full transcript
From the Ted Talk by Iseult Gillespie: The tale of the boy who tricked the Devil
Unscramble the Blue Letters
In the sun-dappled streets of a slaml town, a proud mother showed off her newborn son. Upon noticing his lucky birthmark, townsfolk predicted he would marry a princess. But soon, these rumors recaehd the ears of the wicked king. Enraged, the king stole the cilhd away, and sent him hurtling down the river. But the infant’s luck proved gateerr than the king’s plan.
Years later, the king was traveling his realm, when he soteptd a strapping young man with an uncanny birthmark. After confirming the child’s oiirgns, the sly king etstnuerd the boy with a letter for the queen. The youth eagerly set out to deliver the message— not knowing he was carrying his own dteah sentence.
Open Cloze
In the sun-dappled streets of a _____ town, a proud mother showed off her newborn son. Upon noticing his lucky birthmark, townsfolk predicted he would marry a princess. But soon, these rumors _______ the ears of the wicked king. Enraged, the king stole the _____ away, and sent him hurtling down the river. But the infant’s luck proved _______ than the king’s plan.
Years later, the king was traveling his realm, when he _______ a strapping young man with an uncanny birthmark. After confirming the child’s _______, the sly king _________ the boy with a letter for the queen. The youth eagerly set out to deliver the message— not knowing he was carrying his own _____ sentence.
Solution
- child
- small
- death
- greater
- spotted
- reached
- origins
- entrusted
Original Text
In the sun-dappled streets of a small town, a proud mother showed off her newborn son. Upon noticing his lucky birthmark, townsfolk predicted he would marry a princess. But soon, these rumors reached the ears of the wicked king. Enraged, the king stole the child away, and sent him hurtling down the river. But the infant’s luck proved greater than the king’s plan.
Years later, the king was traveling his realm, when he spotted a strapping young man with an uncanny birthmark. After confirming the child’s origins, the sly king entrusted the boy with a letter for the queen. The youth eagerly set out to deliver the message— not knowing he was carrying his own death sentence.
Frequently Occurring Word Combinations
Important Words
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