Name…………………………………………. Date……………………………………….

The Hare and the Tortoise

Tick the correct answer. v

1. Who can run the fastest?The Hare The Tortoise

2. Why was the Tortoise smiling at the end of the race?He lost the race. He won the race.

3. How do you think the Hare felt at the end of the race?Happy Sad

4. Why didn’t the Hare lose the race?He fell down. He fell asleep.

5. Write one thing you know about tortoises.

Name…………………………………………. Date……………………………………….

The Hare and the Tortoise

Tick the correct answer. vYes no

1. The Hare and the Tortoise ran in a race.

2. The Tortoise went to sleep.

3. The Hare helped the Tortoise.

4. The Tortoise won the race.

5. The Hare was a show off.

6. The Tortoise ran quickly.

7. The Hare stopped to eat.

8. The Tortoise took a taxi home.

Name…………………………………………. Date……………………………………….

The Hare and the Tortoise

Place the correct word in each space.

1. The story is about a T_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and a H_ _ _.

2. The Tortoise moved s_ _ _ _ _.

3. The Hare moved q_ _ _ _ _ _.

4. They had a r_ _ _.

5. The Tortoise w_ _.

tortoise hare slowly

quickly race won

Draw a picture here.

Name…………………………………………. Date……………………………………….

The Hare and the Tortoise

Use the correct word. large or small

1. A tortoise is s_ _ _ _.

2. An elephant is l_ _ _ _.

3. A mouse is s_ _ _ _.

4. A giraffe is l_ _ _ _.

5. A hare is l _ _ _ _.

6. A horse is l_ _ _ _.

7. A cat is s_ _ _ _.

Draw a large animal.

Draw a small animal

Name…………………………………………. Date……………………………………….

The Hare and the Tortoise

Put a ring around the words that describe the tortoise.

slow fast

noisy sensible

steady quiet busy

friendly

Write a sentence about the tortoise with some of the words.

Name…………………………………………. Date……………………………………….

The Hare and the Tortoise

Put a ring around the words that describe the hare.

fast busy

slow quick

hungry tired sleepy

show-off

Write a sentence about the hare with some of the words.

1. Complete the story with the past simple form of the verbs.

One day the hare and the tortoise ________________(decide) to have a race. The hare _____(know) that he ________ (can) run faster than the tortoise. But the tortoise ___________(be) more intelligent than the hare. 'Yes, I'll race you,' ________ (say) the intelligent tortoise. The tortoise _________ (have) an intelligent plan. He ______ (find) his brothers and sisters and he __________(tell) them to wait in different places along the path of the race.

So they all ________(wait) behind the trees along the path. The race _______ (start)! The tortoise ____________(run) as fast as possible. But the hare ________ (be) faster, of course. 'This will be a very easy race', ________________(think) the hare. So the hare ________(decide) to have a rest, and he quickly ________ (sleep) at the side of the road. Suddenly, the hare ______________ (wake up) and he ________ (see) a tortoise in front of him! 'How did he get in front of me?' the hare asked himself. In fact, it __________ (be) not his friend the tortoise: it _____________ (be) the tortoise's sister. But to a hare, all tortoises look the same. The hare ran past the tortoise easily. Soon, he __________ (can't) see the tortoise, so he _________ (sit) down and he _________ (have) another rest. Then the hare __________ (get up) and continued the race. But - as the hare happily came around the last corner before the finish line - his friend the tortoise crossed the line and ___________ (win) the race!

2. Answer these questions in FULL sentences.

1. What did the hare think she was good at?_________________________________________________________________

2. Which animal was the fastest runner?_________________________________________________________________

3. What did the hare decide to do?_________________________________________________________________

4. Who won the race?_________________________________________________________________

Aesop’s Fables – The Hare and the Tortoise

A Hare one day ridiculed the short feet and

slow pace of the Tortoise, who replied,

laughing: "Though you be swift as the wind,

I will beat you in a race." The Hare,

believing her assertion to be simply

impossible, assented to the proposal; and

they agreed that the Fox should choose the

course and fix the goal. On the day

appointed for the race the two started together. The Tortoise never for a moment

stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The

Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as

he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her

fatigue.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What does the word “ridiculed” mean?

2. What does the word “assertion” mean?

3. What does the phrase “assented to the proposal” mean?

4. What strange thing did the Hare do during the race?

5. What role did the Fox play in this race?

6. Which one was faster, the hare or the tortoise?

7. What is the theme or main message?

Aesop’s Fables – The Hare and the Tortoise Answer Key

1. What does the word ridiculed mean?Ridicule means to make fun of or to offend. The Hare was making fun of the Tortoise's short feet and slow speed.

2. What does the word assertion mean?An assertion is a statement. The Hare thought the Tortoise's statement that she could win the race was crazy.

3. What does the phrase “assented to the proposal” mean?This phrase means that the Hare agreed to race the Tortoise.

4. What strange thing did the Hare do during the race?He took a nap.

5. What role did the Fox play in this race?The Fox decided where and when they would race.

6. Which one was faster, the hare or the tortoise?The Tortoise was faster because he got to the finish line first. The Hare actually had more speed, but since he did not try hard enough, he did not win.

7. What is the theme or main message?� Slow but steady wins the race.

� Just because a person has talent does not mean he or she will be

successful. You must always work hard and try your best.

The Hare and the Tortoise

Hare liked to run fast, but the animals did not like it when he showed off.

Hare loved to run. He was really fast.

He often shouted out, “Look at me! I am the fastest animal in the whole world!”

The other animals agreed that Hare was fast. But they did not like it when he showed off.

Tortoise said that everyone can be beaten. Hare challenged him to a race.

One day, Tortoise was feeling a bit grumpy. He snapped at Hare, “You are fast, but everyone can be beaten. Even if it is just the once.”

Hare laughed at Tortoise and challenged him to a race.

Hare thought he would make a fool of Tortoise, but Tortoise still wanted to race.

A few days later, very early, Tortoise woke Hare up. He said that he was ready to race.

Hare did not want to race against Tortoise and make a fool of him.

However, he agreed to meet him after breakfast.

The Hare and the Tortoise

When the race started, Hare shot off very fast. Tortoise plodded slowly.

The two animals lined up ready to run. Owl hooted to signal the start of the race.

Hare shot off at high speed. He shouted, “Catch me if you can, Tortoise!”

Tortoise plodded forward at his usual, slow pace.

Hare sat down for a rest and fell fast asleep under an oak tree.

Hare was soon far ahead of Tortoise. He decided that there was enough time for a little rest.

Hare lay down under a shady oak tree. Soon, he was fast asleep. He dreamt about a tortoise on a motorbike!

Tortoise plodded past Hare. The race was hard for him, but he kept on going.

Tortoise reached the oak tree. He smiled to himself as he plodded quietly past Hare.

Tortoise knew that the last part of the race would be the hardest, as it was up a hill. He was determined to keep going.

The Hare and the Tortoise

Hare woke up. He jumped to his feet and saw Tortoise near the finish line.

A bee buzzed around Hare’s nose and woke him up. He realised that he had fallen asleep and leapt up in panic.

He could see Tortoise near the finish line, far ahead.

Hare rushed after him as fast as he could.

Tortoise finished first. Slow and steady had won the race!

Hare ran like the wind, but it was too late. Tortoise crossed the finish line first.

Tortoise said to Hare, “You did not try your best. You thought it would be easy. But being slow and steady can win the race too!”