Pivotal Point

Pivotal Point

One idle day, the villagers were contemplating philosophical thoughts and deliberating the mysteries of the universe. Since they weren’t getting anywhere with their reflections, they decided to solicit the wisdom of Nasreddin Hodja.

“Hodja Effendi,” they said, ‘you are a learned man; maybe you can shed a light on this puzzle. Where is the centre of the earth?’ Nasreddin Hodja didn’t skip a beat.

‘Right under the left front foot of my donkey’, he said.

‘Hodja Effendi,’ protested the villagers, ‘that can’t be right!’

‘If you don’t believe me,’ said Hodja, ‘measure it for yourself!’

Cauldron

Cauldron

Nasreddin Hodja had borrowed a cauldron from his neighbor. When he did not return it for a long time, the neighbor came knocking on the door.

“Hodja Effendi, if you are finished with the cauldron could I take it back? The wife needs it today.”

“Ah, of course,” Hodja said, “just wait a minute and I’ll fetch it.”

When Hodja came back to the door with the cauldron, the neighbor noticed that there was a small pot in it.

“What is it?”

“Well, neighbor, congratulations, your cauldron gave birth to a baby pot,” said Hodja.

The neighbor, incredulous, yet delighted, thanked Hodja, took his cauldron and the new little pot, and went home.

A few weeks after this incident, one day Hodja came again, asking to borrow the cauldron. The neighbor didn’t even hesitate and lent Hodja the cauldron with pleasure. However, once more it was taking Hodja forever to return it back. The neighbor had no choice but to go asking for it again.

“Hodja Effendi, are you done with the cauldron?”

Ahh neighbor, ahh, bemoaned Hodja, “I’m afraid your cauldron is dead.”

“Hodja Effendi,that’s not possible, a cauldron can’t die!” exclaimed the disbelieving neighbor. But Nasreddin Hodja has his answer ready.

“My dear fellow, you can believe that it can give birth, why can’t you believe that it can also die?”

On the Roof

On the Roof

Nasreddin Hodja’ old house had a leaking roof. One day the Hodja decided to fix it. He borrowed a ladder and with great difficulty climbed up to the roof. Just as he was setting off to work, he heard a knock on the door. He looked down from the edge of the roof and saw a stranger in front of his door.

“I’m up here”, Hodja shouted. When the man looked up: “What is it that you want?” he asked him.

“Please come down,” replied the man, “I have something to say to you.”

Hodja precariously descended down the old ladder. Once on the ground he again asked the man what he wanted.

“Alms”, said the man, “Could you spare some alms?”

Hodja thought for a second and then told the man to come up to the roof with him. Hodja in front, the beggar behind him, both running short on breath, climbed up the ladder. Once on the roof top, Hodja turned to the man and said: “I don’t have any.”

Bread and Yogurt

Bread and Yogurt

One day Hodja had 10 para to buy himself lunch with. He first went ino the bakery, handed 5 para over to the baker and asked for bread. As the baker gave Hodja the bread he asked for his money.

“I just paid you”, Hodja said.

“No, you didn’t pay me”, the baker insisted, “I didn’t see any money.” After a few minutes of debate, not being able to convince the bully baker, Hodja had to give in. He took out his other 5 para and gave it to him.

Left with no money at all, Hodja next entered the grocery store. He asked for a jar of yogurt. When the grocer asked for money, Hodja claimed that he had just given him 5 para. The good natured grocer had been a little preoccupied all morning, so he easily believed that he must have indeed taken the money and forgotten it.

Hodja took his provisions and sat under a tree. Before starting to eat his lunch, he raised his head towards the sky and said: “Sublime Allah, You know what really happened, You take 5 para from one and give it to the other.”

Sherlock Holmes

Good afternoon! Hope you can survive this humidity!Here is your new portion of tasks!

reconcile

conjure up

decisive

dabble

hinge

ponder

1.       Criminal cases are continually ______ upon that one point.

2.       He put his hand over his heart and bowed as if to some applauding crowd ______ by his imagination.

3.       I could name a score of cases in which it would have been ______.

4.       I ______ over our short conversation, however, and endeavoured to draw my deductions from it.

5.       If I can only find what the fellow is driving at by ______ all these accomplishments.

6.       I have to be careful for I _______ with poisons a good deal.