Salah Islamic School Grade 4

Name____________ Term 1 Date___________

Comprehension Assessment
The Fox and the Goat
Someone Said:
Francis Fox had already gobbled one mouse, but one was never
enough to fill his stomach. His greed got him into trouble as he chased
the second mouse.
He did not see the old well and tumbled nose over tail down into
the cold water. Looking up, Francis saw a blue circle of sky and jumped
as high as he can-but he could not reach the top.
"How will I get out?" howled Francis.
Just then, the sound of chewing echoed
down in the well, and Francis saw Gordo Goat at
the edge of the well's opening, Francis knew
that Gordo would do anything for food and
water. He made loud slurping sounds to attract
the old goat's attention.
"This water is delicious," the sly fox
shouted.
"Don't you want a thirst-quenching drink?
Gordo had been chewing on thorns and weeds, and he definitely
needed water to wash down his food.
"Sure," he said, "but how will I get out?"
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 "We'll help each other," said Francis with a smile that showed all
of his teeth.
Gordo was not sure whether Francis was being honest, but the goat
was very thirsty. He jumped into the well, and when his thirst was
quenched he looked up.
“Now ... how do we get out of here?” he asked.
"Easy," said Francis.
"Put your front hooves on the wall, and I'll climb on your back and
jump out of the well. Then I'll go get help
for you," said Francis, grinning. "Honest."
"Okay, but hurry back," said Gordo,
placing his hooves against the stones. In a
flash, Francis leaped onto Gordo's back
and then climbed onto the goat's horns to
spring out of the well. Francis looked
back down at the goat and waved.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you to look before you leap?" the fox
chuckled as he ran off, leaving Gordo to find his own way out of the
well.

Comprehension:
Answer the following question:
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1. What is the genre of "The fox and the Goat"? (1 pt.)
Ⓐ Drama Ⓒ Biography
Ⓑ Folktale Ⓓ Realistic Fiction

2. What human quality does Francis, the fox, symbolize? (1

pt.)
Ⓐ Greed Ⓒ Trickery
Ⓑ Honesty Ⓓ Greed and trickery

3. What problem did Francis, the fox, face at the beginning

of the story? (1 pt.)
Ⓐ He had no water and wanted to drink.
Ⓑ He got stuck in the well.
ⒸThe mouse he chased ran away.
ⒹHe tumbled nose over tail down in the cold water.

4. How did Francis solve his problem? (1 pt.)

Ⓐ He found water in a well and drank until his thirst was
quenched.
Ⓑ He tricked Gordo the Goat to get out of the well.
Ⓒ He chased another mouse.
ⒹHe jumped as high as he could.
5. What lesson does the goat learn in the story? (1 pt.)
Ⓐ Everyone needs help.
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 Ⓑ Learn from your mistakes,
Ⓒ Look before you leap.
ⒹIf you need help just ask.

6. What is it about Gordo that allows Francis to trick him? (1

pt.)
Ⓐ Gordo was attracted to the load slurping sounds.
Ⓑ Gordo has strong hooves and long horns.
Ⓒ Gordo would do anything for food and water.
ⒹGordo can chew on thorns and weeds.

7. Which detail supports the message of the passage? (1 pt.)

Ⓐ Fox fell in the well.
Ⓑ Fox couldn't get out of the well.
Ⓒ Gordo jumped into the well and drank until his thirst was
quenched.
Ⓓ Fox left Gordo to find his own way out of the well.

8. Read this sentence from the story

Don't you want a thirst-quenching drink?

What does this mean? (1 pt.)
ⒶTo satisfy thirst. ⒸTo be hungry.
ⒷTo make you thirsty. Ⓓ To stop hunger.
9. Read this sentence from the story

Francis saw Gordo Goat at the edge of the well’s opening.

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 Which word has the SAME root word as opening? (1 pt.)
Ⓐclosing Ⓒopposite
Ⓑopposing Ⓓ opener

10. Read each item below carefully and choose the

correct answer.

a. What does the word “attracted” mean? (1 pt.)

Ⓐoffered advice to Ⓒcured somebody from
Ⓑdrew the attention of Ⓓ forced liquid or gas into

b. What does the word “greed” mean? (1 pt.)

Ⓐan annoyance or trouble
Ⓑa jealous feeling or behavior of
Ⓒa shameful or regrettable act
Ⓓ a selfish desire to have or get something

c. Which word has the OPPOSITE meaning of “honest”? (1 pt.)

Ⓐunhealthy Ⓒuntruthful
Ⓑuninterested Ⓓunusual

11. What might have happened if Gordo looks before he

leaps? (1 pt.)
Ⓐ He would have a thirst quenching drink.
Ⓑ He would have Francis as a friend.
Ⓒ He would have tumbled into the well.
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 ⒹHe would not have fallen for Francis's trick.

Part 2 : Writing :
Write a letter of apology from the Francis the fox to Gordo the
goat .

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