Question 1: What word in the text tells you that the old traveller is feeling weak and exhausted? Choose the correct word below:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

• ferocious

• terrified

• weary

• busy

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 2: Why are the first two people that the old traveller speaks to unwilling to help him? Choose one answer:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

• The monster was in front of them

• They are just too busy

• They were afraid of the old man

• They did help the man

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 3: What did the old man want? Find the correct answer in the text and choose it below:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

• Food and lodging

• Someone to talk to

• Weapons to fight the monster

• Food and clothes

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 4: What food did the woman give the old man? Write one word below:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 5: What chore (job) was the old woman doing when the old man asked for help? Write the chore below:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 6: What is the fronted adverbial of time that the author uses in the text? Write it below:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 7: What adjectives in the text are used to describe the Nian (the monster)? Make sure they are all used in the text, choose carefully:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

• old, weary, worried, generous

• hungry, weary, mighty, old

• desperate, hungry, terrified, weary, busy

• hungry, ferocious mighty, man-eater, monster

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.4.6

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 8: Why do you think that the old woman decided to help the old traveller? (there can be more than one correct answer)

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

• She noticed how weak he looked and felt concerned that he needed food or he would become ill.

• She wanted to get rid of him so she could start her trek up the mountain.

• She was a similar age to him and felt compassion for his situation.

• She was throwing out the food anyway and did not want to waste it.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

Question 9: What theme is this story? Choose one:

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

• Love

• Compassion

• Honesty

• Friendship

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

Question 10: ‘The old man smiled to himself. He knew how to repay the old woman’s

kindness.’ What do you think the old man is thinking of doing?

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a monster

in China called the Nian. He lived under the sea in a cave

and slept most of the year. He only awoke for one day

each year, the last day before the lunar New Year began.

Then the warmer weather woke him and he arose from

the sea, hungry and ferocious.

Nian was a man-eater and he would come to the villages

of China each year on the same night to devour people

and wreck the houses. Many had tried to battle with the

mighty Nian, many had tried and all had failed.

The villagers of one particular place were so terrified that

every year they fled to the hills to try to escape the wrath

of Nian.

One year, on the eve of the lunar New Year an old traveller

came to the village. He was bent and weary from his

travels and he desperately wanted food and lodging.

He went to the door of a house to beg for the food but the

woman inside just turned him away. She had no time

for beggars, she was packing food and preparing for the

move up to the mountain.

The old man tried to ask a young girl on the street for help next but she was too busy as well. She had to find

her brothers and sisters and start the long walk up the

mountain to escape the monster.

The only person who paid the old man any notice at all

was an old woman. She was sweeping outside her house

when she saw the weary traveller and realised that he

needed food. She walked inside and returned to the man

with a bowl of noodles.

While the old traveller ate he sat and watched the

villagers running about.

He asked what all the fuss was about and the woman

explained that the Nian was coming that night and the

villagers were going to hide in the hills to ensure

that their village was overlooked by the monster.

The woman looked worried and the old man

asked her why. The old woman didn’t

think she’d be able to make the trip to

the hills that year – her bones were old

and she was weary.

The old man smiled to himself. He knew

how to repay the old woman’s kindness.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.4.10

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10