Chapter OneThe treasure cave
Once upon a time in Persia, there lived two brothers.
One was named Cassim, and the other Ali Baba.
Cassim married a rich woman, but Ali Baba was poor.
One day, Ali Baba was cutting wood in the forest.
He saw a group of men coming toward him.1
“They must be robbers,” he said to himself.
He climbed a tree to hide.
When the horsemen came up, Ali Baba counted them. There were forty men in all.
They got off their horses before a black rock.
The captain said the words, “Open, sesame.”
A door in the rock magically opened.
The men all went inside, and the door closed behind them.2
Key Words
once upon a time (adv): ngày xửa ngày xưa
be named (v): được đặt tên là
cut (v): chặt, đốn
(cut - cut - cut)
wood (n): củi
forest (n): rừng
a group of (n): một nhóm
toward (prep): về phía
must (modal verb): chắc hẳn, phải là
robber (n): tên cướp
say to oneself (v): tự nhủ
→ A says to himself: A tự nhủ
climb (v): trèo, leo
horseman (n): người/ tên cưỡi ngựa
count (v): đếm
in all (adv): tổng cộng
get off (v): xuống (get - got - gotten)
captain (n): người, tên cầm đầu
sesame (n): vừng
behind (prep): phía sau
Key Sentences
1 He saw a group of men coming toward him.
2 The men all went inside, and the door closed behind them.
Ali Baba stayed in the tree.
After a while, the door opened again.
The robbers all came out.
Then the captain said, “Close, sesame,” and the door closed again.
Then all the men rode away.
“I must see what’s behind that door,”1 thought Ali Baba.
As soon as the men were out of sight,
Ali Baba climbed down.2
“Open, sesame,” he said in front of the rock.
The door opened, and Ali Baba entered into a large cave.
It was full of all kinds of treasure.
“Wow! There are rich silks, carpets, gold, silver, and bags of money,” cried Ali Baba.
He loaded his three mules with as many bags as possible.3
When he was finished, Ali Baba said, “Close, sesame,” and the door closed.
He then went straight home.
Key Words
after a while (adv): sau một lúc
come out (v): đi ra ngoài
(come - came - come)
close (v): đóng lại
ride away (v): cưỡi ngựa đi khỏi
(ride - rode - ridden)
as soon as…: ngay khi
out of sight (n): khuất khỏi tầm nhìn
be full of (adj): chứa đầy
all kinds of (n): đủ loại
silk (n): tơ tằm
carpet (n): tấm thảm
load A with B (v): chất A lên B
mule (n): con la
be finished (v): xong, hoàn thành
Key Sentences
1 I must see what’s behind that door.
2 As soon as the men were out of sight, Ali Baba climbed down.
3 He loaded his three mules with as many bags as possible.
At home, Ali Baba told his wife about their good luck.
She was really happy.
“Let’s measure the gold!” she said.
But she didn’t have a measuring stick.
She ran to Cassim’s wife to borrow one.1
Cassim’s wife was very curious.
So she put a little glue on the back of the measuring stick.2
Ali Baba’s wife measured the treasure.
A piece of gold stuck to the back of the measuring stick.
Cassim’s wife saw the gold and told her husband.
Cassim went to visit Ali Baba.
“Please tell me how you got the gold.” he said.
Ali Baba then explained about the big, black rock.3
“I will get some treasure, too,” said Cassim.
Check up
Why did Cassim’s wife put glue on the back of the measuring stick?
a. Because she wanted to have some gold.
b. Because she wanted to ruin the measuring stick.
c. Because she wanted to know what Ali Baba was measuring.
Key Words
luck (n): sự may mắn
measure (v): cân, đo
measuring stick (n): thước đo
borrow (v): mượn
curious (adj): tò mò
glue (n): keo hồ
on the back of (prep): ở mặt sau của
a piece of (n): một mảnh, miếng
stick to (v): dính vào
(stick - stuck - stuck)
visit (v): ghé thăm
get (v): có được
explain (v): giải thích
Key Sentences
1 She ran to Cassim’s wife to borrow one.
2 So she put a little glue on the back of the measuring stick.
3 Ali Baba then explained about the big, black rock.
The next day, Cassim went to the forest.
He took a lot of mules with him to carry the treasure.1
“Open, sesame,” said Cassim, and sure enough, the door opened.
He went in and the door closed.
He piled bags of gold near the door.
Then he was ready to leave.
But he had forgotten the magic words to open the door.2
He tried to remember for a long time.
Finally, the robbers came back to the cave.
They saw Cassim inside and rushed into the cave.3
They pulled out their swords and killed him.
Then they cut him into four pieces and left him in the cave.4
Check up
Why could not Cassim leave the cave?
Because he didn’t _____________ the magic words.
Key Words
sure enough (adj): đảm bảo tức thì
pile (v): chất thành đống
near (prep): gần
be ready to (adj): sẵn sàng
forget (v): quên
(forget - forgot - forgotten)
try to (v): cố gắng
remember (v): nhớ lại
for a long time (adv): rất lâu
finally (adv): cuối cùng
come back to (v): quay trở lại
inside (prep): bên trong
rush into (v): xông vào
pull out (v): rút ra
sword (n): kiếm
piece (n): mảnh
leave (v): bỏ lại, để lại
(leave - left - left)
Key Sentences
1 He took a lot of mules with him to carry the treasure.
2 But he had forgotten the magic words to open the door.
3 They saw Cassim inside and rushed into the cave.
4 Then they cut him into four pieces and left him in the cave.
That night, Cassim’s wife ran to Ali Baba.
“I’m so worried about my husband,” she cried.
“Please don’t worry,” answered Ali Baba,
“If he doesn’t return by the morning, I’ll find him.”1
In the morning, Ali Baba prepared his three mules.
He then left for the cave.
When he entered, he was struck with horror.2
He quickly carried his brother’s body to his house.
Ali Baba didn’t want people to know how Cassim died.3
Cassim’s wife had a servant named Morgiana.
She was very smart, so Ali Baba asked her to help him.
“Please bring Mustapha the tailor to sew up Cassim’s body,”4 ordered Ali Baba.
Check up
What is not appropriate to fill in the blank?
Ali Baba asked Morgiana to _______ a tailor to his house.
a. take
b. carry
c. bring
Key Words
be worried about (adj): lo lắng
leave for (v): rời nhà đi đến
be struck with (adj): bị đập vào mặt (strike - struck - struck)
horror (n): ghê rợn, khủng khiếp
body (n): xác
smart (adj): thông minh
tailor (n): thợ may
sew up (v): vá lại
(sew - sewed - sewed)
Key Sentences
1 If he doesn’t return by the morning, I’ll find him.
2 When he entered, he was struck with horror.
3 Ali Baba didn’t want people to know how Cassim died.
4 Please bring Mustapha the tailor to sew up Cassim’s body.
Morgiana went to Mustapha in the early morning.
She tied a handkerchief over his eyes.1
Then she took him to Ali Baba’s house.
Mustapha didn’t know where he was.
Afterwards, Ali Baba told the town that Cassim had died of natural causes.2
Ali Baba buried him, and everything remained a secret.
In those days, men in Persia had more than one wife.
Often, when a husband died, his brother would marry his wife.3
Ali Baba decided to marry his brother’s wife.
Then no one would be curious about his new treasures.4
Therefore, Ali Baba married Cassim’s widow.
Then he went to live in her house.
Check up
What is unknown from the story?
a. The tailor sewed up Cassim’s body.
b. Ali Baba disliked Cassim’s wife.
c. Persia is a polygamous country.
Key Words
tie (v): cột, thắt
handkerchief (n): khăn mùi soa
afterwards (adv): sau đó
die of (v): chết vì
natural (adj): thường, tự nhiên
cause (n): nguyên nhân
bury (v): chôn cất
(bury - buried - buried)
remain (v): còn lại, vẫn là
secret (n): bí mật
in those days (adv): vào thời đó
decide to (v): quyết định
widow (n): người vợ góa
Key Sentences
1 She tied a handkerchief over his eyes.
2 Afterwards, Ali Baba told the town that Cassim had died of natural causes.
3 Often, when a husband died, his brother would marry his wife.
4 Then no one would be curious about his new treasures.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Complete the sentences. Get hints from the antonyms given.
1. Cassim married a __________ woman.
⇒poor
2. The men all went __________, and the door closed behind them.
⇒outside
3. He took __________ mules with him to carry the treasure.
⇒a few
4. He __________ the magic words to open the door.
⇒remembered
5. She was very __________, so Ali Baba asked her to help him.
⇒foolish
B. Based on the story, mark “T” if true or “F” if false.
1. Cassim’s wife was a rich woman. T...F
2. Ali Baba’s wife was happy to get some treasure. T...F
3. Ali Baba was shocked to see his brother’s dead body. T...F
4. Cassim didn’t want any treasure for himself. T...F
5. Ali Baba told a truth to everyone how Cassim died. T...F
C. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. Where did Ali Baba hide when he saw the robbers?
(a) Behind a rock
(b) In a tree
(c) In the garden
2. Why was no one curious about Ali Baba’s new wealth?
(a) Because he hid his treasure.
(b) Because he was already rich.
(c) Because he married Cassim’s wife.
D. Put the sentences in order.
1. Ali Baba married Cassim’s wife.
2. Ali Baba found some treasure in a cave.
3. Ali Baba was cutting wood in the forest.
4. Cassim was murdered in the cave.
5. Cassim’s wife put some glue on the measuring stick.