Chapter oneNello and Patrasche
Although Nello was a boy and Patrasche was a dog, they had a special friendship, closer to brotherhood.1
They were both the same age.
Yet, one seemed old and the other was young. They spent all of their time together.
Their home was a little hut on the edge of a small village.
Key Words
although (conj): mặc dù
special (adj): đặc biệt
friendship (n): tình bạn
closer to (adj): gắn bó như, thân thiết như
brotherhood (n): tình anh em
age (n): tuổi
yet (adv): song, tuy nhiên
seem + adj (v): có vẻ, dường như
spend (v): trải qua (thời gian) (spend - spent - spent)
hut (n): túp lều
on the edge of: nằm ở rìa
village (n): ngôi làng
near (adj): gần
be surrounded by: được bao quanh bởi, xung quanh là
cornfield (n): ruộng lúa
pasture (n): đồng cỏ
in the center of: ở trung tâm, ở giữa
windmill (n): cối xay gió
across from: đối diện với
ring (v): rung, reo, đổ chuông (ring - rang - rung)
every hour on the hour: cứ mỗi giờ
make a sound (v): tạo thành một âm thanh, vang lên
empty (adj): rỗng, trống không
seem like: có vẻ như, dường như là
The village was near Antwerp.
It was surrounded by cornfields and pastures. In the center of the village was a big windmill.2
A gray church stood across from the windmill. At the top of the church, there was an old clock. The clock rang every hour on the hour.
It made a strange, empty sound.3
To the villagers, it seemed like the saddest sound in the world.4
Key Sentences
1 Although Nello was a boy and Patrasche was a dog, they had a special friendship, closer to brotherhood.
2 In the center of the village was a big windmill.
3 It made a strange and empty sound.
4 To the villagers, it seemed like the saddest sound in the world.
Nello and Patrasche lived with a very old man. This man, Jehan Daas, was Nello’s grandfather. He had once been a soldier.
Sadly, he was wounded in a war and was now crippled.1
When Jehan Daas was eighty years old, his only daughter died.
Key Words & Sentences
once (adv): trước đây
soldier (n): người lính
sadly (adv): đáng tiếc, bất hạnh
wound (v): làm bị thương
cripple (v): làm tàn tật
only (adj): duy nhất
have no choice but: không còn cách nào khác ngoài việc
take care of (v): chăm sóc
each other (pronoun): lẫn nhau
enough (adj): đủ
as for: về phần
1 Sadly, he was wounded in a war and was now crippled.
2 The old man had no choice but to take care of his daughter’s son.
3 As for Patrasche, he made the old man and little Nello happier.
The old man had no choice but to take care of his daughter’s son.2
The old man and the little boy lived happily together. They were very poor, but they had each other.
That was enough. As for Patrasche, he made the old man and little Nello happier.3
Check up
When did the grandfather start taking care of Nello?
a. Ever since Nello was born.
b. After Nello’s mother passed away.
c. Since he was a soldier.
Patrasche, a dog of Flanders, was a slave once.1
His owner forced him to pull a cart full of iron.2
One summer day, Patrasche was very thirsty when he was working.
But he wasn’t allowed to stop and drink.3
Key Words & Sentences
slave (n): nô lệ, đầy tớ
owner (n): chủ nhân
force A to + V (v): buộc A phải làm gì
pull (v): kéo, lôi
full of (adj): chất đầy
iron (n): sắt
allow (v): cho phép
dizzy (adj): chóng mặt, choáng váng
fall down (v): ngã xuống
(fall - fell - fallen)
beat (v): đánh đập, nện
(beat - beat - beat)
kick (v): đá
ditch (n): mương, rãnh
let + A + V (v): để cho A
such (adj): như thế này
drag (v): kéo
(drag - dragged - dragged)
1 Patrasche, a dog of Flanders, was a slave once.
2 His owner forced him to pull a cart full of iron.
After some walking, he became dizzy and fell down. His owner ran up to him and beat him.
Patrasche couldn’t move.
His owner kicked him into a ditch and went away.4
After some time, an old man and a little boy saw Patrasche. “We can’t let such a beautiful dog die,”5 said the old man.
He dragged the big dog back to his hut. This was how old Jehan Daas, little Nello and Patrasche first met.
Check up
Where was Patrasche found?
a. On the street.
b. In a ditch.
c. At a woods.
3 But he wasn’t allowed to stop and drink.
4 His owner kicked him into a ditch and went away.
5 We can’t let such a beautiful dog die.
The old man and little Nello took great care of Patrasche. More than this, they loved him. They patted him softly on the head.
They made a bed for him to sleep in.1
This was the first time for Patrasche to feel love.2
It seemed strange to him yet wonderful.3
He was determined to get well soon and repay them for their kindness.
He wanted to take care of them.
Key Words & Sentences
more than: hơn cả
pat (v): vỗ nhẹ
softly (adv): dịu dàng, nhẹ nhàng
be determined to (v): quyết tâm, thôi thúc
get well (v): bình phục, khỏe khoắn
repay (v): đền đáp, đền ơn
kindness (n): lòng tốt
finally (adv): cuối cùng
bark (v): sủa
stretch (v): duỗi ra, dang ra
joy (n): sự vui mừng
hug (v): ôm
(hug - hugged - hugged)
1 They made a bed for him to sleep in.
2 This was the first time for Patrasche to feel love.
3 It seemed strange to him yet wonderful.
4 Nello and the old man danced for joy and hugged the dog.
When he finally stood up, he barked and stretched his legs.
Nello and the old man danced for joy and hugged the dog.4
Check up
Choose what does not match with the story.
a. Nero took good care of sick Patrasche.
b. Patrasche barked fiercely.
c. Patrasche felt the love of Nello and the grandfather.
Patrasche walked over to the cart.
He knew that the old man used that cart to make money.
Old Jehan Daas carried farmers’ milk cans to the market in Antwerp.
He sold the milk for the farmers and brought the empty cans back.1
The farmers then gave him some of their profits.
Patrasche decided that the old man would never again pull such a heavy cart.2
Patrasche stood by that cart for days.3
Finally, he started to pull the cart with his teeth.
Key Words & Sentences
walk over to (v): đi tới
make money (v): kiếm tiền
carry (v): chở (carry - carried - carried)
market (n): chợ
sell (v): bán
(sell - sold - sold)
bring A back (v): đem A về
(bring - brought - brought)
profit (n): tiền lãi
decide (v): quyết định
stand by (v): đứng bên cạnh
persuade (v): thuyết phục
harness (n): bộ yên cương
be glad to + V: vui mừng làm gì
compared to: so với
used to + V: đã từng
1 He sold the milk for the farmers and brought the empty cans back.
2 Patrasche decided that the old man would never again pull such a heavy cart.
“Alright, alright!” called old Jehan Daas.
“I see that I can’t persuade you not to pull the cart.”4
The old man put a harness around Patrasche’s shoulders. Patrasche was glad to do the work. This was easy work compared to what he used to do.5
Check up
What does it mean by “what he used to do” in the text?
a. Pulling a cart full of iron.
b. Pulling milk cans.
c. Watching sheep.
3 Patrasche stood by that cart for days.
4 I see that I can’t persuade you not to pull the cart.
5 This was easy work compared to what he used to do.
Chapter One: Comprehension Quiz
A. Choose the words that cannot be seen in the picture.
hut
crippled
friendship
cart
dizzy
B. Fill in the blanks with the right words. (Use the antonyms given)
1. Patrasche had ever felt_______.
hatred <--->
2. Patrasche decided tot_______the cart for old Jehan Daas.
push <--->
3. Old Jehan Daas sold the milk and brought the_______cans back.
full <--->
C. Based on the story, mark ‘T’ if true or ‘F’ if false.
1. Jehan Daas was Nello’s father.
2. Jehan Daas wanted Patrasche to work for him.
3. Jehan Daas carried farmers’ milk cans to the market in Antwerp.
4. Jehan Daas had once been a farmer
5. Nello and Jehan Dass were poor, but they were happy.
D. Complete the paragraph with the words given.
church
surrounded
clock
windmill
It was near Antwerp and was 1_______by cornfields and pastures. In the center of the village was a big 2_______.
A little gray 3_______stood across from the 2_______.
At the top of the 3_______, there was an old 4_______