The Buzzard and the Math Test

One Story A Day (Book 10 for October)

1 The Buzzard and the Math Test It was the last math exam before summer. But Scott didn't worry. He was the best math student in the class, and he never had to work very hard at it. It used to make the other students mad because he never studied, yet he always got the best mark. As usual, he was the first one done. The next day, a call came to his house and he was asked to go to the school. “ But school is over and it's summertime now! " he thought. When he arrived at the school, his parents, the math teacher and the principal were there to meet him. " Wow! " he thought. " I must have scored 100 percent on the exam! " Sure enough, the principal said the meeting was about his math exam. But what he said next left Scott stunned. “ You failed, " the principal said. " Since you were a little kid, you have found math easy. But now you are at the point where you have taken your talent in math and wasted it. It's time you learned that you couldn't just walk into an exam unprepared. "

The principal continued, " I was like you when I was a boy. My gift was in science. I didn't need to study for science at all. I was the class ace. But one day, I failed a big exam. You see this picture? It was given to me by my science teacher that day. This ugly-looking bird is called a buzzard. Read what it says at the bottom. " Scott read it aloud, “ Welcome to the Buzzard Club. Remember, it's not about brains. It's about hard work. " “ A buzzard can only fly if it gets a running start, " the principal explained. " It can't just leap into the air like other birds. But once it's in the air, it can soar to great heights. Keep this bird in mind. Remember, studying is like that running start. Combined with your natural ability, it will allow you to fly like a bird! " Scott became a proud member of the Buzzard Club. And he never failed a math exam again.