Reading Comprehension Worksheet - The Sixth Tail - Free Printable

Grade 4 Reading Comprehension Worksheet: The Story of Doctor Dolittle

Let's go through the story and answer each question based on the text.

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#### 1. Who was Dolittle John Dolittle?
Answer:
Dolittle John Dolittle was a doctor who lived in a small town called Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. He was well-known and liked by everyone in the town, especially because he loved animals and had many pets. At first, he was respected as the best doctor, but over time, he became poor due to his love for animals.

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#### 2. Which were his favourite pets?
Answer:
His favorite pets were:
- Dab-Dab the duck
- Jip the dog
- The owl Too-Too

These three are specifically mentioned as his favorites in the story.

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#### 3. What did Sarah Dolittle say to him one day?
Answer:
Sarah Dolittle said:
"John, how can you expect sick people to come and see you when you keep all these animals in the house? We are getting poorer every day."

She was concerned that having so many animals was driving away patients and causing financial problems.

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#### 4. What did happen when the time went on?
Answer:
As time went on, the Doctor kept getting more and more animals. Because of this, fewer and fewer people came to see him for medical help. Eventually, he had no patients except the Cat’s-meat-Man, who only got sick once a year at Christmas. This led to financial hardship, and he started selling things like his piano and his Sunday suit to support himself and his pets.

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#### 5. How many things did Doctor sell out?
Answer:
The Doctor sold two things:
- His piano
- His brown suit (which he wore on Sundays)

So, the answer is two items.

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#### 6. What would people say to him when he walked down the street?
Answer:
People would say:
"There goes John Dolittle! There was a time when he was the best doctor but look at him now—he hasn't any money and his stockings are full of holes!"

This shows how people's opinion of him changed from respect to pity due to his poverty.

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✔ Summary of Answers:

| Question | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | Dolittle John Dolittle was a doctor who lived in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh and loved animals. |
| 2 | His favorite pets were Dab-Dab the duck, Jip the dog, and the owl Too-Too. |
| 3 | "John, how can you expect sick people to come and see you when you keep all these animals in the house? We are getting poorer every day." |
| 4 | He got more animals, fewer patients came, and he became poor. |
| 5 | Two things: his piano and his brown Sunday suit. |
| 6 | "There goes John Dolittle! There was a time when he was the best doctor but look at him now—he hasn't any money and his stockings are full of holes!" |

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This worksheet helps students practice reading comprehension by identifying key details, understanding character motivations, and tracking changes in a character’s situation over time.