Laos - Xiang Miang and The Snail

Summary

In this playful story, a boy named Ssangyong mocks a snail for its slow pace and challenges it to a race. Confident of his speed, Ssangyong accepts the challenge. However, the snail, being clever, devises a smart strategy with its friends. On race day, while Ssangyong races ahead, the snail's friends are strategically placed around the pond, responding to Ssangyong's calls, creating the illusion that the snail is always ahead. Exhausted and confused, Ssangyong eventually collapses, realizing he’s been outsmarted by the slow but clever snail.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ssangyong, a young boy, mocks a snail for being slow during a walk by a swamp.
• 😀 The snail, feeling insulted, challenges Ssangyong to a race the next day.
• 😀 Ssangyong accepts the challenge, confident that he will easily win due to his speed.
• 😀 The snail, though slow, is clever and starts planning with its friends right after the challenge.
• 😀 The next morning, the snail and Ssangyong meet at the agreed spot for the race.
• 😀 The snail suggests a unique strategy: when Ssangyong can't see it, he can call 'snail,' and the snail will respond.
• 😀 They agree to the calling arrangement before the race begins.
• 😀 As the race starts, Ssangyong runs fast but constantly hears the snail's voice from ahead of him.
• 😀 No matter how fast Ssangyong runs, he is always left behind by the snail, leading to his panic and exhaustion.
• 😀 Ssangyong eventually collapses from exhaustion, wondering how the slow-moving snail managed to win.
• 😀 It is revealed that the snails had strategically positioned themselves at intervals around the pond, responding to Ssangyong's calls, leading to his defeat.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the story?

The main character is a boy named Ssangyong.

What did Ssangyong do on the lovely afternoon?

On the lovely afternoon, Ssangyong went for a walk near a swamp by his village.

What did Ssangyong see during his walk?

During his walk, Ssangyong saw a snail moving slowly along the edge of the pond.

What did Ssangyong say to the snail?

Ssangyong mocked the snail, saying, 'What a slow creature you are. I bet it takes a month to get anywhere you want.'

How did the snail react to Ssangyong's mocking?

The snail felt insulted and, in rage, challenged Ssangyong to a race.

What was Ssangyong's initial reaction to the snail's challenge?

Ssangyong was cocky and confident that the snail didn’t stand a chance of winning, so he accepted the challenge.

How did the snail prepare for the race?

After the unpleasant encounter, the snail set up a strategy with the help of its friends.

What was the snail's strategy for the race?

The snail suggested an arrangement where Ssangyong could call its name after running for a while, and the snail would answer from different spots, which confused Ssangyong.

What happened when Ssangyong ran in the race?

No matter how fast Ssangyong ran, he always heard the snail’s answer from further ahead, which made him panic and run even faster until he became exhausted and fainted.

How did the snail manage to win the race?

The snail cleverly positioned itself and its friends at intervals around the pond. Each time Ssangyong called out, a different snail answered from a location further ahead.