The Apple Tree

 
 
 

Vocabulary

yard (2)	nearly	autumn/fall
full	ought to	cut down (2)
rather	storm	kid (2)
oak	crash	remember
hurt	get rid	plant (2)
shatter	another	specialist
chain	chainsaw	truck/lorry
log	gather	branch
dig	trunk (3)	leaf/leaves
stump	root (2)	even (2)
wow	finally	look around
hole	climb	bottom
wood	wooden	chest (2)
lid

 
 

The Apple Tree

We had a large apple tree in our front yard. It stood nearly ten meters high. Every summer it was full of red apples.

Never

One day, my husband Carl said that we ought to cut the apple tree down.
“Are you kidding? I love this tree. We’ve had it for many years,” I replied.
“Yes. But now it’s rather old. If there were a storm, it might fall and crash onto our house.”

Mrs. Kimberly

“Remember Mrs. Kimberly? Her oak tree fell onto her kitchen window, shattering it. And she got hurt.”

And so I agreed with Carl that it would be best to get rid of the apple tree now. Anyway, we can always plant another one.

We called some tree specialists.

The Next Morning

The next morning, two men arrived in a truck. They began cutting the tree with their chainsaw. After falling it, they cut up and gathered the branches, logs, and leaves, and put them in their truck.

The tree was so big, it took them all morning.

A Huge Stump

After they finished with the trunk and branches, they began to dig and cut out the stump and the roots.

But this was even more difficult.

A Big Hole

Finally in the evening, they finished and left.

“Wow, look at this big hole!” said Carl.
He climbed in and looked around.

Something

“Look, I see something down here!” he shouted, and began digging the bottom of the pit with his hands. I climbed into the hole.

It was a wooden chest. We opened the lid. It was filled with gold jewellery and silver utensils: rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, plates, spoons, knives and forks.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *
 
 

Questions

1. Who were the main characters? Where did they live?

2. A cactus was in their front yard. Yes or no? Was it young?

3. Did the wife and husband have an argument? If yes, why did they have an argument? What did they decide to do?

4. Carl cut down the apple tree himself. Cutting down the tree and removing it was quick and easy. True or false?

5. What was left after the workmen had finished by the evening?

6. What happened in the end?

7. What could be the explanation? Why was it there?

8. Do you think the writer is materialistic or an environmentalist?
 
 
A. Have people discovered buried “treasure” in your country? What happened?

B. What would you do if you discovered buried treasures? If I discovered buried treasure, I would . . . .

C. Do people go treasure hunting? Do they use metal detectors?

D. Are there lots of trees, shrubs and bushes in your city or town?

E. Do you have a garden? If yes, what’s in it?

F. Should people cut down trees, or plant more trees?