Here’s the solution to the reading comprehension questions based on the text “The Dragon’s Egg”:
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1. What does ‘lurk’ mean?
→ *Lurk* means to hide or wait secretly, often in a place where you are not easily seen. In the story, Artemis lurked in the corner of the cave — he was hiding there quietly so the dragon wouldn’t notice him.
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2. Why did Artemis steal the dragon’s egg?
→ Artemis stole the dragon’s egg because he wanted to sell it for gold. The text says: “Selling the dragon’s egg would bring so much gold to his family. They would never have to worry about a thing.” His family struggled financially — his father was a farmer and his mother cared for a large family — so he hoped the egg would solve their problems.
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3. What was his plan while in the cave?
→ His plan was to wait until morning before leaving with the egg. He whispered to himself, “I’ll wait for the morning,” showing he intended to stay hidden in the cave overnight to avoid being caught by the dragon.
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4. How did the dragon feel? How do you know?
→ The dragon felt
pain and distress. We know this because the text says: “the dragon flew above, screeching in pain” and “The harrowing cries of the dragon could be heard for miles.” These phrases show the dragon was suffering emotionally and physically after losing its egg.
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5. What do you think happens next in the story?
→ *(This is an inference question — any logical prediction based on the text is acceptable.)*
→ I think the dragon will confront Artemis at dawn. Since the dragon is already crying out in pain and can be heard for miles, it likely knows the egg is missing and may be searching for it. When Artemis wakes up and tries to leave the cave, he might face the angry dragon. Alternatively, Artemis might feel guilty seeing the dragon’s pain and decide to return the egg — especially since he thought of his own family and how much the egg meant to them, which might make him empathize with the dragon.
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✔ Summary: This passage tells the story of a desperate boy who steals a dragon’s egg to help his poor family, but ends with him facing the consequences — both emotionally and physically — as the grieving dragon stands nearby. The story sets up a moral dilemma and a tense cliffhanger.
Let me know if you’d like to turn this into a worksheet or add more questions!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of 4th grade reading sheets.
