Page 86 - Unit 5 - Exercise 1A

Page 86 - Unit 5 - Exercise 1A

Finn, The Giant

Here’s a story from long ago. Finn MacCool is a giant. He lives in Ireland. Finn is a good, strong giant. He lives with his wife, Oonah, Finn and his good, clever wife live on a hill near the sea.

On the other side of the sea is Scotland. A giant lives there, too, his name is Benan. He isn’t a good giant. He’s a big, bad giant. Finn doesn’t like Benan. One day he throws some big rocks at Benan. Benan doesn’t like Finn and he throws big rocks back. The rocks land in the sea between Ireland and Scotland.

Soon there are lots of rocks in the sea. The rocks make a bridge. big, and Benan starts to cross the bridge.

‘Oh,no’ says Finn, and he runs home.

‘What’s wrong?’ says Oonah when she sees her husband.

‘Look,’ he says. ‘Here comes big, bad Benan! What can I do?’

‘Quick,’ says clever Oonah. ‘Make a big baby’s cradle.’

Finn collects some wood and makes a big cradle. ‘Now get in the cradle and be quiet,’ says Oonah. Then she collects some stones and makes some bread rolls. She puts stones into the rolls. But there is one roll with no stone in it.

Soon Benan arrives and he bangs on the door. ‘Where’ Finn? he shouts.

‘He isn’t here,’ says Oonah. ‘There’s only me and the baby at home.’

Benan looks at the cradle. ‘That’s a very big baby.’ he says.

’ Yes, just like his daddy.’ Says Oonah. ‘Finn is a very big giant.’

‘Oh,’ says Benan. Then he sees the bread by the fire. ‘Mmm. Those bread rolls smell very good.’ he says. ‘Can I have one?’

‘Yes. Here you are,’ says Oonah. She gives Benan a bread roll. There’s a big stone in it.

‘Thank you,’ says Benan. He opens his big nouth and bites the bread roll. ‘Owl’ he shouts. ‘My teeth! This bread is very hard.’

‘Oh’ says Oonah. ‘Finn eats this bread every day. He likes it.’ Then the baby starts to cry. ‘Oh dear,’ says Oonah. ‘He’s hungry. Here you are, baby. Here’s a bread roll for you.’

‘That baby’s got very strong teeth,’ says Benan. He doesn’t know that there’s no stones in the baby’s bread roll. The baby eats the bread roll.

‘Listen,’ says Oonah. ‘I think I can hear Finn outside now.’

‘Oh, no.’ Thinks Benan. ‘If this is Finn’s baby. I don’t want to meet Finn!’ And he runs out of the house and back to the sea.

As he crosses the bridge agai, he picks up the big stones. He throws them far into the Atlantic Ocean. ‘Finn can’t follow me now.’ he thinks.

But Finn doesn’t want to follow Benan. He’s happy in Ireland with his clever wife, Oonah.