Printable worksheet featuring the classic fable 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' followed by five comprehension questions for students.

Story: "The Ant and the Grasshopper"

#### Summary:
The story is about an Ant and a Grasshopper. The Ant works hard during the summer to collect food for the winter, while the Grasshopper spends its time singing and enjoying itself. When winter comes, the Grasshopper realizes it has no food and nearly starves, while the Ant has plenty of stored food. The moral of the story is that one should prepare for difficult times in advance.

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Questions and Solutions:

#### 1. Who are the main characters in the story?
- The main characters in the story are the Ant and the Grasshopper.

#### 2. What was the grasshopper doing while the ant was working?
- While the Ant was working hard to collect food for the winter, the Grasshopper was singing, chirping, and enjoying itself, without worrying about preparing for the future.

#### 3. Why was the ant working during the summer?
- The Ant was working during the summer because it wanted to lay up food for the winter. It knew that winters could be harsh and there might not be enough food available, so it prepared in advance.

#### 4. What happened to the grasshopper during the winter?
- During the winter, the Grasshopper found itself dying of hunger because it had not collected any food during the summer. It realized too late that it needed to prepare for the cold season.

#### 5. What is the moral of the story?
- The moral of the story is: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity. This means that one should plan ahead and work hard during good times to ensure they are ready for difficult or challenging times in the future.

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Explanation of the Solution:

Each question is answered based on the details provided in the story:
1. The main characters are clearly identified as the Ant and the Grasshopper.
2. The Grasshopper's actions are described as singing and enjoying itself, contrasting with the Ant's hard work.
3. The Ant's reason for working is explicitly stated: to prepare food for the winter.
4. The outcome for the Grasshopper during winter is directly mentioned: it nearly starved due to lack of preparation.
5. The moral is inferred from the contrast between the Ant's foresight and the Grasshopper's neglect, emphasizing the importance of planning ahead.

This approach ensures that each answer is supported by the text, making the solution clear and logical.

Final Answer:
1. The main characters are the Ant and the Grasshopper.
2. The Grasshopper was singing, chirping, and enjoying itself.
3. The Ant was working to lay up food for the winter.
4. The Grasshopper nearly starved during the winter.
5. The moral is: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
boxed{1. \text{Ant and Grasshopper} \\ 2. \text{Singing, chirping, and enjoying itself} \\ 3. \text{Laying up food for the winter} \\ 4. \text{Nearly starved} \\ 5. \text{It is best to prepare for the days of necessity}}