The paragraph is followed by an incomplete phrase or sentence which summarizes the main idea of the paragraph. Choose the missing words of the phrase or sentence.

He soon began to be a very great thief. When the people left their huts he would steal in and make off with their plantains or fish. He watched very carefully till all had left the house, and it was difficult to catch him in the act. I flogged him several times, and, indeed, brought him to the conviction that it was wrong to steal;but he could never resist the temptation. 

To practice （）