How The Tiger Got Its Stripes

There once lived a very proud tiger. One day, the tiger saw a mighty buffalo pulling a plough through a paddy field. The tiger appeared in front of the buffalo. "Buffalo, why do you let yourself be tied to a plough and work so hard? You are so huge and strong."

"It is because man rules over me and the other animals on his farm. He says it is his wisdom that allows him to control us. He is a very smart being." said the buffalo.

''If only I had his wisdom, I would be able to control all the animals! I would make them stand still while I choose my meal of the day.'' thought the tiger.

The next day the tiger appeared in front of the man. "What do you want tiger?" asked the man. "I want your wisom. Give me your wisdom." said the tiger. "Wisdom? Wisdom is not something I can give you." said the man. "Yes, you can. Give it to me or I will kill you!" the tiger said. The man thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll give you my wisom, but I let it in my house. Wait here. I'll go and get it." said the man. "Let me put a rope around you and tie you to a tree so that you cannot kill my goats." the main said slyly. The tiger agreed. The man wound the rope around its face, body, and legs. Then, he tied the tiger to a tree and ran home with his goats. The tiger waited for the man, but he never returned. The tiger said to itself, "I''m hungry. I'm going to eat one of the man's goats." The tiger pulled and pulled at the rope with all its might. Finally, it broke free. The tiger did not realise the rope burnt striped onto its shiny coat. The tiger roared in anger. "Where are the goats? Where is the man? Where is my wisdom?" asked the tiger to itself. "Grrr, the man has cheated me!" Angry, exhausted and thirsty, the tiger went to a lake for a drink. When the tiger saw itself in the water, it screamed! "What happened to my beautiful shiny coat? Why is it covered with stripes?" All the animals saw its stripes and started laughing. The buffalo stopped pulling the plough and said, "Hey tiger, what happened to you? You look ugly." The tiger was very embarrassed of its stripes. The tiger ran away and hid itself deep in the jungle.

(source: Malaysia English Textbook Unit 8 Reading KSSR English Textbook)

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