The Egyptian British International School

Year 5 English Department

Reading Comprehension: Fable

Name: _____________________________ Class: _______ Date: _____________

Answer Key
BELLING THE CAT

The mice who lived in the big house held a meeting. They were
trying to decide what to do about the new cat who had moved into their
house. It was not safe for any of them to come out with the cat around.
Each time one of the mice would try to come out into the house, the cat
would sneak up on him. No longer could the mice get all the food that
they needed. They couldn’t play anymore either.

The meeting lasted a long time. The mice had many different plans
for taking care of the cat. They could not decide which of the ideas was
best.

A small mouse had been sitting in the back row during the whole meeting. Finally, he stood up
and raised his paw. He said that he had a plan. It was his idea that they should put a bell around the
cat’s neck. If they did that, they would always know where the cat was because they would hear the
bell.

The other mice became very excited. They thought that the young mouse had come up with the
best idea ever. They were so happy that they began to dance and sing. They were cheering very
loudly.

Suddenly, the oldest and wisest mouse said something that made them all stop and listen.
The old mouse spoke in a very soft voice. He said that the idea was good, but then he asked
which one of the mice was going to put the bell around the cat’s neck. No one was brave enough
to do it.

The mice had learned the lesson that it is easy to think up good ideas, but not always possible
to do them.

Answer the following questions:

1. Tell what happened in the story in one or two sentences.
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2. Why did the mice have a meeting?

They had a meeting to see what to do with the new cat.

3. What couldn’t the mice do anymore because of the cat?

They couldn’t eat or play like before.

4. What was the good idea the small mouse had?

The idea was to put a bell around the cat’s neck.

5. Why didn’t the good idea work?

It didn’t work because no one was brave enough to do it.

6. What is the moral of this story?

The moral is “it is easy to think up good ideas, but not always possible to do them.”

7. How was the old mouse different from the other mice?
The old mouse was wiser.

8. Describe a time when you or someone you know had a good idea that was too hard to carry out.
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9. What do you think would happen if a mouse in the story did try to put a bell on the cat?
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10. Extract an apostrophe from the text and mention whether it's a contraction or possession.
couldn't → contraction cat’s → possession

11.Is the fable written using the first person or the third person? How did you know?
It’s written using the third person because the author didn’t use I, we, us, etc...

12. Write a short paragraph (at least 6 sentences) describing the cat's personality.
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Punctuate the following sentences.

1. she is so nice said lily

“She is so nice,” said Lily.
2. tom shouted stop bothering me
Tom shouted, “Stop bothering me!”
3. let's go to the club said sarah because we have a match
“Let’s go to the club,” said Sara, “because we have a match.”
4. you need to do your homework the teacher stated you will lose a lot of marks
“You need to do your homework,” the teacher stated. “You will lose a lot of marks.”

Complete using a modal verb:

1. You must visit a doctor, you are very sick.
2. You could be so much better if you listen carefully to the teacher.
3. May I go to the bathroom?
4. Can you lift the box or is it too heavy?

Correct the pronouns used in the following sentences:

1. This not you your bag it is me mine.
2. This is he his pencil case.
3. The bag is her hers.
 4. The cat made it its presence felt.

Choose the correct spelling :

Fathom Fatom
Gufaw Guffaw
Wistfuly Wistfully
Well-fed Wellfed
Up todate Up-to- date

Use the vocabulary words in sentences. Mention the part of speech.

1. Liberally:

2. Sustenance:

3. Fare:

4. Sensible:

5. Cheery:

6. Chirpy: