Aesops Fables Reading Comprehension #3 - Freeology - Free Printable
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Step-by-step solution for: Aesops Fables Reading Comprehension #3 - Freeology
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Aesops Fables Reading Comprehension #3 - Freeology
Since I can’t view or process images directly, I’ll reconstruct the task based on your description and the visible text from the image you’ve shared.
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> Annie’s Father – The Lion and the Mouse
> A Lion, asleep in his lair, was woken up by a Mouse running over his face. Losing his temper, he seized it with his paw and was about to kill it. The Mouse, terrified, pleaded earnestly: “Spare me, great King! Please let me go! I’m small, and I can do nothing for you but perhaps one day I may be of use.” The Lion laughed at the idea of so insignificant a creature ever being able to help him. But he let the Mouse go, and good-naturedly said, “Go, little one!”
>
> But the Mouse’s chance came, after all. One day the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread by some hunters, and the Mouse heard and recognized the voice of its captor. Without delay, it set to work to gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded before long in setting the Lion free. “There!” said the Mouse. “You laughed at me when I promised I would repay you, but now you see how even a Mouse may help the mightiest of beasts.”
>
> — From *Aesop’s Fables*
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1. The first sentence says that the Lion was, “asleep in his lair.” What is a lair?
2. The Mouse “entreated” the Lion to spare its life. What does entreated mean?
3. We are told that “the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread by some hunters.” What does the phrase “spread by some hunters” mean?
4. How was the little Mouse able to help the powerful Lion?
5. What is the message of this fable?
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## ✔ Answers & Explanations:
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✔ Answer: A lair is a den or resting place, especially for a wild animal like a lion.
🔹 Explanation: In the context of the story, the lion is sleeping in his “lair,” which refers to his natural habitat or shelter — typically a cave or secluded area where he lives and rests. It implies safety and territory.
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✔ Answer: “Entreated” means to beg or plead earnestly.
🔹 Explanation: The mouse didn’t just ask — it begged desperately, showing fear and humility. The word “entreated” conveys urgency and sincerity, which helps explain why the lion, though amused, still showed mercy.
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✔ Answer: It means the hunters laid out or set up the net to trap animals.
🔹 Explanation: “Spread” here is used as a verb meaning to arrange or lay out something (like a net) across an area. Hunters spread nets to catch animals — in this case, they caught the lion. This shows the danger the lion faced, despite his strength.
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✔ Answer: The mouse used its sharp teeth to gnaw through the ropes of the net that trapped the lion, freeing him.
🔹 Explanation: Though small and seemingly powerless, the mouse had a skill — chewing — that was perfectly suited to the situation. This highlights the theme that size and strength aren’t everything; sometimes, cleverness or a specific skill matters more.
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✔ Answer: Even the smallest or weakest creatures can be helpful, and no act of kindness — no matter how small — should be dismissed.
🔹 Explanation: This fable teaches humility and the value of compassion. The lion laughed at the mouse’s promise, thinking it impossible for such a tiny creature to help him. But later, the mouse proves that everyone has value and potential. The moral is often summarized as:
> “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
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## 💡 Bonus: Real-World Application
This fable encourages us to:
- Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their size, status, or power.
- Be kind — you never know when someone might return the favor.
- Recognize that different people (or creatures!) have different strengths.
---
Let me know if you’d like this turned into a worksheet, quiz, or printable version! 🐭🦁
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📄 Text from Image (Reconstructed):
> Annie’s Father – The Lion and the Mouse
> A Lion, asleep in his lair, was woken up by a Mouse running over his face. Losing his temper, he seized it with his paw and was about to kill it. The Mouse, terrified, pleaded earnestly: “Spare me, great King! Please let me go! I’m small, and I can do nothing for you but perhaps one day I may be of use.” The Lion laughed at the idea of so insignificant a creature ever being able to help him. But he let the Mouse go, and good-naturedly said, “Go, little one!”
>
> But the Mouse’s chance came, after all. One day the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread by some hunters, and the Mouse heard and recognized the voice of its captor. Without delay, it set to work to gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded before long in setting the Lion free. “There!” said the Mouse. “You laughed at me when I promised I would repay you, but now you see how even a Mouse may help the mightiest of beasts.”
>
> — From *Aesop’s Fables*
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✍️ Reading Comprehension Questions:
1. The first sentence says that the Lion was, “asleep in his lair.” What is a lair?
2. The Mouse “entreated” the Lion to spare its life. What does entreated mean?
3. We are told that “the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread by some hunters.” What does the phrase “spread by some hunters” mean?
4. How was the little Mouse able to help the powerful Lion?
5. What is the message of this fable?
---
## ✔ Answers & Explanations:
---
1. What is a lair?
✔ Answer: A lair is a den or resting place, especially for a wild animal like a lion.
🔹 Explanation: In the context of the story, the lion is sleeping in his “lair,” which refers to his natural habitat or shelter — typically a cave or secluded area where he lives and rests. It implies safety and territory.
---
2. What does “entreated” mean?
✔ Answer: “Entreated” means to beg or plead earnestly.
🔹 Explanation: The mouse didn’t just ask — it begged desperately, showing fear and humility. The word “entreated” conveys urgency and sincerity, which helps explain why the lion, though amused, still showed mercy.
---
3. What does “spread by some hunters” mean?
✔ Answer: It means the hunters laid out or set up the net to trap animals.
🔹 Explanation: “Spread” here is used as a verb meaning to arrange or lay out something (like a net) across an area. Hunters spread nets to catch animals — in this case, they caught the lion. This shows the danger the lion faced, despite his strength.
---
4. How was the little Mouse able to help the powerful Lion?
✔ Answer: The mouse used its sharp teeth to gnaw through the ropes of the net that trapped the lion, freeing him.
🔹 Explanation: Though small and seemingly powerless, the mouse had a skill — chewing — that was perfectly suited to the situation. This highlights the theme that size and strength aren’t everything; sometimes, cleverness or a specific skill matters more.
---
5. What is the message of this fable?
✔ Answer: Even the smallest or weakest creatures can be helpful, and no act of kindness — no matter how small — should be dismissed.
🔹 Explanation: This fable teaches humility and the value of compassion. The lion laughed at the mouse’s promise, thinking it impossible for such a tiny creature to help him. But later, the mouse proves that everyone has value and potential. The moral is often summarized as:
> “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
---
## 💡 Bonus: Real-World Application
This fable encourages us to:
- Treat everyone with respect, regardless of their size, status, or power.
- Be kind — you never know when someone might return the favor.
- Recognize that different people (or creatures!) have different strengths.
---
Let me know if you’d like this turned into a worksheet, quiz, or printable version! 🐭🦁
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of fable comprehension worksheet.
