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in Activities for Adults· Activities for Kids

The Ant and the Grasshopper: Reading Comprehension Activity

Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? ”The Ant and the Grasshopper” is a great story with an amazing moral message about the strength of unity. We have three versions of the story for different levels of English readers: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Use the appropriate level for you or your students.

In this article, we also provide the moral of the story of an ant and a grasshopper, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.
the ant and the grasshopper

The Ant and the Grasshopper Story

Beginner

In a meadow, ant Andy worked hard, storing food for winter, while grasshopper Greg enjoyed carefree days. As winter approached, Andy was well-prepared, but Greg, unready, asked for food. Andy, disappointed, reminded Greg of the warnings.

Realizing his mistake, Greg felt regret. Winter came, and Andy thrived, while Greg struggled. The story teaches us that preparation and hard work lead to success, emphasizing responsibility and planning.

Intermediate

In a lively meadow, two neighbors, diligent ant Andy and carefree grasshopper Greg, lived contrasting lives. Andy worked tirelessly, storing food and reinforcing his anthill for the impending winter. Meanwhile, Greg sang and danced, assuming the good times would last forever.

As winter approached, Andy was well-prepared with ample stored food, while Greg, hungry and shivering, hadn’t planned for the harsh season. Desperate, Greg humbly asked Andy for food. Andy, with a mix of sympathy and disappointment, reminded Greg of his warnings.

Realizing his mistake, Greg felt regret. Winter set in, and Andy thrived in his cozy anthill, while Greg struggled in the cold. Greg learned the hard way about the importance of planning and hard work.

This story of Andy and Greg teaches us that preparation and hard work lead to success, while negligence can result in hardship. It’s a valuable lesson about being responsible and planning for the future.

Advanced

In a bustling meadow, there lived two neighbors – an ant named Andy and a carefree grasshopper named Greg. They were different from each other in their attitudes towards life.

Andy, the ant, was diligent and hardworking. He spent his days collecting food and building a sturdy anthill to prepare for winter. Greg, the grasshopper, loved to hop around, play his cheerful tunes, and enjoy the warm sunshine without a care in the world.

As the days turned cooler, Andy continued to work tirelessly, storing food and reinforcing his anthill. Greg, however, continued to sing and dance, believing that the good times would never end.

One day, a chill filled the air, and dark clouds gathered in the sky. Winter was approaching. Andy had more than enough food stored to survive the cold months ahead. Meanwhile, Greg found himself hungry and shivering, realizing he hadn’t prepared for the harsh winter.

Desperate and cold, Greg approached Andy’s anthill and humbly asked, “Andy, could you spare some food? I didn’t plan for winter, and now I’m in need.”         Andy looked at Greg with a mix of sympathy and disappointment. “I warned you to prepare, Greg. Now, I must focus on my own survival,” he replied.

Realizing his mistake, Greg felt a pang of regret. He had spent the warm months playing and not thinking about the future. Now, he had to face the consequences of his actions.

As winter set in, Andy stayed warm and well-fed in his cozy anthill, while Greg struggled in the cold. The once carefree grasshopper learned the importance of planning and hard work the hard way.

The story of Andy, the industrious ant, and Greg, the carefree grasshopper, teaches us that preparation and hard work lead to success, while negligence can result in hardship. It’s a valuable lesson about the importance of being responsible and planning for the future.

The Ant and the Grasshopper: Moral of the Story

The moral of the story about the ant and the grasshopper is: “It’s important to work hard and plan for the future so that you can be prepared for tough times.”

Vocabulary

Learn the words from the story to build your vocabulary.

  • storing: keeping for future use.
  • carefree: without worry.
  • thrived: did well.
  • contrasting: differing.
  • tirelessly: without stopping.
  • approached: got nearer.
  • shivering: shaking a little bit due to cold.

the ant and the grasshopper moral story

The Ant and the Grasshopper: Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension activities assess and ensure that the reader has understood the story. These questions test the basic understanding and thinking skills such as analysis and interpretation. If you are an English teacher, use these reading comprehension questions to evaluate your student’s ability to extract meaning, make connections, and apply the information they’ve acquired.

Comprehension Questions

  1. Who were the two friends in the story?
  2. What did Andy do to prepare for winter?
  3. How did Greg spend his time while Andy was preparing for winter?
  4. When winter arrived, how did Andy and Greg do?
  5. What is the moral of the story?

Answers

  1. The two friends in the story were Andy, the hardworking ant, and Greg, the playful grasshopper.
  2. Andy worked hard, storing food for winter, and reinforcing his anthill.
  3. Greg spent his time playing, singing, and dancing without making any preparations for winter.
  4. Andy thrived in winter because he had stored enough food and made preparations. Greg struggled because he hadn’t planned for the cold season.
  5. The moral of the story is that it’s important to work hard and plan for the future.

More English Stories

  • A Bundle of Sticks
  • The Frog and the Ox
  • The Bell and the Cat
  • The Lion and the Mouse
  • The Frog Who Desired a King

The Ant and the Grasshopper: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on this classic moral story about an ant and a grasshopper? Do you agree with the moral of the story? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 20 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 100 books for English teachers and English learners, including 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults, Great Debates for ESL/EFL, and 1001 English Expressions and Phrases. She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

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