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Unit 2 Benchmark

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16 views2 pages

Unit 2 Benchmark

Uploaded by

hneal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Cracked Pot

1 There was once a woman who walked to


the well each day to fetch water. She
carried two pots over her shoulders on
either end of a long stick. When she got
to the well, she filled both pots with
water. Then she returned home.

2 The pots looked exactly the same, but


one pot had a crack. The pot with no
crack thought he was the best and most
beautiful of all. He often laughed at the
cracked pot and said unkind things.

3 One night when the woman was asleep,


the pot with no crack boasted to the other. “I am perfect,” he snickered, “but you are flawed.”

4 “Flawed?” said the cracked pot. “What do you mean?”

5 The pot with no crack laughed. “Silly pot, do you not know that you have a big crack? When she
carries us back from the well, all of the water drips out of you. When we arrive at home, you are
empty.”

6 “So what?” asked the cracked pot.

7 “Ha!” laughed the pot without the crack. “Our owner needs the water for drinking and cooking!”

8 The cracked pot was embarrassed. He had always been proud of serving his owner, but all this
time he had been failing her. He decided to try very hard to hold the water inside, but it was no
use. The next day, the water still dripped all the way home.

9 When they got home, the cracked pot spoke to the woman. “I am so sorry that I have failed you.”

10 “No, you have always served me well, my loyal pot,” the woman said.

11 “Dear owner, I have not,” the cracked pot insisted, “for I have dripped water and arrive home
empty every day.”

12 The woman smiled and took both pots out to the road where she walked every day. She said,
“Look at the road, dear pots. Do you notice anything?”

13 The pots looked at the road but did not know what the woman was trying to show them.

14 The woman laughed and said, “Do you see the flowers covering the ground like a blanket of
colors? I planted seeds for those flowers. Every day as I walk, I water them with you, dear
cracked pot! Everyone who walks on this road enjoys the flowers that you have watered. Without
you, there would be no flowers at all!”

15 Both pots then understood that everything was perfect exactly as it was.
The Magic Fish
1 One day, Jerome went fishing at the lake and caught a fish. But this was no ordinary
fish. It could talk!

2 “Let me go,” said the fish, “and I will grant you one wish.”

3 Jerome was so shocked that he dropped his fishing rod. The fish got off the hook.

4 “Thank you,” said the fish. “Now you can change one thing about yourself. Come back
tomorrow and let me know what you want to change.” The fish disappeared under the
water.

5 Jerome did not need a day to decide. He knew exactly what he wanted to change. Every
night he lay awake for thirty minutes after his brother Lucas was already asleep. Lately,
he had started keeping a notebook next to his bed. He used the time to write stories.
That made his nights a little better. But still, he wished he could go to sleep right away
every night.

6 That night as they got into bed, Jerome told Lucas about the fish.

7 “Wow, are you sure you didn’t imagine it?” asked Lucas.

8 “Definitely not,” Jerome said. “Come to the lake tomorrow and see for yourself.”

9 Lucas agreed. In a sleepy voice, he asked, “What will you wish?”

10 Jerome started to answer, but Lucas was already asleep. Jerome sighed. As usual, he
felt restless. He was not ready to sleep, so he took out his journal. Soon he was busy
scribbling a brand-new story about his favorite character, Marvin the Dog. After a while,
Jerome’s eyelids began to droop, and then they closed like window shades.

11 In the morning, Lucas asked to hear the newest adventure of Marvin the Dog. As usual,
Jerome read aloud and they both laughed like hyenas. Sometimes Jerome didn’t realize
how funny his stories were until he read them aloud to Lucas.

12 “Wow, I’m sure glad you can’t sleep at night. You have become such a great storyteller.
Hey, you never told me your wish!”

13 “I am going to wish that I could sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, like you do. . .”
Jerome’s voice trailed off.

14 And, as though they had a single voice between them, both boys said, “But what about
Marvin?”

15 Suddenly, Jerome realized that staying awake for a little while every night was not such
a bad thing after all!

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