A FOLK STORY WITH MEANING

Nasrudin made a bet that he could spend a night on a mountain, despite the ice and snow. The bet was accepted.

Nasrudin took a book and candle and sat (01) through/out the coldest night he (02) had known. (03) By/In the morning, he was half-dead as he went (04) back/down to the village to claim his money.

"Did you have (05) anything at all to keep you warm?" The people in the village asked him, "Not (06) even a candle?"

"Yes, I had a candle."

"Then the bet is (07) off/void"

Nasrudin did not argue.

Some months later he invited the same people (08) to a feast (09) at his house. They sat. They waited. Hours (10) passed. They started to mutter (11) about food.

Nasrudin said: "Let's go and see how it is getting (12) on."

They all went (13) into the kitchen. They found a huge pot of water. (14) Beneath, Under the pot a candle was burning. The water was tepid.

Nasrudin said: "It is not ready (15) yet. I don't know why - it has been there since yesterday."