Nasreddin and the Beggar
(Story courtesy of John and Muriel Higgins)
UVic English Language Centre, 1998

One day, Nasreddin ______ (1. be) up on the roof of his house, mending a hole in the tiles. He had nearly finished, and he was pleased with his work. Suddenly, he _______ (2. hear) a voice below call "Hello!" When he looked down, Nasreddin ______(3. see) an old man in dirty clothes standing below.

"What ________ (4. you/want)?" asked Nasreddin.

"Come down and I'll tell you," ________ (5. call) the man.

Nasreddin was annoyed, but he was a polite man, so he _____ (6. put) down his tools. Carefully, he climbed all the way down to the ground.

"What do you want?" he asked, when he reached the ground.

"Could you _______ (7. spare) a little money for an old beggar?" asked the old man. Nasreddin _______ (8. think) for a minute.

Then he said, "Come with me." He began climbing the ladder again. The old man _____ (9. follow) him all the way to the top. When they were both sitting on the roof, Nasreddin ______ (10. turn) to the beggar.

"No," he said.