🐾 The Wind in the Willows – Chapter 4: The Escape

Toad sat in his prison cell.
The walls were gray. The bed was hard.
Worst of all, there were no cars, no roads—and no friends.

“I’m too important for prison!” he cried.

The jailer’s daughter was a kind young woman. She brought him warm meals and listened to his stories.

“You’re not a bad animal,” she said. “Just foolish.”

Toad agreed. “I’ve made mistakes. But I must escape!”

One day, the jailer’s daughter had an idea.

“My aunt is a washerwoman. She’s small and quiet. You could wear her clothes and sneak out.”

Toad blinked. “Dress like a washerwoman? Never!”

But the next morning, he changed his mind.

👗 She brought a long skirt, apron, and shawl.
Toad put them on and looked in the mirror. He didn’t look like himself at all.

“Perfect,” she said. “Now walk slowly and don’t speak.”

Toad nodded, held up his skirt, and shuffled down the hallway.

The guards didn’t even notice him.

He walked out the prison gate.

🚪 Free at last!

But now what?

He wandered through the town, looking for a way to escape farther.

Soon, he saw a horse pulling a cart.

“Can I have a ride?” he asked the driver in his high voice.

The man looked at him and laughed. “Jump in, madam!”

Toad sat down and smiled.

But as the cart moved, the man looked at him again.

“You’ve got strange hands for a washerwoman,” he said. “And your voice—it sounds... froggy.”

Toad grew nervous.

Suddenly, a police officer appeared in the road.

The man pointed. “That’s no woman! That’s the Toad who stole a car!”

Toad screamed and jumped off the cart.

He ran down a hill, through a field, and into the river.

🐸 Splash!

Cold water closed over his head. He swam hard and pulled himself to the far side.

Wet and tired, but free.

He looked around.

“I must get home,” he whispered.

But trouble still followed close behind...

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📖 Glossary

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Prison cell	A small locked room for prisoners
Washerwoman	A woman who washes clothes for work
Shuffled	Walked slowly and awkwardly
Wandered	Walked around without a clear direction
Pointed	Used a finger to show something
Splash	The sound or action of hitting water

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Where is Toad at the beginning of the chapter?

2. Who helps Toad plan his escape?

3. What disguise does Toad wear?

4. How does he get out of prison?

5. What happens in the cart with the man?

6. How does Toad escape the police again?

7. What does Toad say at the end?

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✅ Answers

1. In a prison cell.

2. The jailer’s daughter.

3. Washerwoman clothes (skirt, apron, shawl).

4. He walks out dressed as a woman, and the guards don’t recognize him.

5. The man starts to suspect Toad is not who he says he is.

6. He jumps off the cart and swims across a river.

7. He says, “I must get home.”

 

✦ IELTS Topic: Woods, Forests & Jungles – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Dense forest
   e.g., We walked through a dense forest where sunlight barely reached the ground.

2. Thick canopy of trees
   e.g., The jungle had a thick canopy of trees, keeping the ground shaded and humid.

3. Towering trees
   e.g., The towering trees made us feel small as we hiked through the woods.

4. Untouched wilderness
   e.g., This national park protects miles of untouched wilderness.

5. Lush greenery
   e.g., The trail was surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant plant life.

6. Overgrown path
   e.g., We followed an overgrown path deeper into the forest.

7. Tropical rainforest
   e.g., The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest.

8. Teeming with wildlife
   e.g., The jungle was teeming with wildlife, including monkeys and exotic birds.

9. Sounds of nature
   e.g., At night, the forest came alive with the sounds of nature.

10. Get lost in the woods
    e.g., We nearly got lost in the woods because the signs were missing.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice Test – Woods, Forests & Jungles

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you enjoy spending time in nature?

2. Are there forests or wooded areas near where you live?

3. What do people usually do in forests or jungles?

4. Do you prefer quiet nature or more active adventures?

5. Would you like to visit a tropical jungle?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time you visited a forest, jungle, or wooded area.
You should say:

• where it was

• what you saw

• what you did there
  and explain how you felt about the experience.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I love hiking in nature, especially in dense forests filled with lush greenery.
2. There’s a nature reserve near my town with towering trees and peaceful trails.
3. People usually walk, birdwatch, or just listen to the sounds of nature.
4. I prefer peaceful walks—untouched wilderness makes me feel refreshed.
5. Absolutely! Visiting a tropical rainforest like the Amazon is on my bucket list.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

One time I visited a forest was during a trip to northern Thailand. We hiked through a dense forest that led to a waterfall.

The path was overgrown, and it felt like we were entering a world untouched by humans. Towering trees surrounded us, and the thick canopy of leaves created a cool, shady atmosphere.

We could hear birds and insects all around—the forest was truly teeming with wildlife. It felt magical, like stepping into a movie.

It was peaceful, quiet, and completely different from city life. I really enjoyed getting close to untouched wilderness, even though we nearly got lost in the woods!

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✦ Comprehension Test: Woods, Forests & Jungles

1. "We walked through a dense forest where sunlight barely reached the ground."
Q: What is the forest like?

2. "The jungle had a thick canopy of trees, keeping the ground shaded and humid."
Q: What effect did the canopy have?

3. "The towering trees made us feel small as we hiked through the woods."
Q: How did the trees affect the hikers?

4. "This national park protects miles of untouched wilderness."
Q: What kind of land does the park preserve?

5. "The trail was surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant plant life."
Q: What did the trail look like?

6. "We followed an overgrown path deeper into the forest."
Q: What kind of path was it?

7. "The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest."
Q: What is special about the Amazon?

8. "The jungle was teeming with wildlife, including monkeys and exotic birds."
Q: What could be found in the jungle?

9. "At night, the forest came alive with the sounds of nature."
Q: What did the speaker hear?

10. "We nearly got lost in the woods because the signs were missing."
Q: What happened to the speaker?

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✦ Answer Key

1. Very thick and hard to see through.

2. It blocked sunlight and made it humid.

3. They felt small and surrounded.

4. Land that hasn’t been developed or changed.

5. Full of green plants and colorful nature.

6. Wild, not well-maintained, and covered in plants.

7. It's the largest rainforest on Earth.

8. Many animals and birds.

9. Natural sounds like birds, insects, or animals.

10. They got confused and lost their way.

 

🐾 The Wind in the Willows – Chapter 3: Toad in Trouble

Toad’s obsession with motor-cars grew stronger every day.

He forgot about the horse and cart. He forgot about the river. He even forgot about his friends.

All he wanted was speed.

💨 He bought one car. He crashed it.
💨 He bought another. He crashed that one too.

But Toad didn’t care.

“This is life!” he shouted.

Mole and Rat were very worried. “He’ll hurt himself,” Rat said. “Or someone else.”

So they went to ask Badger for help.

Badger lived in the deep woods. He didn’t like noise or crowds, but he cared deeply about his friends.

When he heard about Toad, he nodded. “It’s time we had a serious talk with him.”

The next day, the three friends went to Toad Hall.

Toad was in his bedroom, wearing driving goggles and pretending to steer a car.

“Toad,” Badger said firmly, “you must stop this madness.”

Toad laughed. “You just don’t understand!”

“You’ve crashed seven cars and spent all your money!” Mole shouted.

“Please, Toad,” Rat said kindly. “Think of your safety.”

But Toad refused to listen. “I’m a free spirit!” he said. “I need the open road!”

So the friends locked the doors of Toad Hall and tried to keep him inside until he came to his senses.

At first, Toad sulked. Then he pretended to be sick. But Mole and Rat took care of him and didn’t believe his tricks.

On the fourth day, Toad escaped through a window.

He ran into town, laughing and shouting.

At the town square, he saw a red motor-car parked outside an inn.

Toad’s eyes lit up. “I must have it!”

He crept closer. No one was watching.

He jumped inside and drove off.

But not far.

🚓 A police officer saw him and shouted, “Stop! That’s not your car!”

Toad was caught and taken to court.

The judge was very angry. “You stole a car, drove dangerously, and lied to the police.”

Toad smiled nervously. “It was a small mistake…”

“Twenty years in prison!” the judge said.

And just like that, Toad was taken away.

His friends didn’t know where he was.

Toad sat in a cold cell with a tiny window.

For the first time in his life, he felt truly sorry.

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📖 Glossary

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Obsession	A strong, uncontrollable interest in something
Goggles	Protective glasses used for driving or swimming
Madness	Crazy or dangerous behavior
Sulked	Stayed quiet and unhappy because of anger
Crept	Moved slowly and quietly
Cell	A small room in a prison

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. What does Toad become obsessed with?

2. Who do Mole and Rat ask for help?

3. What does Badger decide to do?

4. How do the friends try to stop Toad?

5. How does Toad escape?

6. What crime does Toad commit?

7. What punishment does the judge give Toad?

8. How does Toad feel at the end of the chapter?

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✅ Answers

1. Motor-cars and driving fast.

2. Badger.

3. He wants to have a serious talk with Toad.

4. They lock the doors of Toad Hall to keep him inside.

5. He escapes through a window.

6. He steals a motor-car.

7. Twenty years in prison.

8. He feels sorry and alone.