> Other English exercises on the same topic: Tales [Change theme]
	> Similar tests: - Present simple and habits - Fairy tales and legends-Vocabulary - May, Might, Should... what they mean... - A/An-how to use - Vocabulary: DIY and hobbies... - Vocabulary: time that flies - From Kansas City to Tulsa : What for? (1/2) - What about suggesting ...
	> Double-click on words you don't understand

Nevada Shoe Tree

Once upon a time, by the wayside of a lonely road, in the Nevada desert, near Middle gate, between Fallon and Ely, there was a cottonwood . The loners who went through this desolate area were always astounded to see a tree bending under the weight of  Shoes.

In fact, the limbs of the cottonwood were starting to bow under the weight of thousands of shoes. All sorts of shoes, utterly different ones: flat shoes, sport shoes, ankle boot shoes, even patent leather shoes, high-heeled shoes, flip-flops. There were also unexpected snorkelling-flippers. The passerby could notice: A few brand-new and threadbare shoes as well.

Alone  Lonely  Loneliness  Forlorn

As I feel you are puzzling, I will reveal a strange story to you.

On this desolate road, thirty years ago, a young couple who had just got married in Reno, stopped under this tree. They had an argument about money, (it was not a lovers' tiff)

The groom was blaming his wife for wasting a lot of money in the slot machines in Reno's casino. As she was angry, she threatened her husband to walk back to Utah. The young groom, annoyed, took her shoes off and left her wife barefoot. Then, he threw her shoes into the tree and left her wife in the lurch. Without uttering a word, he drove to the next lonely bar for a drink. Three hours later, he came back to the tree. The young bride had collapsed into tears. They apologised to each other and as a sign of solidarity, the groom threw his own shoes into the tree. One year later, they came back to the tree with their young baby and threw the baby booties up into the limbs of the tree.

A few months later, people came in flocks to throw more shoes. However, the tree was cut down; it had cracked under the weight of the thousands of shoes and it jeopardized the visitors' security. For saddened people an icon had been destroyed.

Twitter Share
English exercise "Nevada Shoe Tree" created by taiji43 with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from taiji43]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

Please log in to save your progress.

1. These young people separedgot weddedgot divorcedI don't know in Reno, located in the Nevada desert.

2. People came in flocksone by onein few numberI don't know to throw their own shoes into the cottonwood.

3. In the city hall the groom gave his bride a wedding-earsmedalwedding-ringI don't know made of gold.

4. Sometimes lovers have an argumenta lover's tiffa disputeI don't know .However they make peace with each other very quickly.

5. In the picture it is said that, the man was alone and suffered from illnesstirenesslonelinessI don't know

6. A few people threw brand-newthreadbareworn-outI don't know shoes that they had just bought.

7. He was a happy fellowa lonera merrymakerI don't know because he preferred being alone rather than spending a lot of time with people.

8. The shoes hung from the cottonwood budstiny brancheslimbsI don't know which could withstand extreme weight.

9. The tree was straighteningfalling downbendingI don't know under the weight of the shoes.

10. The tree was blew downknocked downcut downI don't know because it jeopardized the visitors who were watching it.

11. The cottonwood jeopardizedprotectedhurtI don't know all the visitors because it was cracking from its roots to its top.

12. The cut down tree is compared with a deceased human being. Therefore the word uprootingextinctiondemiseI don't know is used in the text.

13. When the shoe tree was cut down, people came in flocks to nod atpay a tribute towave atI don't know this tree.