Early reader (Grades 2-3)

The Lion and the Mouse

A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up in anger, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came up, and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and setting him free, exclaimed: "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour; but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."

From The Lion and the Mouse by Aesop, translated by George Fyler Townsend (1867). Public domain.

Check your understanding

1. Why did the Lion let the Mouse go at the start?

The Mouse was too fast to catch.The Mouse begged for its life and promised to repay the kindness.The Lion was not hungry.The hunters scared the Lion away.

2. How did the Mouse repay the Lion?

It brought the Lion food.It frightened the hunters.It gnawed through the ropes and set the Lion free.It led the Lion home.

3. In your own words, what lesson does this fable teach? Write one sentence.

4. Put these sentences back in the order they appear in the passage.

Click the events in the correct order.

5. Read the line and type the missing word.

The Mouse, _____ his roar, came up, and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and setting him free, exclaimed: "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour; but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion.