There lived a presumptuous hare who thought that he was the fastest runner in the forest. He challenged many animals to run a race with him but none seemed interested. Just then a tortoise who was on its way to the river came by. The hare snobbishly looked at the tortoise and challenged it to compete with him in a running race across the forest. The tortoise nonchalantly told him, "Barking dogs do not bite, I will win this race outright." On hearing this the hare laughed disparagingly "Well then! We shall meet exactly a mile from here, I with a smile and you with a tear."
The hare which started off with full fervour was soon out of sight. Unperturbed the tortoise continued with its slow but sure steps. When the hare had run half a mile, he looked back to see if the tortoise was anywhere closeby. Not finding the tortoise in sight, the hare said to itself
The woods are lovely dark and deep,
I have but half a mile to go,
So let me first sleep, let me first sleep."
The serene atmosphere of the woods too sopoforic for the vainglorious little animal and it soon fell into a deep slumber. After a little while the assiduous old tortoise strode up and on seeing the hare mumbled to itself,
"It doesn't matter if you cannot leap,
It's much better to creep,
Than to stand still or sleep."
So saying, the tortoise continued on its journey. Hours later, when the sun was near the horizon, the raucous calls of the birds returning to their nests woke the hare up. It languidly stretched its limbs and looked around. The gravity of the situation took him by a jolt and it sprang to its feet and ran towards the finishing line only to find that the tortoise had crossed it hours before and was now swimming calmly in the river oblivious of the fact that it had given to the world an adage to cherish "Slow and Steady Wins the Race."
1. presumptuous: unduly or overbearingly confident.
It was presumptuous of him to take my car without my permission.
2. snob: person who despises those inferior to himself
Our neighbour is an intolerable snob who keeps bragging about himself.
3. nonchalant:calm and casual
His nonchalant acceptance of the award surprised many.
4. disparage: criticize; belittle
The article has disparaged the workers' demands for higher wages.
5. fervour: passion, zeal.
She went about her studies with a fervour we had not seen before.
6. unperturbed: not perturbed.
The fishermen are usually unperturbed by minor cyclones.
7. serene: clear and calm.
The hill station made a serene setting for the vacation.
8. soporific: inducing sleep
The film had a soporific effect on me and I fell asleep within minutes.
9. vainglorious: boastfulness; extreme vanity.
The vainglorious general who always bragged about his bravery.
10. assiduous: persevering, hard-working
Our gardener is very assiduous who spends hours looking after the plants.
11. mumble: speak or utter indistinctly.
He mumbled the name of the person who had shot him, but no one could hear him clearly.
12. languid: lacking vigour,idle; inert
The tourists were lying languidly at the beach.
13. oblivious:
He was oblivious of the fact that he had offended the religious feelings of some.