Fable · Level 1 · 117 words

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Original modern adaptation of Aesop’s public-domain fable © Studio AM, written for Fluency.

All summer, Ant carried seeds to her pantry. Grasshopper sang beside the path. “Come rest,” he called. Ant smiled and said, “I will rest soon. First I am saving food for cold days.” Grasshopper thought there would always be plenty.

When cold rain arrived, Grasshopper’s pantry was empty. He knocked on Ant’s door and asked for help. Ant welcomed him in and shared a warm bowl of soup. Then she said, “Tomorrow, please help me count and sort the seeds.”

Grasshopper kept his promise. He worked beside Ant, and he sang while they sorted. By spring, he had learned how to plan ahead. Ant had shown him another lesson too: good planning and kindness can work together.

Comprehension questions

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4 questions
1. What lesson does this fable teach?

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A. Planning ahead and helping someone learn can work together.
The ending joins Grasshopper’s new planning with Ant’s kindness and help.

2. What did Ant ask Grasshopper to do the next day?

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C. Count and sort the seeds
Ant directly asks Grasshopper to help count and sort the seeds.

3. A “pantry” is a place where someone keeps

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B. food
Ant stores seeds in her pantry, while Grasshopper’s empty pantry leaves him without food.

4. Why did Grasshopper work with Ant after she shared the soup?

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D. He wanted to keep his promise and learn to prepare.
The story says he kept his promise, worked beside Ant, and learned to plan ahead.

Source: Written for Fluency. Original modern adaptation of Aesop’s public-domain fable © Studio AM, written for Fluency.