01 Is That Real Courage?
/01 Is That Real Courage?
*YĆ«sei was a cheerful boy who was good at sports.
/*YĆ«sei was a cheerful boy who was good at sports.
He loved riding his bicycle and often raced with his friend *Yang at the nearby park.
/He loved riding his bicycle and often raced with his friend *Yang at the nearby park.
One day, *Yang said, âThe park is boring. Letâs race on the road! There arenât many cars, and itâs thrilling and fun!â
/One day, *Yang said, âThe park is boring. Letâs race on the road! There arenât many cars, and itâs thrilling and fun!â
*YĆ«sei felt a little uneasy. âBut isnât the road dangerous?â
/*YĆ«sei felt a little uneasy. âBut isnât the road dangerous?â
*Yang laughed and said, âWhat, are you scared, *YĆ«sei? You donât have courage. Itâs fine! I did it yesterday and looked super cool!â
/ *Yang laughed and said, âWhat, are you scared, *YĆ«sei? You donât have courage. Itâs fine! I did it yesterday and looked super cool!â
*YĆ«sei hesitated. But he didnât want to be seen as lacking courage, so even though he felt uneasy, he agreed to *Yangâs suggestion.
/*YĆ«sei hesitated. But he didnât want to be seen as lacking courage, so even though he felt uneasy, he agreed to *Yangâs suggestion.
Then, *YĆ«sei stood on the road with *Yang.
/Then, *YĆ«sei stood on the road with *Yang.
There werenât many cars, but some passed by at high speed.
/There werenât many cars, but some passed by at high speed.
âReady, go!â At *Yangâs signal, the two began pedaling.
/âReady, go!â At *Yangâs signal, the two began pedaling.
Riding through the wind felt great. But *YĆ«seiâs heart kept pounding.
/Riding through the wind felt great. But *YĆ«seiâs heart kept pounding.
Then, he heard the sound of a car approaching from afar.
/Then, he heard the sound of a car approaching from afar.
*YĆ«sei hit the brakes hard and stopped.
/*YĆ«sei hit the brakes hard and stopped.
*Yang kept going, but when he saw the car getting closer, he quickly turned the handlebars and stopped.
/ *Yang kept going, but when he saw the car getting closer, he quickly turned the handlebars and stopped.
He almost crashed into a road sign.
/He almost crashed into a road sign.
âThat was close! But it was thrilling!â *Yang laughed.
/âThat was close! But it was thrilling!â *Yang laughed.
*YĆ«sei couldnât laugh. When he got home, his grandmother greeted him.
/*YĆ«sei couldnât laugh. When he got home, his grandmother greeted him.
â*YĆ«sei, were you energetic today too?â
/â*YĆ«sei, were you energetic today too?â
*YĆ«sei nodded. But he still felt uneasy inside.
/*YĆ«sei nodded. But he still felt uneasy inside.
âGrandma, what does it mean to have courage?â
/âGrandma, what does it mean to have courage?â
Grandma thought for a moment and said, âHaving courage means being able to care for yourself and for others.â
/Grandma thought for a moment and said, âHaving courage means being able to care for yourself and for others.â
Hearing those words, *YĆ«sei was struck.
/Hearing those words, *YĆ«sei was struck.
âI did something a little dangerous today. I raced bicycles with *Yang on the roadâŠâ
/âI did something a little dangerous today. I raced bicycles with *Yang on the roadâŠâ
Grandma gently said, âThat might not be courage, but just wanting to stand out.
/Grandma gently said, âThat might not be courage, but just wanting to stand out.
True courage is being able to say âThatâs not rightâ even when everyone else is doing it.
/True courage is being able to say âThatâs not rightâ even when everyone else is doing it.
And if you got hurt, *YĆ«sei, Grandmaâs heart would hurt a lot too.â
/And if you got hurt, *YĆ«sei, Grandmaâs heart would hurt a lot too.â
The next day, *YĆ«sei said to *Yang,
/The next day, *YĆ«sei said to *Yang,
âI wonât race on the road anymore. Itâs dangerous and someone might get hurt.â
/âI wonât race on the road anymore. Itâs dangerous and someone might get hurt.â
*Yang looked surprised. But he looked into *YĆ«seiâs eyes and nodded slightly.
/*Yang looked surprised. But he looked into *YĆ«seiâs eyes and nodded slightly.
âOkay⊠then letâs make a new course in the park!â
/âOkay⊠then letâs make a new course in the park!â
*YĆ«sei smiled.
/*YĆ«sei smiled.
âYeah! That way, we can race safely with all our strength!â
/âYeah! That way, we can race safely with all our strength!â
*YĆ«sei thought,
/*YĆ«sei thought,
âIâm glad I had the courage to speak up.â
/âIâm glad I had the courage to speak up.â
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. What did *Yang suggest to *YĆ«sei?
/Q1. What did *Yang suggest to *YĆ«sei?
A. Practice riding bicycles in the park
/A. Practice riding bicycles in the park
B. Race bicycles on the road
/B. Race bicycles on the road
C. Repair bicycles
/C. Repair bicycles
Correct Answer: B
/Correct Answer: B
Q2. Whose words made *YĆ«sei change his actions?
/Q2. Whose words made *YĆ«sei change his actions?
A. *Yangâs words
/A. *Yangâs words
B. A passerbyâs warning
/B. A passerbyâs warning
C. Grandmaâs words
/C. Grandmaâs words
Letâs Think!
/Letâs Think!
Have you ever thought, âThis might be dangerousâ? How did you decide what to do?
/Have you ever thought, âThis might be dangerousâ? How did you decide what to do?
What does âreal courageâ mean to you? Have you ever acted like *YĆ«sei, thinking for yourself?
/What does âreal courageâ mean to you? Have you ever acted like *YĆ«sei, thinking for yourself?
