll always be enough; you have something unique and special to give and offer the world.

• Good and evil exist within each of us. It’s our responsibility to own that reality and do whatever we can to nurture the good.

• No matter the odds of success or the scale of the challenge, your actions can make a difference. It’s better to light a candle than curse the dark.

• Sometimes you have to let go and give up what you have now in order to receive something better in the future. Don’t let stubbornness be your downfall!