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SL3: Fables

Simple Literature

FREE Comprehension Questions for fables (for third graders)!

The Hare and the Tortoise
from Aesop's Fables by Aesop

1. Who ran the fastest?
Hare was as swift as the wind, according to Tortoise. Hare was the fastest runner in the forest.

2. Why did Hare laugh at Tortoise?
Hare did not think Tortoise could run in a race, let alone win it. Tortoise had short legs and moved slowly. The idea of Tortoise running in a race made Hare laugh.

3. How did Tortoise win the race?
Tortoise won the race by going forward slowly but steadily, one step at a time. Hare ran quickly, but then took a rest and slept before finishing the race.

4. What is the moral of this story? What does it mean?
Slow but steady wins the race. This means that being consistent, even if you aren't the best at something, may bring more rewards than doing something quickly. A person, who is naturally good at something, but who won't practice or try to get better, may eventually lose their place as being the best at it. Those who are less talented but know how to practice may go beyond the person who has natural ability but won't practice.

5. Write a summary paragraph over "The Hare and the Tortoise."

The story of "The Hare and the Tortoise" can be found online. It's in the public domain. You can adapt it for third-grade readers yourself, or download it immediately in SL3: Comprehension Questions and Reading Sheets along with many other third-grade reading sheets. Preview this eBook by clicking on the title.

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Most questions are for stories or poems in the public domain. Find and adapt them for third-grade readers, or pay a low price and download this eBook immediately:

SL3: Comprehension Questions & Reading Sheets
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The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf
from Aesop's Fables by Aesop

1. What did the Shepherd's Boy do wrong?
The Shepherd's Boy yelled that there was a wolf when there wasn't one. His call for help made the people of his village stop what they were doing and come to his rescue, even though there was no wolf. Their "rescue" efforts entertained the Shepherd's Boy and kept him from being bored as he sat and watched the sheep graze.

2. Who was supposed to help the Shepherd's Boy? Why didn't they help him when he needed their help?
The people of his village did not come to the aid of the Shepherd's Boy when he needed their help because they thought the Shepherd's Boy was tricking them, again. They had their own work to do and did not have time for his foolish games.

3. Why didn't people trust the Shepherd's Boy? How is trust gained?
The villagers didn't trust the Shepherd's Boy because he had tricked them into believing he needed help when he didn't. When he actually needed help, they thought he was playing another trick. Trust is gained through a person's actions toward others. If you told the truth in the past, then people will trust you in the present. On the other hand, if you lied to people in the past, they will think you are untrustworthy. People can win back trust, but it takes time.

4. What is the moral of the story?
The moral of this story is that there is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

5. Write a summary paragraph over "The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf."

The story of "The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf" can be found online. It's in the public domain. You can adapt it for third-grade readers yourself, or download it immediately in SL3: Comprehension Questions and Reading Sheets, along with many other third-grade reading sheets. Preview this eBook by clicking on the title. 

The Wolf and the Lamb
from Aesop's Fables by Aesop


1. Why did the wolf want the lamb to agree with him?
The lamb looked so peaceful, and the wolf knew he would terrorize it before it died. The wolf felt guilty. To ease his guilt, he decided that if the lamb understood the laws of nature—that the wolf would get his way because he was a more powerful creature—the lamb would willingly and without accusation become the wolf's next meal.

2. How did the wolf try to get the lamb to agree?
The wolf tried to get the Lamb to acknowledge that it had offended the wolf in some way (i.e., by doing something wrong or stealing what belonged to the wolf). In each case, the lamb spoke the truth, which showed its innocence and made the wolf look like the liar that it was.

3. Why did the author use a stray lamb as the wolf's target?
A lamb, which is a young sheep, was defenseless without the protection of its shepherd and flock. By using the lamb, Aesop let the reader know that this creature was defenseless and blameless. Aesop was not the only one who used this symbolism. The Bible also used the lamb to show Jesus' blamelessness (as the Lamb of God). His death was the sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

4. How did the wolf explain the bad thing he did — in his mind?
The wolf decided that filling his belly and appeasing his hunger was reason enough to kill and eat the stray lamb. Since he was more powerful, he did not need the lamb's permission.

5. Write a summary paragraph over "The Wolf and the Lamb."

The story of "The Wolf and the Lamb" can be found online. It's in the public domain. You can adapt it for third-grade readers yourself, or download it immediately in SL3: Comprehension Questions and Reading Sheets, along with many other third-grade reading sheets. Preview this eBook by clicking on the title.

Are you looking for more third grade teaching resources?

Main index for third grade literature                                                               Third grade stories index 

Click on the links below to find comprehension questions for the following third grade materials:

Third Grade Poetry                                                          Third Grade Books

Simple Literature. Copyright © 2011 by Sheila Seifert. Printed electronically in the United States of America. All rights reserved.  No part of these comprehension questions and answers may be commercially reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage or retrieval systems without permission in writing from Simple Literature. Individual home-school, private school, and public school teachers may print this material for personal use in their classrooms.