Deep in the Indian jungle, there lived a pack of wolves. One night, a tiger named Shere Khan came hunting near their cave. The wolves heard a strange sound outside. Father Wolf went to investigate and found a tiny human baby. The baby was crawling towards the wolf den, completely unafraid. 'Look at him,' said Mother Wolf softly, 'he is so small and brave.' Shere Khan appeared at the entrance of the cave. 'Give me the man-cub,' growled the tiger, 'he is mine.' Mother Wolf stood her ground bravely. 'The man-cub will stay with us,' she declared, 'and I will raise him as my own.' Shere Khan was furious, but the cave was too small for him to enter. 'I will have my revenge,' he threatened as he left. The wolves named the baby Mowgli, which means 'little frog.' Mowgli grew up strong and healthy among the wolves. He learned the language of all the animals in the jungle. His best friends were Baloo, a kind bear who taught him the Law of the Jungle. The other was Bagheera, a clever black panther who protected him. 'Remember,' Baloo would say, 'the jungle has many rules.' 'We hunt for food, not for pleasure, and we never kill man.' Mowgli listened carefully to all these lessons. Years passed, and Mowgli became a strong young boy. But Shere Khan had not forgotten his promise of revenge. The tiger waited for the right moment to attack. One day, Bagheera warned Mowgli about the danger. 'Shere Khan is gathering allies to hunt you,' said the panther. 'You must prepare yourself or leave the jungle forever.' Mowgli refused to run away from his home. 'I will face Shere Khan,' he decided bravely. Bagheera knew that Mowgli needed a special weapon. 'Go to the man village,' advised the panther, 'and bring back the Red Flower.' The Red Flower was what the animals called fire. All animals feared fire, even the mighty Shere Khan. Mowgli sneaked into the village at night. He saw humans for the first time since he was a baby. They looked strange to him, walking on two legs and wearing clothes. Mowgli stole a burning branch from a campfire and ran back into the jungle. The night of the final battle arrived. Shere Khan had convinced many jackals to fight with him. The wolf pack stood behind Mowgli, ready to protect him. Baloo and Bagheera were also there to help their friend. Shere Khan appeared from the darkness, his eyes glowing with hatred. 'Tonight you die, man-cub,' growled the tiger. Mowgli raised the burning torch high above his head. The fire lit up the darkness around them. Shere Khan's confidence vanished when he saw the flames. Fear flickered in the tiger's eyes. 'You are afraid of the Red Flower,' said Mowgli calmly. 'Like all animals, you fear what you cannot control.' The tiger tried to attack, but Mowgli swung the fire towards him. Shere Khan jumped back in terror. The jackals saw their leader's fear and began to retreat. 'You are beaten, Shere Khan,' declared Mowgli. 'Leave this jungle and never return.' The humiliated tiger turned and ran into the darkness. The wolf pack howled with victory. Baloo hugged Mowgli with his big bear arms. 'You did well, little brother,' said the bear proudly. Bagheera nodded with satisfaction. 'You have proven yourself to be a true member of our jungle family.' Mother Wolf came forward and licked Mowgli's face. 'My son,' she said softly, 'you will always be my little frog.' As years passed, Mowgli grew into a young man. He often thought about the human village he had visited. One day, he met a beautiful young woman near the river. She was not afraid of him, though he lived in the jungle. Mowgli felt a connection to the human world for the first time. He knew that someday he might have to choose between two worlds. But for now, he was happy living with his jungle family. The wolves, the bear, and the panther would always be his true family. And so, the man-cub of the jungle lived happily, belonging to both worlds.
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The Jungle Book
English Story for Intermediates (B1)
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Mowgli, a human baby, is found by wolves in the Indian jungle and raised as one of their own. Despite the tiger Shere Khan's desire for revenge, Mowgli grows up with his wolf family, guided by the wise bear Baloo and the protective panther Bagheera. When Shere Khan threatens to attack, Mowgli uses fire to defeat the tiger and prove himself a true member of the jungle family. As he grows older, Mowgli realizes he belongs to both the human and animal worlds.
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