A Soldier's Lie

The Story

 Once a soldier asked his commanding officer for a day's leave to attend his sister's wedding.  

The officer asked him to wait outside the door for a few minutes while he considered the request.

The officer then called the soldier back in and said, "You are a liar. I've just phoned your sister and she told me she's already married."

"Well, sir, you're an even bigger liar," the soldier replied, "because I don't even have a sister." 

Vocabulary Practice

Mark the best choice.

1) 'Leave' here means ......

• going out from a place
• one part of a tree
• permission to be absent from work
• asking a person for some money

2) To 'attend' here means to ...

• take care of
• pay for
• be present at
• look at

Questions for Discussion

• Why did the soldier tell the officer a lie?
• Why did the officer tell the soldier a lie?
• Can you remember telling such lies?

Activities

• Now you tell your friend(s) the story in your own words:

• Pronounce the following words several times:

v     Command

v     Officer

v     Attend

v     Soldier

v     Already

v     A Related Proverb

v     One foot cannot stand on two boats.