Identify Proverbs and Adages

Click on the adage in the passage below.
Victoria was very frustrated that Jake was always late. She told her mother, “It feels as though he does not care about being prompt. When he is late, it’s disrespectful to those around him. When will it stop?” Her mother replied, “A leopard can’t change its spots. There’s no point getting concerned about something you can’t change.”

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Blanche was tinkering with her car’s engine when Travis greeted her. “Is something wrong with your engine?” he asked. She replied, “No, I just wanted to know if I could improve its performance. It’s always worth trying to see if you can make something better.” Travis answered, “I don’t know. I always think if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Blanche replied, “There are often two ways of thinking about things.”

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The two friends could not have been more different. Geoffrey was an artist who was fascinated by opportunities to create, while Megan was a quiet scientist. However, their friendship had lasted many years. Their other friends pointed out that opposites attract.

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Clinton felt aggravated when he got in a fender bender and had his laptop stolen in the same day. He told Abigayle, “I can’t believe so many bad things are happening at once.” She replied, “I hope that things get easier soon. After all, it’s not like these sorts of things can go on forever.” Clinton answered, “I don’t know. When it rains, it pours.”

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Homer was wondering whether the work that he was doing to become a professional chef was really worth it. He worried that he would never get to finish what he had started. His friend urged him to keep working. She said, “No pain, no gain. I bet it will be worth all the trouble in the end.” He decided to continue as long as opportunities allowed.

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Eric arrived at his mechanic’s garage and told him, “I just noticed that my car is making some strange noises. My dad said it would be best to have an expert take a look at it. I think everything is fine, but I just want to be sure. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

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Keith, who felt very grumpy, found Suzy’s joyful attitude annoying. Normally, he thought her happiness was delightful. However, misery loves company, so Keith felt like he would rather spend this particular day with someone who understood how awful a day could be.

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Sean could not believe it was already time to leave the party. “I should have paid more attention to the clock, but time flies when you’re having fun,” he reflected. He wished Marco a happy birthday and told him to enjoy every last minute of the party. Marco told him to get home safely.

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Simon did not like his new haircut. “It’s no use crying over spilled milk,” he admitted. “Even so, I wish there were a way to make time go faster.” His mother said, “I guess some things take a little patience. Just remember that there are more important things than your appearance.”

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If Oliver had known that the cat would refuse to use the pet door, he would not have put the effort into installing it in his home. It turned out to be a waste of time, and he advised other friends not to bother installing pet doors for their cats. He felt afterward that he ought to have known better, but hindsight is twenty-twenty.

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Derrick never went to college, but he has worked as an electrician for thirty years. He says, “You learn plenty in the classroom, but experience is the best teacher. Also, it’s important to care about your work, whether you are studying or working at a job.” People look up to him because he is a hard worker.

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Rachel looks up to her mother, who raised four children. Rachel’s mother says that she has not accomplished very much, but Rachel thinks that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Rachel believes that every mother has accomplished a lot. Rachel likes to say, “There are many different sorts of heroes.”

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Dominique had bragged about her piano skills for months, but she never played in front of people. Her friends began to doubt her. They said, “Tell us the truth about your piano lessons. Have you really learned anything?” Dominique assured them that she just did not want to make them feel bad about their lack of skill. Her friends remained doubtful, and they said, “Don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk.”

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Lyla said, “Andrew has to get to work right away, so don’t delay him. Time is money, and he won’t be able to get much done if he gets a late start.” Lyla’s sister said, “I hope he won’t run into traffic. It’s hard to get to work on time during rush hour.” Lyla answered, “Andrew is always careful to plan for the things that could slow him down.”

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Rianna thought that her new job as a video game tester would be wonderful. Soon, she realized that every rose has its thorns. After a few weeks of work, she had no desire to continue her old hobby in her free time. “I guess activities that you have to do stop being fun,” she said to herself. “Maybe I should just focus on enjoying the work I have to do.”

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After days of allowing dishes to pile up, Felipe asked his mother, “Would you please help me by cleaning up? I feel awful about getting so far behind, but having all of those dishes in the sink is bothering me.” His mother said, “Felipe, you’ve made your bed, now lie in it.” Felipe sulked, and he struggled to accept the consequences of his actions.

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All the athletic kids spend time with one another because birds of a feather flock together. Sandy wants to meet them since she thinks it is important to get to know new people. However, it can be hard for someone to introduce herself. She decides to try out for the basketball team and hopes that it will be easier to make conversation about a shared activity.

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Darryl’s brother stayed with him last week, and the visit started off well. However, after a few days, hosting started to feel exhausting. Darryl said to his wife, “My brother is great, but fish and visitors smell after three days.” She replied, “It’s nice to have a chance to see family, though. Just remember to be grateful for the time you have together.”

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Dr. Park is trying to find a new office manager, and she asks each job seeker for references from friends. Dr. Park explains to each applicant, “You can tell a lot about someone by hearing from his or her friends. I think a man is known by the company he keeps.” The job seekers usually point out that their friends will only say good things. Dr. Park replies, “Nothing would please me more than to hear the best.”

Click on the adage in the passage below.
Hilda is getting a late start on her history project because she accidentally took a nap. She hastily begins gluing things together in a haphazard way. Her mother says, “Slow down while you can! Remember, a thing well begun is half done. If you make a lot of mistakes as you get started, you’ll have to spend time fixing them later.”