Cabbage White
Sarah and Jamie stood on their tiptoe and gave the card from their school to the tall man behind the counter of a farm. The man frowned and made a face.
"So you're looking for some work, And who are you?" "I'm Sarah. I'm twelve. This is my brother Jamie; he's eleven."
"Shouldn't you be at school?"
"We are on holiday. And would like to earn some money and support our parents." The man lifted his hat and scratched his head. "Working in the farm is a quite tough job for kids like you. I need somebody big and strong to work here," he said.
"There must be some work for us in this big farm. Could you please find one?" Sarah pleaded.
"And right. Let's see. Do you know what a Cabbage White is?" the man asked.
"Yes. It's a beautiful white butterfly that lays its eggs on cabbages. And those eggs change into caterpillars.", answered Sarah.
"And do you know what the caterpillars do?"
"They eat the cabbage leaves!" shouted Jamie.
"Aren't you afraid of caterpillars?" asked the man.
"Not at all." retorted Sarah.
"Alright. So, I think I have a job for you."
"Oh! Thank you very much. And what is the work?", they said.
"I want you to check every single cabbage in the garden and eliminate all the caterpillars,” replied the man.
"Er...how?" wondered Jamie.
"You pick them off and collect them."
"Is it alright if we collect them in one of these pails?"
"Alright."
"How much will you pay us?" Sarah asked.
"Let me see how you get on, first. If I am happy with your work, I'll not disappoint you with the pay. I'll be in the greenhouse. Get started and I'll see you later."
Shortly, armed with a pail each, the children approached the cabbage patch. It was so enormous. "There must be a million cabbages here!" Jamie said.
"At least!" Sarah said. "And if there are ten caterpillars on each cabbage that makes there a billion caterpillars!"
Sarah stood open-mouthed. The job looked really tough. Jamie wondered about her arithmetic, but knew better than to dispute. They started on the first row of cabbages. It was really a hideous job. The caterpillars wriggled as they were picked up. It took the two children ages to finish the first row, and already they couldn't see the bottom of their buckets for caterpillars. And all around them, the air was filled with Cabbage White butterflies. The insects seemed to be mocking them. They seemed to be saying: "We don't care if you kill our caterpillars. We can lay millions of eggs."
Sarah and Jamie were now very desperate.
Sarah struck out at a butterfly. She missed, of course. She watched it fly gaily away. Then she had an idea, as brilliant in its way as Einstein coming up with e=mc2.
"Jamie, caterpillars come from eggs, right?" He nodded at her remarks. "And where do eggs come from?" she inquired further.
"The Butterflies lay them." "Right. So", she reasoned, "if we get rid of the butterflies, there won't be any more eggs or caterpillars." "Right." Jamie agreed.
"So, why don't we get rid of the butterflies!"
"How?" he asked.
Nearby, there were beans climbing up bamboo poles. Sarah removed two poles. Two bean plants died. She handed one of the poles to Jamie, and then rushed into the cabbage patch, swinging her pole round and round trying to hit the butterflies. This seemed to Jamie like a good game, so he followed her. It is not easy to hit flying butterflies, but it is not difficult to hit them when they settle on cabbages. Soon the ground was covered with dead butterflies. Sarah and Jamie fought on until they were completely exhausted. Then they stood back to admire their work. There were hardly any butterflies left. There were hardly any cabbages left, either. It is difficult to hit a butterfly on a cabbage without hitting the cabbage too. The cabbage patch looked like a battle-field. Not a cabbage was left standing. The children looked at each other. Without a word, they put down the bamboo poles and tiptoed out of the garden.
"He knows our names," Jamie said.
"But he does not know where we live," Sarah said.
"Thank goodness," they both said.
(Adapted from Happy Days and Short Stories by Jake Allsop)
A. Match the following meanings in the left column with the correct words in the right.
a. to laugh at somebody in an unkind way | i. mock |
| b. very unpleasant | ii. hideous |
c. to twist and turn body or part of it with quick, short movements | iii. wriggle |
| d. in a cheerful way | iv. gaily |
e. very surprised or shocked | v. open-mouthed |
| f. to ask for something in a serious and emotional way | vi. plead |
| g. to make a facial expression indicating disapproval | vii. frown |
| h. to argue or disagree strongly with somebody | viii. dispute |
B. The word tiptoe refers to the way of walking with one's heels off the ground, in order to make them taller or to move very quietly. Consult a dictionary and find the meanings of the following words related to walking.
sneak stroll lurch stagger stride stumble
1. Sneak: To walk quietly, trying to avoid being noticed or detected. |
2. Stroll: To walk in a leisurely or relaxed manner, often with no specific destination or purpose. |
3. Lurch: To walk or move unsteadily, usually with sudden or jerky movements. |
4. Stagger: To walk unsteadily, as if about to lose balance, often due to weakness, dizziness, or intoxication. |
5. Stride: To walk with long, confident steps, covering a significant distance with each step. |
6. Stumble: To trip or lose one's balance while walking, often resulting in a momentary loss of footing. |
C. Answer the following questions.
a. Why do you think the man frowned his face when Sarah and Jamie gave him their school card? |
Answer: The man frowned his face because he was surprised when Sarah and Jamie gave him their school card instead of a resume, which is what most people usually give when looking for a job. |
b. Why were Sarah and Jamie looking for a job instead of going to school? |
Answer: Sarah and Jamie were looking for a job instead of going to school because their family was going through a tough time and they wanted to help by earning money. |
c. Why was the man ready to give them work in his farm? |
Answer: The man was ready to give them work on his farm because he could see that Sarah and Jamie were determined and hardworking, and he understood that they needed a job. |
d. What work were they supposed to do at the man's farm? |
Answer: They were supposed to help with getting rid of cabbage white caterpillars in the farm's cabbage field to protect the plants. |
e. Were there really a million or billion caterpillars in the cabbage field? If not, what do Sarah and Jamie mean by a million or billion caterpillars? |
Answer: No, there were not really a million or billion caterpillars in the cabbage field, but Sarah and Jamie used those big numbers to show that there were a lot of caterpillars and it was a big problem. |
f. What were Sarah and Jamie desperate about? |
Answer: Sarah and Jamie were desperate because their family was facing financial difficulties, and they wanted to find a job to help their parents and improve their situation. |
g. What was Sarah's 'brilliant' idea? |
Answer: Sarah's 'brilliant' idea was to use their school card as a way to show the man that they were responsible and dedicated students who could also work hard. |
h. Were the children happy with their work? Give reasons for your answer. |
Answer: At first, the children were not very happy with their work because it was hard and tiring, but as they saw how their efforts were making a positive difference and helping their family, they started to feel satisfied and proud of their work. |
i. Why did they run away from the farm secretly? |
Answer: They ran away from the farm secretly because they found out that the man was not treating them fairly, paying them less than they deserved, and they felt they needed to protect themselves and find a better opportunity. |
D. Read the story and write 'True' for true statements, and 'False' for false ones. If the information is not given in the text, write 'Not Given'.
a. Sarah and Jamie's parents were unable to work to support the family. Not Given |
b. Sarah and Jamie have never been to school. False |
c. The man decides to pay them upon the completion of their work. True |
d. Sarah and Jamie had not expected to find so many caterpillars in the cabbage field. Not Given |
e. Sarah's idea finally worked to finish off their job. Ture |
f. They were caught by the farm owner while running away. False |
Cabbage White [Word Meaning]
Word with Transcription and Meaning |
tiptoe /ˈtɪptoʊ/ |
step lightly, walk quietly, sneak |
walking on the balls of the feet or toes, making little or no sound |
frowned /fraʊnd/ |
scowled, grimaced, looked unhappy |
made an expression with the eyebrows and forehead that shows disapproval or displeasure |
made-a-face /meɪd ə feɪs/ |
grimaced, pulled a face, expressed disgust |
made a contorted or distorted facial expression to show dislike or disgust |
lifted /lɪftɪd/ |
raised, elevated, hoisted |
moved or raised something to a higher position |
scratched /skrætʃt/ |
rubbed, scraped, itched |
lightly rubbed or scraped the skin or scalp to relieve an itch or irritation |
pleaded /pliːdɪd/ |
begged, implored, requested |
made an earnest and emotional request or plea |
caterpillars /ˈkætərˌpɪlərz/ |
larvae, worms, grubs |
the worm-like stage in the life cycle of butterflies and moths |
retorted /rɪˈtɔrtɪd/ |
answered sharply, replied quickly |
responded in a quick or sharp manner |
eliminate /ɪˈlɪmɪˌneɪt/ |
remove, eradicate, get rid of |
get rid of, remove, or destroy something completely |
disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/ |
let down, discouraged, dissatisfied |
feeling unhappy or dissatisfied because something did not meet expectations |
pail /peɪl/ |
bucket, container, vessel |
a cylindrical container with a handle, used for carrying or holding liquids or other materials |
approached /əˈproʊtʃt/ |
came near, drew closer, advanced |
moved closer to or came near to something or someone |
cabbage-patch /ˈkæbɪdʒ pætʃ/ |
field of cabbages, vegetable garden |
an area of land where cabbages are grown or cultivated |
enormous /ɪˈnɔːrməs/ |
huge, gigantic, massive |
extremely large in size or scale |
hideous /ˈhɪdiəs/ |
repulsive, disgusting, revolting |
extremely unpleasant or ugly |
wriggled /ˈrɪɡəld/ |
squirmed, twisted, wiggled |
moved with small, twisting or writhing motions |
picked-up /pɪkt ʌp/ |
lifted, gathered, collected |
lifted or gathered something from a surface or location |
mocking /ˈmɑkɪŋ/ |
taunting, ridiculing, teasing |
making fun of or laughing at someone or something in a scornful or derisive manner |
desperate /ˈdɛspərɪt/ |
hopeless, frantic, in dire need |
feeling or showing a sense of despair, hopelessness, or extreme urgency |
struck-out /strʌk aʊt/ |
swung, lashed out, made a blow |
made a forceful swing or hit with the intention of striking or hitting something |
gaily /ˈɡeɪli/ |
cheerfully, happily, merrily |
in a cheerful, joyful, or lively manner |
nodded /nɑdɪd/ |
agreed, affirmed, signaled |
moved the head up and down in a gesture of agreement or understanding |
remarks /rɪˈmɑrks/ |
comments, statements, observations |
spoken or written comments or statements made about something |
reasoned /ˈriːzənd/ |
thought, deduced, concluded |
used logical thinking or deduction to reach a conclusion or make a judgment |
exhausted /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪd/ |
tired, drained, worn out |
extremely tired or lacking energy |
admire /ədˈmaɪr/ |
appreciate, respect, look up to |
regard with warm approval, appreciation, or high esteem |
Extra Questions to Practice
Expandable FAQ Section
Why did Sarah and Jamie approach the man with their school card instead of a resume?
▼
Sarah and Jamie approached the man with their school card because they wanted to show their dedication to education and their ability to work hard.
What problem were Sarah and Jamie trying to solve by looking for a job?
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Sarah and Jamie were trying to help their struggling family by earning money.
Why did the man frown when he saw their school card?
▼
The man frowned when he saw their school card because he expected them to present a resume, which is more common in job applications.
What kind of work did the man offer Sarah and Jamie?
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The man offered Sarah and Jamie a job to help control the caterpillar infestation in his cabbage field.
Why did Sarah and Jamie say there were a million or billion caterpillars?
▼
Sarah and Jamie used the phrases "a million or billion caterpillars" to emphasize that there was a significant number of caterpillars, even though the actual count was not that high.
What made Sarah and Jamie desperate?
▼
Sarah and Jamie were desperate because their family was facing financial difficulties.
What was Sarah's brilliant idea?
▼
Sarah's brilliant idea was to use their school card as a unique way to impress the man and showcase their commitment to education.
Were Sarah and Jamie happy with their work on the farm?
▼
Initially, they were not very happy because the work was physically demanding and tiring.
Why did they run away from the farm secretly?
▼
They ran away secretly because they had destroyed all the butterflies including the cabbage farm.
Why did the man offer them a job?
▼
The man offered them a job because he understood their desperate situation and saw their willingness to work hard.
How did Sarah and Jamie want to help their family?
▼
Sarah and Jamie wanted to help their family by earning money through a job.
What did the man think when he saw their school card?
▼
The man was surprised and skeptical when he saw their school card instead of a resume, as it was an unconventional approach.
What was the problem in the man's farm?
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The cabbage field in the man's farm was infested with caterpillars.
How did Sarah and Jamie describe the number of caterpillars?
▼
Sarah and Jamie used the phrases "a million or billion caterpillars" to emphasize the severity of the caterpillar infestation.
Why did Sarah and Jamie need a job?
▼
They needed a job to support their struggling family.
What was the man's reaction to their school card?
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The man frowned because he expected them to provide a resume, which is more commonly used in job applications.
How did Sarah and Jamie contribute to the farm?
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They contributed to the farm by helping with pest control, specifically by getting rid of caterpillars.
Were there actually a million or billion caterpillars?
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No, there weren't actually a million or billion caterpillars, but Sarah and Jamie used those large numbers to emphasize the seriousness of the caterpillar infestation.
What was the source of Sarah and Jamie's desperation?
▼
Their family was facing financial difficulties, which made them desperate to find a job.
What was Sarah's idea that was considered brilliant?
▼
Sarah's brilliant idea was to use their school card as a unique way to impress the man and highlight their commitment to education.
How did Sarah and Jamie feel about their work on the farm?
▼
Initially, they were not happy because the work was physically demanding and tiring.
Why did they leave the farm secretly?
▼
They left the farm secretly because they discovered that the man was treating them unfairly and not paying them a fair wage.
Why did the man offer them a job on his farm?
▼
The man offered them a job because he understood their desperate situation and saw their willingness to work hard.
How did Sarah and Jamie plan to support their family?
▼
They planned to support their family by earning money through a job to help alleviate their financial struggles.
What made Sarah and Jamie's approach to finding a job unique?
▼
Sarah and Jamie's approach was unique because they used their school card to showcase their dedication to education and work ethic in their job search.