Reading Comprehension Worksheets | Free Printables | English - Free Printable

Reading Comprehension: "Prince Grubby"

#### Text Summary:
The passage describes Prince Grubby, who is the grubbies man in the world. His dirtiness is so extreme that flies live on his body, and bugs in his hair seem to have lived there for a long time. Despite being mocked by the people of the kingdom, he demands respect as the prince. The peasants bow to him but do so mockingly, whispering about how dirty he is. Prince Grubby does not care about their opinions and eventually becomes King Grubby, ruling for years.

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Questions and Answers:

#### 1. What does 'permanent' mean?
- Answer: "Permanent" means lasting or continuing indefinitely without changing or disappearing. In the context of the passage, it suggests that the dirt on Prince Grubby's legs was so ingrained that it appeared like it would never come off.

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#### 2. What does 'the bugs in his hair had lived a lifetime' mean?
- Answer: This phrase implies that the bugs in Prince Grubby's hair had been there for such a long time that they seemed to have grown old, as if they had lived an entire lifetime. It emphasizes just how dirty and unkempt Prince Grubby was, highlighting the extent of his neglect of personal hygiene.

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#### 3. Did the people respect him? How do you know?
- Answer: No, the people did not truly respect Prince Grubby. We know this because the text states that the peasants bowed to him "almost mockingly" and whispered behind his back about how dirty he was. Their actions and words indicate mockery rather than genuine respect.

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#### 4. Why did they whisper when they spoke about him?
- Answer: They whispered when speaking about Prince Grubby because they were mocking him and did not want him to hear what they were saying directly. Whispering allowed them to express their disdain discreetly while maintaining the appearance of respect by bowing to him publicly.

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#### 5. Do you think Prince Grubby was a good prince? Why or why not?
- Answer: Based on the passage, Prince Grubby does not appear to be a good prince. He was extremely dirty and uncaring about his appearance, which led to widespread mockery from the people. Additionally, he demanded respect without earning it through positive actions or leadership qualities. There is no indication in the passage that he governed well or cared about the needs of his subjects. Therefore, it can be concluded that he was not a good prince.

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Final Answer:

1. Permanent means lasting or continuing indefinitely.
2. The bugs in his hair had lived a lifetime means they had been there for so long that they seemed to have grown old.
3. No, the people did not respect him; they bowed mockingly and whispered about him.
4. They whispered to mock him discreetly without him hearing.
5. No, Prince Grubby was not a good prince because he was uncaring, dirty, and did not earn the respect of his people.

Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
1. & \text{Permanent means lasting or continuing indefinitely.} \\
2. & \text{The bugs in his hair had lived a lifetime means they had been there for so long that they seemed to have grown old.} \\
3. & \text{No, the people did not respect him; they bowed mockingly and whispered about him.} \\
4. & \text{They whispered to mock him discreetly without him hearing.} \\
5. & \text{No, Prince Grubby was not a good prince because he was uncaring, dirty, and did not earn the respect of his people.}
\end{aligned}
}