Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? The Fox and the Crow is a great one to read on your own or use in a class. 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 crow and fox story, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.
The Fox and the Crow Story in English
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 Fox and the Crow.”
Beginner
Once in a forest, there was a smart fox and a crow with a piece of cheese. The fox wanted the cheese, so he said to the crow, “Crow, you’re a fantastic singer! Can you sing for me?”
The crow felt happy and started to sing. While singing, the crow opened its beak, and the cheese fell down. The fox quickly grabbed it and said, “Thank you for the song!” and ran away.
The lesson is to be careful and not believe everything people say, especially if they want something from you.
Intermediate
Once upon a time, in a peaceful forest, there was a clever fox and a curious crow. The crow had found a tasty piece of cheese and flew up to a branch to enjoy it.
The fox, always looking for an opportunity, saw the crow with the cheese and thought of a clever plan. The fox approached the crow and said, “Hello, dear crow! You are such a magnificent bird, and I’ve heard your singing is extraordinary. Would you mind gracing me with a song?”
The crow, flattered by the fox’s words, opened its beak to sing. As the crow sang, the piece of cheese fell from its beak onto the ground below.
The sly fox quickly grabbed the cheese and said, “Thank you, dear crow! Your singing is truly as wonderful as they say.” With that, the fox scampered away, leaving the crow both surprised and without cheese!
The moral of this story is to be cautious and not let flattery cloud your judgment. The clever fox used kind words to trick the crow into dropping its tasty treat. It teaches us to be wise and not easily fooled by sweet words.
Advanced
In a serene forest, a crafty fox and an inquisitive crow lived amongst the trees. One day, the crow discovered a delectable piece of cheese and perched on a high branch to savor its find.
Observing the crow from a distance, the fox hatched a cunning plan. Approaching the crow with a smile, the fox spoke, “Greetings, noble crow! I’ve heard tales of your magnificent singing. Would you do me the honor of gracing the forest with your melodious voice?”
The crow, flattered by the fox’s praise, eagerly opened its beak to sing. However, as the beautiful notes filled the air, the piece of cheese slipped from the crow’s beak and fell to the ground below.
Seizing the opportunity, the fox swiftly grabbed the cheese, expressing gratitude, “Thank you, gracious crow! Your singing is as splendid as rumored.” With the stolen prize in its jaws, the fox made a quick escape, leaving the crow bewildered and without its cherished cheese.
The moral of the story imparts a lesson about the danger of being easily swayed by flattery. The fox used charming words to deceive the crow and snatch the prize, emphasizing the importance of discernment and not letting sweet words cloud one’s judgment.
The Fox and the Crow: Moral of the Story
The moral of the story of the crow and the fox is to be careful and not believe everything people say, especially if they want something from you. It teaches us to be cautious and not let flattery or kind words cloud our judgment.
Vocabulary
- beak: The nose of a bird.
- clever: Smart; intelligent.
- curious: Eager to know or learn about something.
- extraordinary: Extra special.
- flattery: Excessive praise.
- hatched: Came up with.
- cunning: Tricky; deceitful.
Crow and Fox Story: 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 fox approach the crow?
- What did the fox compliment the crow on?
- What did the crow do when the fox asked it to sing?
- What happened while the crow was singing?
- How did the fox get the cheese?
Answers
- The fox approached the crow because it saw the crow with a piece of cheese and wanted to find a way to get it.
- The fox complimented the crow on being a magnificent bird and suggested that it had heard the crow’s singing was extraordinary.
- The crow, flattered by the fox’s words, opened its beak to sing.
- While the crow was singing, the piece of cheese fell from its beak to the ground below.
- The sly fox took advantage of the crow’s singing, grabbed the fallen cheese, and thanked the crow before running away.
Other English Stories
If you are looking for more fun short stories and reading comprehension activities, check out the following list:
The Fox and the Crow: 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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