Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? The Bear and the Bee is a great one, and you should definitely give it a read. 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 the bee and the bear, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.
The Bear and the Bee
If you know your English reading level, jump to the appropriate one. If not, start with the beginner level and see if you’d be able to challenge yourself to read the intermediate or advanced version of “The Bear and The Bee.”
Beginner
Once upon a time, in a sunny meadow, there was a big bear and a busy bee. The bear was strong, and the bee loved making honey. One day, the bear asked the bee, “Can I have some honey, please?”
The bee had an idea and said, “Sure, but let’s have a contest. We’ll see who can gather the most flowers. The winner gets the honey!” So, they both went to collect flowers. The bee flew quickly from flower to flower, and the bear picked flowers with his big paws.
When they counted the flowers, the bee had more. The bee said, “See, hard work pays off!” The bear smiled and agreed. They shared the honey and became friends, learning that working hard is important.
The story teaches us that doing our best brings the sweetest rewards.
Intermediate
Once upon a time, in a colorful meadow, there lived a big bear and a busy bee. The bear was large and strong, while the bee was small but hardworking. One sunny day, the bee was buzzing around, collecting nectar from flowers and making sweet honey. The bear, watching from a distance, felt a rumble in his tummy and thought, “I would love to taste that delicious honey.”
So, the bear lumbered over to the busy bee and said, “Dear bee, your honey looks so yummy. Can I have some?”
The bee, knowing that the bear could easily take the honey, had an idea. “Mr. Bear,” said the bee, “I will gladly share my honey with you, but I have a challenge for you first. Let’s see who can gather the most flowers. The winner gets the honey!”
The bear, liking a good challenge, agreed. And so, the bee and the bear set off to collect flowers. The bee zoomed from flower to flower, while the bear lumbered along, picking flowers with his big paws. As the sun began to set, they counted the flowers. Surprisingly, the bee had gathered more flowers than the bear. The bee smiled and said, “You see, Mr. Bear, hard work pays off!”
The bear, impressed and understanding the bee’s lesson, nodded. “You’re right, busy bee. Thank you for teaching me that it’s not always about size and strength but about working hard and doing your best.”
From that day on, the bear and the bee became friends, sharing the honey and the flowers, and they continued to live happily in the colorful meadow. The moral of the story is that hard work and effort often bring the sweetest rewards.
Advanced
In a vast and vibrant meadow, there resided a formidable bear and a diligent bee. The bear, with his thick fur and powerful stature, often roamed the meadow, while the bee, small yet tirelessly energetic, buzzed from flower to flower.
One sunny afternoon, as the bee was busy collecting nectar to create golden honey, the bear, enticed by the sweet aroma, approached with curiosity. “Greetings, dear bee,” said the bear. “Your honey looks delectable. Might I have a taste?”
Understanding the bear’s appetite, the clever bee proposed a friendly challenge. “Certainly, Mr. Bear,” replied the bee. “Let’s see who can gather the most flowers. The winner shall enjoy the honey!”
Excited by the competition, the bear agreed, and they set off to collect flowers. The bee darted swiftly among the blossoms, while the bear, using his massive paws, carefully selected vibrant flowers.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, they tallied their collections. To the bear’s surprise, the bee had gathered more flowers. The bee grinned and remarked, “You see, Mr. Bear, hard work and diligence triumph over size.”
Impressed by the lesson, the bear nodded appreciatively. “You are right, industrious bee. I’ve learned that the effort we put in is often more important than our size and strength. Thank you for this valuable lesson.”
From that day forward, the bear and the bee became steadfast friends. They shared not only the honey but also the beauty of the meadow, appreciating the different strengths each brought to their friendship. And so, in the vibrant meadow, the bear and the bee continued to live harmoniously, savoring the sweet rewards of cooperation and hard work.
The Bear and the Bee: Moral of the Story
The moral of the story of the bear and the bee is that working hard is important, and it can bring good things. Even if someone is big and strong, someone smaller who works really hard can achieve success too. In the story, the bee showed the bear that effort matters more than size.
Vocabulary
Here’s a list of key vocabulary that appeared in the story.
- contest: An event where people compete with each other.
- rewards: Something given to recognize an achievement.
- nectar: Sugary fluid in plants or flowers.
- lumbered: Moved slowly and awkwardly.
- formidable: Large and powerful.
- diligent: Showing care about what one is doing.
The Bear and the Bee: 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
- Why did the bear approach the bee in the first place?
- What challenge did the bee propose to the bear?
- Who won the flower-gathering challenge, and how did they determine the winner?
- What did the bear learn from the bee’s challenge?
- How did the bear and the bee’s relationship change after the challenge?
Answers
- The bear approached the bee because he wanted to taste the delicious honey the bee was making.
- The bee challenged the bear to see who could gather the most flowers, and the winner would get to enjoy the honey.
- The bee won the challenge by gathering more flowers. They counted the flowers to determine the winner.
- The bear learned that hard work and effort are more important than size and strength.
- The bear and the bee became friends, sharing not only the honey but also enjoying the beauty of the meadow together.
The Bear and the Bees Story: Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on this famous short English tale? Do you agree with the moral of the story? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.
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