What, a Greedy Man? Adult ESL Activities

50-minute English Lesson

These adult ESL activities are about a greedy man who encounters an honest family and a clever police officer. It’s an expensive chance meeting.

Read the story

adult ESL activities: Greedy Man

Gerry was a rich farmer. He loved money more than anything or anyone.

One day, he was walking to the market. He had a bag with 10 gold pieces in his pocket. On the way, the bag fell out of his pocket, but he didn’t notice it.

Later that afternoon, two children were walking down the same street. They saw the bag. They took it home and showed it to their father, Mr Brown. He recognized the bag at once and returned it immediately to Gerry.

Gerry was happy to get his money back and thought of a scheme to earn more. He went to the police station and said there were 20 gold pieces in the bag. Ten gold pieces were missing. Mr Brown must have taken them.

The police interviewed Mr Brown. He denied taking any gold.

The police officer knew Gerry was a terrible person and doubted his story, but had no way of determining who was lying. Then he had an idea. He knew how to discover the truth.

He told Mr Brown to keep the gold. He told Gerry this bag didn’t belong to him because it had only 10 gold pieces. If someone finds 20 gold pieces, the police would contact him in the future.

Gerry complained and demanded the return of his 10 gold pieces. He admitted to lying about the 20 gold pieces. The police officer didn’t change his mind. He said he couldn’t believe Gerry because he would say anything to profit himself.

The officer left content because he was able to solve a problem and find the truth with a few simple sentences.

Listen without reading

Adult ESL activities: greed story

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the adult ESL activities story and fill in the blanks.

Gerry was a rich __________ . He loved money more than __________ or anyone.

One day, he was walking to the __________ . He had a bag with 10 gold __________ in his pocket. On the way, the bag fell out of his pocket, but he didn’t __________ it.

Later that __________ , two children were walking down the same street. They saw the __________ . They took it home and __________ it to their father, Mr Brown. He __________ the bag at once and returned it __________ to Gerry.

Gerry was happy to get his money __________ and thought of a __________ to earn more. He went to the police station and said there were __________ gold pieces in the bag. Ten gold pieces were __________ . Mr. Brown must have taken them.

The police __________ Mr Brown. He __________ taking any gold.

The police officer knew Gerry was a __________ person and __________ his story, but had no way of determining who was lying. Then he had an idea. He knew how to __________ the truth.

He told Mr Brown to keep the gold. He told Gerry this bag didn’t __________ to him because it had only 10 gold pieces. If __________ finds 20 gold pieces, the police would __________ him in the future.

Gerry __________ and demanded the return of his 10 gold pieces. He admitted to __________ about the 20 gold pieces. The police officer didn’t __________ his mind. He said he couldn’t believe Gerry because he would say anything to __________ himself.

The officer left __________ because he was able to __________ a problem and find the __________ with a few simple sentences.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the adult ESL activities story.

1. What is the story’s setting?
2. Why did the father take the coins to the owner?
3. Retell the story from the perspective of a greedy man.
4. What are the pros and cons of the being honest?
5. What message does the story teach?
6. Do you agree with the message?

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.

1. EEIDDN
2. NNCTTEO
3. EDCOSVRI
4. REKTAM
5. BEDTDOU
6. NZDEGERCOI

Writing practice

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

1. police / his / mind / change / officer / The / didn’t
2. father / Mr / it / and / their / to / it / home / showed / They / Brown / took
3. He / discover / knew / the / truth / to / how
4. and / to / in / said / He / station / pieces / police / gold / 20 / there / went / were / the / the / bag
5. pocket / gold / his / pieces / 10 / a / had / He / with / in / bag

Another adult ESL activity

Ready for some knowledge about people? In this critical listening lesson, check out this old Japanese fable about a stone cutter. 

Watch a video and take notes

Adult ESL extension activity

Did you like this listening and reading lesson? Here is a video about a greedy man working in an office. Click to watch the video and practise your note-taking skills.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list of at least five facts.

Get the worksheet

English for Listening worksheet

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

Click to see the answers for this listening and reading lesson.