Read the beginning of the story. Write at least ten new sentences to complete the story.

Once there was a self-said scholar who was crossing a big river by an indigenous boat. As his common feature of character, he asked the boatman if he knew the rules of high and low tide. Telling nothing, the helpless boatman only gazed and gazed.......

"The Scholar and the Boatman"

Once there was a self-said scholar who was crossing a big river by an indigenous boat. As his common feature of character, he asked the boatman if he knew the rules of high and low tide. Telling nothing, the helpless boatman only gazed and gazed. The scholar smirked and remarked, “Half your life is wasted if you do not even know something so simple.”

After a while, the scholar asked the boatman another question. “Do you know the principles of astronomy?” Again, the boatman stayed silent, shaking his head in ignorance. The scholar laughed mockingly, saying, “Then three-quarters of your life is wasted.”

As they were conversing, the sky began to darken, and storm clouds gathered above. The boat began to rock violently in the growing waves. Fear gripped both the boatman and the scholar.

The boatman then asked calmly, “Sir, do you know how to swim?” The scholar’s face turned pale as he stuttered, “N-no, I do not.”

The boatman then smiled and said, “I may not know astronomy or tides, but it seems your entire life is at risk now.” As the boat capsized in the raging storm, the humble boatman swam to safety while the self-proclaimed scholar struggled and cried for help.

This event taught the scholar that practical knowledge is just as important as theoretical knowledge, if not more.