The Hare and the Tortoise

THE Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me."

The Tortoise said quietly: "I accept your challenge."

"That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way."

"Keep your boasting till you've beaten," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race?"

So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then said the Tortoise:

"Plodding wins the race."

From The Hare and the Tortoise by Aesop, translated by Joseph Jacobs (1894). Public domain.

Check your understanding

1. What did the Hare do in the middle of the race?

He stopped to eat some carrots.He lay down to take a nap.He got lost in the woods.He helped the Tortoise.

2. What does the Tortoise say at the end of the story?

I am the fastest animal!Never race a Tortoise.Plodding wins the race.You sleep too much.

3. Retell what happens in the race from the moment it starts to the end.

4. Why did the Hare decide to take a nap during the race?

5. Based on the story, what does the word plodding mean?

6. Can you think of a time when you had to keep trying at something slowly, like the Tortoise, to succeed?