English worksheets: The Giving Tree Comprehension - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step through each question based on the story “The Giving Tree” (which is a well-known children’s book by Shel Silverstein). Even though we can’t see the full text in the image, the questions are standard comprehension questions for this story. I’ll answer them based on the actual plot of the book.

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1. What is “The Giving Tree” about?

→ The story is about a tree that loves a boy very much. As the boy grows up, he keeps coming back to take things from the tree — first apples, then branches, then the trunk — and the tree gives everything happily because it wants the boy to be happy. In the end, the tree is just a stump, but it still feels glad when the old boy sits on it to rest.

It’s about love, sacrifice, and how some people give everything they have for someone they care about — even if that person doesn’t always say thank you or notice what was given.

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2. Why is the tree lonely when the boy grows up?

→ When the boy was little, he played with the tree every day — climbing, swinging, eating apples. They were best friends. But as the boy got older, he stopped visiting. He went off to school, work, started a family, and only came back when he needed something — money, wood, a boat. The tree missed their friendship and felt sad and alone during all those years without visits.

So the loneliness comes from missing the boy’s company — not just being used, but losing the daily joy of playing together.

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3. What could the boy do for the tree?

→ The boy could have visited the tree just to spend time — to talk, sit under its shade, play games like he did when he was small. He didn’t need to take anything; he could have just been there for the tree too. Maybe bring it water, tell it stories, or simply say “thank you.” Love goes both ways — the tree gave everything, but the boy never really gave back emotionally or physically until the very end (and even then, he just sat down).

He could have appreciated the tree while it was still whole — not waited until it was gone.

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4. Do you think the boy is selfish? Explain.

→ Yes, mostly. Throughout most of the story, the boy only comes back when he needs something — money, materials for a house, a boat to sail away. He never thinks about what the tree might want or feel. He takes and takes without giving back — no thanks, no visits for fun, no care for the tree’s feelings.

BUT — at the very end, when he’s an old man and tired, he returns and sits quietly on the stump. That shows maybe he finally understands what the tree meant to him — and perhaps feels regret. So he wasn’t *always* selfish — but for most of his life, yes, he acted selfishly.

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5. How do you think the boy would feel if the boy didn’t take all it offered?

*(Note: This question seems to have a typo — probably meant: “How do you think the TREE would feel if the boy didn’t take all it offered?” OR “How do you think the BOY would feel if he hadn’t taken everything?” Let’s assume it’s asking about the BOY’S feelings if he HADN’T taken everything — since that makes more sense contextually.)*

→ If the boy had NOT taken everything — if he had just enjoyed the tree’s presence, played with it, talked to it, cared for it — he might have grown up feeling loved, secure, and grateful. He wouldn’t have carried guilt later in life. He might have learned early that relationships are about sharing, not just taking.

Also, the tree would have stayed strong and beautiful longer — and they both could have shared many more happy moments together. The boy might have become a kinder, more thoughtful person — because he’d learned to value others instead of just using them.

Alternatively, if the question meant: *“How would the TREE feel if the boy didn’t take anything?”* — Then the tree might have felt confused at first (“Why isn’t he playing with me?”), but eventually happy — because it would mean the boy valued their friendship more than stuff. The tree loved the boy — so seeing him happy without needing to give up parts of itself would have made the tree joyful too.

But since the question says “the boy would feel,” I’ll stick with the boy’s perspective.

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Final Answer:

1. “The Giving Tree” is about a tree that gives everything it has to a boy it loves, showing selfless love and sacrifice over time.

2. The tree is lonely because the boy stops visiting after growing up — he only comes back when he needs something, not to share time or friendship.

3. The boy could have visited the tree just to spend time together — talking, playing, saying thank you — instead of only taking things.

4. Yes, the boy is mostly selfish — he only returns when he needs something and rarely considers the tree’s feelings. But at the end, he may realize his mistake.

5. If the boy hadn’t taken everything, he might have felt happier, less guilty, and more connected to the tree — learning that love means giving back, not just taking.