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in Activities for Adults· Activities for Kids

The Fox and the Hedgehog: Reading Comprehension Activity

Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? ”The Fox and the Hedgehog” 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 fox and the hedgehog, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.

the fox and the hedgehog story

The Fox and the Hedgehog 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 Hedgehog and the Fox.”

Beginner

Once there was a clever fox named Felix and a wise hedgehog named Hazel. Felix liked to play tricks, but Hazel was smart and couldn’t be tricked.

Felix tried to challenge Hazel, but she calmly showed her skills. In the end, Felix realized he couldn’t trick her and asked to be friends.

Felix and Hazel became good friends, showing the other animals that different friends could get along. The meadow became a happy place, and everyone learned that it’s nice to be friends with those who are different.

Intermediate

Once in a quiet meadow, there was a clever fox named Felix and a wise hedgehog named Hazel. Felix, known for his tricks, met Hazel, known for her wisdom.

Felix tried to outsmart Hazel with questions and challenges, but Hazel stayed calm and showed her unique skills. Eventually, Felix realized he couldn’t trick Hazel and decided to be friends instead.

From that day on, Felix and Hazel became wonderful friends, teaching the other animals in the meadow that even those with different skills and personalities could build lasting friendships. The meadow echoed with laughter, and the story of Felix and Hazel became a tale of friendship and understanding.

Advanced

Once upon a time, in a quiet meadow, there lived a clever fox named Felix and a wise hedgehog named Hazel. Felix was known for his sly tricks, and Hazel was known for her sharp mind.

One sunny day, Felix strolled through the meadow, looking for a snack. Spotting Hazel curled up in a cozy corner, he decided to have a little fun. “Hello, Hazel! I heard you know everything. Is that true?” Felix teased.

Hazel, not easily fooled, replied, “I know a thing or two. What brings you here, Felix?” Felix, with a mischievous grin, said, “I’ve heard you can predict the weather. Is that right?”

Hazel chuckled, “Well, not exactly. But I can feel changes in the air and tell when it might rain or when the sun will shine.” Felix, trying to be clever, challenged Hazel, “I bet you can’t tell me what I had for breakfast this morning!”

Hazel, staying calm, said, “Ah, that’s a different skill. I can’t do that, but I can tell you’re a smart fox who enjoys a good meal.” Felix, realizing he couldn’t outwit Hazel, decided to change his approach. “Hazel, I’m curious. Why do you always curl up in a ball?”

Hazel smiled, “It’s my way of staying safe. When I curl up, my spiky quills protect me from potential dangers.” Felix, impressed by Hazel’s wisdom, admitted, “You may not fall for my tricks, but I can see you’re a smart hedgehog. Can we be friends?”

Hazel gladly agreed, and from that day on, Felix and Hazel became unlikely but wonderful friends. Felix learned that not everything could be outsmarted, and sometimes, it was better to appreciate the unique qualities of others.

The meadow echoed with the laughter and chatter of the fox and the hedgehog, teaching all the animals that even those with different skills and personalities could find common ground and build lasting friendships.

 The Fox and the Hedgehog: Moral of the Story

The moral of the story about the fox and the hedgehog is: “It’s nice to be friends with people who are different from us. We can learn from each other and have fun together.”

Vocabulary

Let’s go over the list of words that appeared in the story.

  • hedgehog: a kind of animal.
  • tricks: things intended to outsmart or outwit someone.
  • calmly: in a relaxed way.
  • outsmart: get the better of someone by using the mind.
  • fooled: ricked.
  • quills: the hollow, sharp spines of a hedgehog (and other animals too).

the fox and the hedgehog

The Fox and the Hedgehog: 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 are the two main characters in the story?
  2. What was Felix known for?
  3. How did Hazel protect herself from potential dangers?
  4. Why did Felix want to be friends with Hazel?
  5. What did the other animals in the meadow learn from Felix and Hazel’s friendship?

Answers

  1. The two main characters in the story are Felix, the clever fox, and Hazel, the wise hedgehog.
  2. Felix was known for his clever tricks.
  3. Hazel protected herself by curling up in a ball, using her spiky quills.
  4. Felix wanted to be friends with Hazel because he realized she was smart and couldn’t be easily tricked.
  5. The other animals learned that different friends could get along and have fun together.

Moral Short Stories

  • The Wolf and the Crane
  • The Gnat and the Bull
  • The Clever Woodcutter
  • The Wind and the Sun
  • The Crow and the Pitcher

 The Fox and the Hedgehog: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on this classic moral story about the hedgehog and the fox? 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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