Stone Cutter’s Mistake: ESL Reading Activities

50-minute English Lesson

In this ESL reading activities lesson, a stone cutter makes a wish and then regrets it.

Read the story

The Stone Cutter

Long ago, an old man worked as a stone cutter. He cut large rocks into small pieces and sold them in the market.

Life was difficult and the old man wasn’t happy. He wanted something different. He sought power. The spirit in the mountain heard his wish and decided to help him.

One early morning, the old man went to the forest in search of the most powerful thing in the land.

He looked up at the sun. “Nothing could be stronger than the sun! All life depends on its energy. I wish I were the sun” he said to himself.

The mountain spirit heard the old man and changed him into the sun. For several days, he was happy. His light traveled around the world.

Then a cloud appeared in the sky. It blocked the sun’s light and made the land dark. The sun, he learned, wasn’t so powerful.

“Nothing is stronger than a cloud! I wish I were a cloud” he shouted.

The mountain spirit listened to his cry and changed him into a cloud. He was the largest cloud in the sky. He made storms and he was content.

Then he saw a rock. He tried to move it with heavy rain and strong winds, but failed.

“Nothing is stronger than a rock! I wish I were a rock” he said.

The mountain spirit heard the old man’s voice and turned him into a huge rock. The old man was pleased. He rested on the mountain side thinking his great size made him powerful.

Some months later, a young stone cutter climbed the mountain. He approached the rock, opened his bag and took out some tools.

Suddenly, the old man heard a noise. He felt his body changing.

He soon realized the stone cutter was more powerful than a rock.

Listen without reading

listen to the story

Learn English: Gap Fill

Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.

Long ago, an old man _______ _______ a stone cutter. He cut large rocks into small _______ and sold them in the market.

Life was difficult and the old man wasn’t happy. He wanted something different. He sought _______ . The spirit in the mountain _______ his wish and decided to help him.

One early morning, the old man went to the _______ in search of the most powerful thing in the land.

He looked up at the sun. “ _______ could be stronger than the sun! All life depends on its _______ . I wish I were the sun,” he said to himself.

The mountain spirit heard the old man and _______ _____ into the sun. For several days, he was happy. His light _______ around the world.

Then a cloud _______ in the sky. It blocked the sun’s light and made the land dark. The sun, he learned, wasn’t so powerful.

“Nothing is stronger than a cloud! I wish I were a cloud” he _______ .

The mountain spirit listened to his cry and changed him _______ ____ _______ . He was the largest cloud in the sky. He made storms and he was _______ .

Then he _______ a rock. He tried to move it with heavy rain and strong winds, but _______ .

“Nothing is stronger than a rock! I wish I were a rock” he said.

The mountain spirit heard the old man’s voice and _______ him into a huge rock. The old man was pleased. He rested on the mountain side thinking his _______ _______ made him powerful.

Some months later, a young stone cutter _______ the mountain. He approached the rock, opened his bag and _______ _______ some tools.

Suddenly, the old man heard a noise. He felt his body _______ .

He soon _______ the stone cutter was more powerful than a rock.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the story.

1. What kind of story is this?
2. Why did the man want to change into so many different things?
3. Why did the main want to be a rock?
4. What do you think might happen to the old man?
5. What do you think about the mountain spirit? Was the spirit kind or cruel?
6. Does this ESL listening story have a message? What is it?

Synonym match

Match the word or phrase on the left with the correct synonym.

Anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL Reading Activities story.

1. EARLVES
2. NEONTTC
3. SOENI
4. AMTRKE
5. WPEORFUL
6. EEYRNG

Writing practice

Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.

1. and / was / man / old / happy / the / difficult / life / wasn’t
2. up / sun / at / the / he / looked
3. the / heard / the / him / old / the / spirit / man / mountain / changed / and / into / sun
4. the / it / the / light / land / made / and / dark / sun’s / blocked
5. the / than / more / he / stone / cutter / realized / soon / was / a / rock / powerful

Another ESL listening story

ESL Reading Activities

Ready to learn English with another free online listening and reading activity? Try this free English lesson about the history of the Rubik’s cube.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this English by Listening story? Learn more English by watching this video about Stonehenge, the world’s most famous and mysterious rock.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list with at least eight facts.

Get the worksheet

ESL Reading Activities

Want to print out these ESL listening and reading activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.

Click to see the answers.