Year 6 Reading Comprehension

Hello Year 6,

As you know, our topic for term 5 is the Ancient Greeks!

I have chosen a reading comprehension for your English learning focusing on the
myth of Perseus and Medusa. The only son of Zeus and Danae – and, thus, a half-
god by birth – Perseus was one of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology. There are
8 questions to help you practice your retrieval and inference skills. Use the following
tips and strategies to help you:

1. Find key words in the question – scan the text for words that are the same or
similar to help you find the relevant passage in the text.
2. Look at the sentences before or after key words.
3. For retrieval questions, copy down the answer directly from the text.
4. For inference questions, read between the lines – what are the key words and
what is the question asking you?

I have attached an answer sheet for you to mark your own work, but this is only
to be used after you have completed the questions.

Good luck!

Ms Houghton 
 Perseus and Medusa
Perseus lived alone with his mother. His father had died when he was a baby. The King of
the land was evil and nobody liked him. The problem was that he wanted to marry
Perseus’s mother. Perseus told the King that this was not possible. The King was
angry and thought of a plan to get rid of Perseus. ‘Bring me the head of the monster
Medusa’ said the King, ‘and I will not bother your mother again.’

Medusa and her sisters the Gorgons were scary indeed. Instead of hair, they had snakes
coming out of their heads. If anyone so much as looked at their faces, then they would become
stone.

Perseus needed help to defeat Medusa. He went to see a wise man. The man
gave Perseus a shield which was just like a mirror. Next, he gave him a
crystal sword strong enough to cut off the monster’s head. The wise man
told Perseus that he would also need some flying sandals, a helmet to make
him invisible and a silver bag to put Medusa’s head in. The wise man said that
Perseus should go and find the three witches that lived at Mount Atlas.
They would give him the objects that he needed.

At first, the witches would not help Perseus. But then Perseus noticed that they only had one eye
between them and he quickly grabbed it. He refused to give it back until they agreed to help
him. The witches finally gave in; they got their eye back in exchange for the helmet, the sandals
and the silver bag.

Perseus strapped on the sandals and flew to the Gorgons cave. He put on
his helmet and now he was invisible to the Gorgons. Medusa did not notice
Perseus flying into the cave. Perseus drew his crystal sword and lunged
towards Medusa. He remembered that he must not look at her because
he would turn to stone so he used his shield as a mirror and, guided by
Athena (the goddess of war and wisdom) cut off her head. Medusa was
finally dead and Perseus had the head in the silver bag to prove it.

Perseus returned to the evil King. The King did not believe that Medusa was
dead. ‘Show me the head!’ he demanded. Perseus took the head from the silver
bag and the evil King was instantly turned to stone! He had looked at the face
of Medusa! Perseus, his mother and everyone in the land rejoiced.
 Read the story and then use the text to help you
answer the following questions.

1. What did the evil King want with the mother of Perseus?

2. What was the King’s plan to get rid of Perseus?

3. What was the name of the monster in the Story and what
was she like?

4. Who lived at the Atlas mountains?

5. How did Perseus manage to get the items he needed

from the witches?

6. Who helped Perseus in his quest to kill Medusa? How?

7. Why did Perseus not turn to stone but the King did?

8. How did Perseus carry the head of Medusa to the King?

Answers
1. What did the evil King want with the mother of Perseus?
The king wanted to marry Perseus’ mother.
2. What was the King’s plan to get rid of Perseus?
He sent Perseus to kill the monster Medusa, hoping that she
would turn him to stone.
3. What was the name of the monster in the Story and what
was she like?
The monster was called Medusa. She was scary and had
snakes coming out of her head instead of hair.
4. Who lived at the Atlas mountains?
The three witches lived at Mount Atlas.
5. How did Perseus manage to get the items he needed from
the witches?
He grabbed the witches’ one eye and wouldn’t give it back
until they gave him the helmet, sandals and silver bag.
6. Who helped Perseus in his quest to kill Medusa? How?
A wise man helped Perseus in his quest by telling him what
he would need to kill Medusa.
7. Why did Perseus not turn to stone but the King did?
Perseus did not turn to stone because he only looked at
Medusa’s reflection, whereas the King looked directly at her
face.
8. How did Perseus carry the head of Medusa to the King?
Perseus carried Medusa’s head in a silver bag