The Lion and the Mouse Fable

The lion and the Mouse

Read the story and and answer comprehension questions.

One day a lion was sleeping. A tiny mouse, not noticing where he was going, ran over the lion's head and down his nose.

The Lion awoke with a loud roar. He was very angry and he caught the little mouse with his giant paw. The great beast was about to open his huge jaws to swallow the tiny creature when the frightened mouse cried. ‘If you let me live, I will not forget your kindness and one day, I may be able to do something for you.’

The Lion began to laugh. ‘How can a tiny animal like you ever do anything to help a big, strong animal like me?’ But he also thought, ‘This mouse is too small for dinner, in fact he’s even too small for a snack.’

‘Oh well,’ he shrugged as he looked down at the frightened mouse, ‘You're not enough for a meal anyway.’ He took his paw off the poor little prisoner and let it go. The mouse quickly ran away.

Time passed by and one day, some hunters with some rope nets, caught the Lion whilst he was hunting for some food. But they needed more help to carry him so left the lion alone and went back to the village to get more men. The lion roared loudly and tried to free himself, but with every move he made, the ropes bound him tighter.

The lion’s unhappy roar was heard far away by the little mouse. ‘That may be the lion who once freed me," he said. Remembering his promise, he ran to see whether he could help. When he saw the lion he said, ‘I’ll get you out of this trap.’

With his sharp teeth, the mouse cut through the ropes until they broke. When the Lion stepped out of the net and was free once again.

Open Ended

Who are the characters in the story?

Open Ended

Why did the lion wake up?

Open Ended

What is the meaning of 'hunters' in the passage?

Open Ended

Why was the mouse scared?

Open Ended

Why did the lion think the mouse was funny?

Multiple Select

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

The mouse didn’t see the lion........

• and had an idea.

• became friends forever

• in a hunter’s net

• and ran across his nose.

Multiple Select

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

The lion was caught..........

• and had an idea.

• became friends forever

• in a hunter’s net

• and ran across his nose.

Multiple Select

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

The mouse saw the lion struggling in the net..........

• and had an idea.

• became friends forever

• in a hunter’s net

• and ran across his nose.

Multiple Select

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

The mouse and the lion.......

• and had an idea.

• became friends forever

• in a hunter’s net

• and ran across his nose.

Open Ended

Why did the lion roar in anger?

Open Ended

How did the mouse help the lion?

Open Ended

What is the message in the story?