A stranger on a park bench. A dead phone, no wallet, nowhere to sleep. Would you give him twenty pounds? — Saki's classic story, moved to modern London,

Stephen Leacock's comic story of a man, a bank and fifty-six dollars, retold in clear English for B1–B2 learners — plus what "my brain froze", "on purpose" and "every cent" mean, and a quick quiz.

A carpenter, a goldsmith and a theft nobody can prove — a folk tale retold in clear English for B2–C1 learners, plus what "to turn the tables", "to back up a claim" and "to call someone's bluff" mean, and a quick quiz.

A hungry jackal hides in the wrong place and comes out a colour no animal has ever seen. — A fable about borrowed authority, and the one thing you can't disguise.

A crow with a piece of cheese. A fox who can't climb. A fable about what flattery is really for.

The perfect disguise works on everyone — including the one man it shouldn't. The fable behind "a wolf in sheep's clothing".

Two goats. One narrow log. Neither will move.

One golden egg a day — why would anyone want more? The fable behind "kill the goose that lays the golden eggs".

Everyone loves the plan. Nobody wants to do the actual work. The fable behind the idiom "to bell the cat".