The Bell and the Cat: Reading Comprehension Activity

Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? ”The Bell and the Cat” 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 the bell and the cat, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.

The Bell and the Cat Story

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 Cat and the Bell.”

Beginner

Once in a small village, smart mice had a problem – a clever cat named Cleo liked to chase them. An old mouse named Oliver had an idea: put a bell around Cleo’s neck, so they’d hear her coming and run away.

The mice liked the plan, but they needed someone to tie the bell. No mouse felt brave enough. Oliver said having a plan wasn’t enough; they needed courage. He suggested working together to approach Cleo safely.

The mice agreed. With teamwork, they created a distraction, and a brave mouse tied the bell. From that day on, the bell warned them when Cleo was near, and they could run away. The mice learned that courage and teamwork were important. The story of the bell and the cat taught everyone in the village to face problems with bravery and cooperation.

Intermediate

In a small village, there were smart mice who had a problem – a clever cat named Cleo liked to chase them. One day, an old mouse named Oliver came up with an idea to put a bell around Cleo’s neck. This way, they would hear the bell ring when Cleo came close and have time to run away.

The mice liked Oliver’s plan, but they needed someone to tie the bell around Cleo’s neck. However, no mouse felt brave enough to do it. Oliver reminded them that having a plan was not enough; they needed courage to make it work. He suggested they find a way to approach Cleo together without putting anyone in danger.

The mice agreed, and with teamwork, they created a distraction while one brave mouse tied the bell around Cleo’s neck. From that day on, the bell warned the mice when Cleo was nearby, and they could run to safety.

The mice learned that courage and working together were important to overcome challenges. The story of the bell and the cat became a lesson about teamwork and bravery.

Advanced

Once upon a time there lived a group of mice. These mice were known for their intelligence and resourcefulness. In their little community, they had a wise old mouse named Oliver, who was known for sharing valuable advice.

One day, the mice gathered in the village square, expressing their concerns about a crafty cat named Cleo. Cleo was a skilled hunter, and the mice often found themselves scurrying away whenever she approached.

Oliver, with a twinkle in his eye, suggested a solution to their problem. “Let’s hang a bell around Cleo’s neck,” he proposed. “This way, whenever she comes near, we will hear the bell ring, giving us time to escape before she catches us.” They crafted a tiny bell and decided that the bravest mouse would sneak up to Cleo and tie it around her neck. The mice debated on who should undertake this risky task, but none were willing to take the challenge. The idea of facing Cleo was too frightening.

As the mice continued their discussions, they realized that coming up with a plan was one thing, but putting it into action was another. Oliver, observing their hesitation, decided to impart another piece of wisdom.

“It’s not enough to have a plan; we must also be courageous enough to carry it out,” Oliver advised. “Let us work together and find a way to approach Cleo without putting anyone in danger.” Inspired by Oliver’s words, the mice collaborated, using their collective skills to create a distraction while one brave mouse managed to tie the bell around Cleo’s neck. Through teamwork and bravery, they successfully executed the plan.

From that day on, whenever Cleo approached, the tiny bell rang, warning the mice to scatter and find safety. The village mice learned that courage, collaboration, and the willingness to face challenges head-on were key to overcoming their fears.

And so, the story of the bell and the cat became a tale of teamwork and bravery, reminding everyone in the village that finding solutions required not only clever ideas but also the courage to put those ideas into action.

The Bell and the Cat: Moral of the Story

The moral of the story about the bell and the cat is: “Working together and being brave can help overcome challenges and solve problems.”

Vocabulary

The following is the list of vocabulary from the story.

• bell: a hollow object that makes a sound.
• courage: the ability to do something that is scary.
• distraction: something that prevents one’s full attention on something else.
• cooperation: working together.
• overcome: succeed in dealing with a problem.
• crafted: made.

The Bell and the Cat: 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. What was the mice’s problem in the story?
2. What was Oliver’s solution to the mice’s problem?
3. Why were the mice hesitant to implement Oliver’s plan?
4. What did Oliver remind the mice about having a plan?
5. How did the mice finally implement the plan?

Answers

1. The mice’s problem was that a clever cat named Cleo liked to chase them.
2. Oliver’s solution was to put a bell around Cleo’s neck, so they could hear her coming and run away.
3. The mice were hesitant because tying the bell around Cleo’s neck required bravery, and no mouse felt courageous enough.
4. Oliver reminded the mice that having a plan wasn’t enough; they also needed courage to make it work.
5. The mice worked together, creating a distraction while one brave mouse tied the bell around Cleo’s neck.

More Short Stories

• The Lion and the Mouse
• The Frog Who Desired a King
• The Fox and the Hedgehog
• The Wolf and the Crane
• The Gnat and the Bull

The Bell and the Cat: Join the Conversation

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