Preface
Time is one of the few things that every person receives equally. Rich or poor, young or old, each of us has twenty-four hours every day. Some people seem to accomplish a great deal, while others wonder where their time has gone. The difference is often not the amount of time they have, but how wisely they use it. The following story reminds us that every minute has value.
Main Text
The Clockmaker's Secret
In a quiet village there lived an old clockmaker named Stefan. His small shop was filled with clocks of every shape and size. Some were large enough to stand on the floor, while others were small enough to fit into a pocket. Every clock kept perfect time.
People often asked Stefan why his clocks were so reliable.
"My secret is simple," he would answer with a smile. "I take care of small problems before they become big ones."
One afternoon, a young apprentice came to work with him.
"I want to learn how to repair clocks," the boy said.
Stefan nodded and handed him a beautiful old clock.
The apprentice looked at the tiny gears inside and sighed.
"There are too many parts," he complained.
Stefan replied, "Never try to repair the whole clock at once. Understand one piece, then the next. Small improvements lead to great results."
For several months, the apprentice followed his teacher's advice. He cleaned one wheel, adjusted one spring, and polished one tiny screw at a time. Gradually, he understood how every small part worked together.
Years later, the apprentice opened a workshop of his own. Above the entrance he placed a simple sign:
Great work begins with careful attention to small things.
Whenever customers admired his work, he remembered Stefan's lesson. He realized that the secret had never been about clocks. It had always been about life.
Comprehension Questions
A. Answer the Questions
What was Stefan's profession?
Why did people admire his clocks?
What secret did Stefan share?
Who came to learn from him?
Why did the apprentice become discouraged?
What advice did Stefan give him?
How long did the apprentice study with Stefan?
What sign did he place above his workshop?
What did he finally understand?
What is the main message of the story?
B. True or False
Stefan lived in a large city.
His shop contained many different clocks.
The apprentice repaired the clock immediately.
Stefan believed that small improvements were important.
The story is really about life as much as about clocks.
Vocabulary Practice
Match the words with their meanings.
apprentice
reliable
gradually
adjust
workshop
a. a place where things are made or repaired
b. slowly over time
c. someone learning a trade from an experienced person
d. dependable
e. to make something work better by changing it slightly
Grammar Practice
A. Present Perfect or Simple Past
Choose the correct answer.
Stefan ______ clocks for many years.
(repaired / has repaired)The apprentice ______ to the shop one afternoon.
(came / has come)He ______ a great deal since he began learning.
(learned / has learned)Stefan ______ him excellent advice.
(gave / has given)They ______ together for several months.
(worked / have worked)
B. Relative Clauses
Join the sentences using who, which, or that.
Stefan was an old clockmaker. He taught many people.
The apprentice repaired a clock. The clock was very old.
The shop contained clocks. The clocks kept perfect time.
The lesson changed his life. The lesson was unforgettable.
Customers admired the workshop. It became famous in the village.
Discussion
Discuss these questions with a partner.
Why are small details important?
Have you ever learned a skill step by step?
What difficult task became easier when you divided it into smaller parts?
Which quality is more important: talent or patience? Why?
Writing Task
Small Steps Toward Success
Write 150–180 words on the following topic:
"A Skill I Would Like to Master."
Include:
What the skill is.
Why you want to learn it.
The small steps you will take.
The difficulties you may face.
How you will know you have succeeded.
Try to use:
at least three linking words (however, therefore, although, finally, because);
two relative clauses;
one Present Perfect sentence.
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