The Boy Who Cried Wolf
양치기 소년
The Story
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A young shepherd boy watched his sheep on a hill near the village.The work was quiet, and the boy was often bored.
One day, for fun, he shouted, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is chasing the sheep!"The villagers ran up the hill to help him — but there was no wolf.
The boy laughed and laughed. He thought his trick was very funny.A few days later, he played the same trick again. "Wolf! Wolf!"
Again the villagers ran up the hill, and again there was no wolf.This time they were angry. "Do not call for help when nothing is wrong!"
Then one evening, a real wolf came out of the wood."Wolf! Wolf!" cried the boy. "Please, this time it is true!"
But the villagers thought it was another trick, and no one came.Nobody believes a liar, even when he tells the truth.
Comprehension Check
1. Why did the boy first shout "Wolf!" when there was no wolf?
2. How did the villagers feel the second time the boy cried wolf?
3. Why did no one come when the real wolf appeared?
Vocabulary
noun
shepherd
양치기, 목동
The shepherd boy watched his sheep on the hill.
양치기 소년은 언덕에서 양들을 지켰어요.
Your Summary
In 1–2 sentences, explain why the villagers did not help the shepherd boy when a real wolf finally came.
Source: Adapted from Aesop's Fables (public domain, c. 6th century BCE). This retelling and its Korean translation are original text written for SeoJae Story.