March 30, 2023

The Fox & The Goat

​A Fable by Aesop

(1) While walking in the forest one day, a fox spied a well. He jumped down in the well to drink. He soon realized that he could not climb up the smooth stone walls of the deep well. He jumped about trying to find some ledge or hold that he could use the escape. The fox had just given up hope when a goat called down into the well.(2) "Is there water in the well?" the goat called. (3) "There is plenty," the fox eagerly replied. "Jump down and we will share." The goat, being a trusting animal, jumped down into the deep well, only to find himself trapped.

​(4) "What?" This well is so deep, and the sides are smooth stone. How shall we ever escape?" the goat despaired. (5) Thinking quickly, the fox replied, "I have a plan, friend goat. Lean up with your forelegs high on the wall. I shall scramble up your strong back, over your head and out of the well." (6) "That's all good for you, but then I'm stuck alone down here at the bottom of a well." The goat was frightened. (7) "I shall lower down a long branch from the ground above, and you may scramble out," the fox offered. The goat agreed, leaning his long forelegs on the wall. The fox ran up the goat's back and used the goat's head to leap up and out of the well. The fox laughed at his good luck and made ready to leave. (8) "Wait," cried the goat from down in the well. "You promised to help me escape!" (9) "Ho, ho," and "ha, ha," laughed the fox. "You should know better than that. Only a fool exposes himself to unknown dangers. You must look before you leap." (10) The goat was both angry and ashamed. "But you jumped down into the well before me! You tricked me once into jumping and then twice by saving yourself."

​(11) "Just so, silly goat," the fox called. "Heed well this lesson."

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best expresses the fable's moral?

• "Jump down and we will share."

• "I shall lower down a long branch from the ground above, and you may scramble out," the fox offered.

• "You must look before you leap."

• "Just so, silly goat," the fox called. "Heed well this lesson."

Multiple Choice

At the end of the story, the goat feels ashamed because-

• he acted foolishly by twice trusting the fox with is safety

• he is frightened of the deep and dark well

• he helped the fox escape from the well

• he has trouble learning lessons that seem easy for the fox

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a characteristic found in all fables?

• A forest setting

• A clear lesson

• A silly goat

• Animals trying to escape

Multiple Choice

The reader can tell this story is a fable because it-

• contains a clear problem and realistic solution

• is about a goat and a fox

• could not happen in real life

• has human-like animals that learn an important lesson

Multiple Choice

What lesson does the goat learn in the end?

• Foxes cannot be trusted with important matters like finding water and escaping

• It is important to carefully think about situations before you make a decision you may regret.

• Taking care of your friends is more important than finding water.

• Because finding water can be challenging, it is important to get help from those around you.