Rapid reading 1. A.

Nail
A1. Read and decide Read the story quickly and decide on the following. Characters in the story: Their age: Their relations: Their nature: Place of the story: Duration of the story: Narrator of the story: Type of the story: Message of the story: A2 Read the story and complete the following: 1. The house was built by _____. 2. The neighbour consulted _______ before signing the contract. 3. Nasruddin put ______ on the nail the first time he came to the house. 4. According to the neighbours wife Nasruddin was taking advantage of ____. 5. The council of elders passed their verdict in favour of ______

A. Nail
Nasruddins neighbour was a crooked man with a large, bushy moustache and he knew about his financial difficulties. He thought he could take advantage of the situation. I want to help you, good neighbour. I will buy the house from you, even though I dont really have any interest in it. The man offered a pitiful price. Mullah Nasruddin looked delighted and drew a small piece of paper from the folds of his clothing. God bless you with long life and healthy progeny for this gesture! The house shall be yours, as soon as we take care of this little clause in the contract.

What clause? asked the neighbour, suspiciously? Only a very small thing. This house was built by my father. A fine gentleman he was. Always paid in cash. And you see here on the wall of the living room there is one nail sticking out. My father never had the chance to finish hammering it in. he had a heart attack and died. God rest his soul! The neighbour looked as contrite as he could. I therefore request that I be allowed to keep ownership of that nail, and do whatever I want with it. The neighbour agreed but explained that he would have to consult his wife before signing. His wife raised some serious objections. Why is he going to keep a nil? What does it mean? He just wants to be allowed to keep and worship his nail from time to time. Thats all. May be so. But we are getting the house for half its value. So whats the problem if he wants to keep a small nail? The wife finally relented, the contract was signed, and Mullah Nasruddin moved out. A month went by. One evening they heard a knock on the door. It was Nasruddin, with head bowed. Oh Mullah, where have you been? We were wondering about you, lied the crooked man. Nasruddin explained that he had come to worship his nail and the man agreed to let him into the house. Mullah humbly walked behind the man, bowed in front of the nail, and put his hat on it. As he was about to leave, the man questioned him. Hey, hey, what is that doing there? Thats my hat. Yes, but you cant leave it in my house. Of course I can said the Mullah as he headed towards the door. It is on my nail. Two weeks passed before Mullah Nasruddins next visit. Ah, good morning Mullah. You have come to take back your hat, I presume. No thank you, my dear

friend. I have come to worship my nail. Once again he bowed before the nail and, after his worship finished, he hung a scarf with his hat and turned to leave. The crooked man was not amused but there was nothing he could do when Nasruddin claimed he was worshipping his dead fathers nail. The man sucked the end of his moustache and persuaded himself that this would be the last time, if only because there was nothing more the mad Mullah could possibly hang on the nail. He slammed the door behind the departing pilgrim and hoped his wife wouldnt be too angry. A week later Mullah Nasruddin returned and bowed towards the nail. Before turning to leave he took off his coat and hung it on the nail along with the hat and the scarf. His wife was furious and she upbraided her husband. Now look what hes done. He is taking advantage of our kindness. No advantage of your weakness. But what can I do? the unhappy husband chewed at the ragged end of his moustache. We agreed that he can do whatever he wants with his nail. But fear not, pumpkin, now the nail is full. The next day, Mullah Nasruddin showed up again. The man tried to shut the door in his face when he saw who it was, but Nasruddin had already placed his foot inside nothing was going to stop him worshipping nail. Oh God. You again. I do hope this is the last time! He tugged at his upper lip. Possibly replied Nasruddin with his usual benign smile. He entered, dragged behind him the carcass of a cow and as he proceeded to hang it on his nail, the wife went mad with rage, and screamed at her husband. Get that out of my house or Im leaving you! The husband protested vehemently, Mullah Nasruddin, this is going too far. We cannot have that. But you signed the contract, good neighbour. Well, we will see about that. Let us have the council of elders make a ruling.

Soon as assembly of all the wise men of the village had been convened, and the neighbour explained the situation while smearing the few wisps of his once bristling moustache across his upper lip, as though the sprouts hair offended him. Mullah simply presented the contract, without uttering a word in his defence. The wise men studied it carefully, and eventually pronounced that the Mullah was perfectly entitled to do as he wished with his nail. There is nothing in the contract that restricted how the nail should be worshipped. The case was therefore dismissed, and the neighbour went home dejected. After long arguments with his wife and a sleepless night, he begged Mullah to buy his house back, at a bargain price. Nasruddin agreed and they moved out as quickly as possible. Mullah was able to enjoy his house and his nil, having made a tidy sum of money. Glossary: Crooked: Pitiful price Clause: Contrite: Relented: Presume: Furious: upbraided: carcass: vehemently: pronounced:

not straightforward, dishonest not deserving price legal binding to do or not to do a particular thing. feeling sorry finally agreed after refusing to suppose very angry criticized angrily, spoke angrily dead body of an animal forcefully said officially/formally gave judgement officially

A3. Read the story quickly and answer the following questions: 1. What sort of man was Nasruddins neighbour? 2. How did the neighbour plan to take undue advantage of Nasruddins financial difficulties?

3. What was stuck on the wall of the house? 4. What was the clause Nasruddin put in the contract with his neighbour? 5. How did Nasruddin worship the nail? 6. Why was the neighbours wife furious? 7. Why was the council of elders called? 8. What was their decision? 9. What did the neighbour finally do? 10.Do you feel sympathy for the neighbour? Why? 11.What qualities of Nasruddin impress you the most? Why? ******