A Caterpillar's Tale

The caterpillar’s actions while building its cocoon support the idea that it is —

• A. too impatient to argue with the ant and the bee

• B. confused by the questions the ant and the bee are asking

• C. unconcerned about what the ant and the bee think about its house

• D. afraid to show the ant and the bee the best way to make a house

Which sentence does the author use to suggest that the caterpillar has experienced an important change?

• F. Up and down the caterpillar’s head moved, weaving and weaving.

• G. At last the veil grew so thick that you could only guess that the caterpillar might still be at work inside.

• H. But the caterpillar did not die.

• J. Many days and nights passed, and at last what had once been the caterpillar began to stir and wake.

Which of the following is the best summary of paragraphs 1 through 9?

• A. An ant and a bee see a caterpillar making a house. Both of them talk to the caterpillar while it works to finish its task the only way it knows how.

• B. A caterpillar is making a house out of something like silk on a twig. The house is called a cocoon, and it takes a long time to make.

• C. A caterpillar is making a house for itself. An ant and a bee suggest better places for the caterpillar to live, but the caterpillar continues with its task.

• D. An ant and a bee watch a caterpillar making a house. They think the caterpillar is having trouble, so they suggest different places for it to live.

In paragraph 6, the word absurd means —

• F. silly

• G. messy

• H. difficult

• J. gloomy

Which sentence from the story shows that the caterpillar is successful at building a good house for itself?

• A. Every time the caterpillar’s head moved, it left behind something that looked like a glistening thread of silk.

• B. Through the veil you could still faintly see the caterpillar moving.

• C. The bee came by that way again and stopped to look at the little house.

• D. It was fast asleep in its little cocoon house, knowing not whether the sun shone or the rain beat down.

The author includes sensory language and vivid details in paragraph 15 to illustrate how —

• F. quickly moths can move

• G. beautiful the caterpillar has become

• H. strong a cocoon can be

• J. perfectly the caterpillar has built the cocoon