The Lion and the Mouse: Reading Comprehension Activity

Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? ”The Lion and the Mouse” 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 lion and the mouse, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.

The Lion and the Mouse Story

Beginner

There was a strong lion named Leo and a small mouse named Molly. Leo was the jungle king, and Molly was a tiny mouse living nearby. One day, Molly accidentally woke up Leo. Instead of getting angry, Leo decided to let Molly go, just asking her to be more careful.

Thankful for Leo’s kindness, Molly promised to help him someday. A few days later, when Leo got stuck in a net, Molly came to the rescue. With her sharp teeth, she chewed through the net and set Leo free. Leo was amazed and grateful for Molly’s help. He learned that friends can be found in unexpected places, no matter their size.

Leo and Molly became friends, showing everyone in the field that friendships matter, no matter how big or small. The lion and the mouse story became a lesson about being kind and helping each other.

Intermediate

In a big grassy area, there was a powerful lion named Leo and a tiny mouse named Molly. Leo was the king of the jungle, and Molly was a small mouse who lived nearby. One day, Molly accidentally woke up Leo from his nap. Leo roared, but instead of being angry, he decided to let Molly go, asking her to be more careful.

Grateful for Leo’s kindness, Molly promised to repay him someday. Leo found this amusing but agreed. A few days later, Leo found himself caught in a hunter’s net. Roaring for help didn’t work until Molly, the small mouse, came to the rescue. With her sharp teeth, Molly chewed through the net and set Leo free.

Leo was amazed and thankful for Molly’s bravery. He realized that help can come from unexpected places, no matter how small. Leo and Molly became friends, showing all the animals in the grassy area that friendships are valuable, no matter the size or strength of the friend. The story of the lion and the mouse became a lesson about gratitude, kindness, and the importance of helping each other.

Advanced

In a vast savannah, there lived a mighty lion named Leo and a tiny mouse named Molly. Leo was known as the king of the jungle, and Molly was a small creature scurrying about the grass, always careful not to disturb the larger animals.

One day, Leo was taking a nap under a shady tree when Molly accidentally woke him up. Startled, Leo roared, and Molly trembled with fear. Expecting the lion to devour her, Molly apologized, “I’m so sorry, Leo! I didn’t mean to disturb you.” Leo, amused by the little mouse, decided to show mercy. He smiled and said, “I’ll let you go, Molly. Just be more careful next time.”

Grateful for Leo’s kindness, Molly promised, “Thank you, Leo! I’ll remember this, and one day, I might be able to help you too.” Leo chuckled at the thought of needing help from such a small creature but let Molly go on her way.

Days passed, and one afternoon, Leo found himself trapped in a hunter’s net. Roaring for help attracted the attention of nearby animals, but they were afraid to approach the mighty lion. Just as Leo was losing hope, he felt a tickling sensation on his paw. It was Molly, the tiny mouse, chewing through the net with her sharp teeth.

In no time, Molly set Leo free, and the mighty lion was humbled by the small mouse’s bravery and kindness. Leo thanked Molly sincerely, realizing that help can come from the most unexpected places.

From that day on, Leo and Molly became unlikely friends, teaching all the animals in the savannah that size and strength don’t determine the value of a friendship. And so, the story of the lion and the mouse became a tale of gratitude, kindness, and the importance of helping one another, no matter how big or small.

The Lion and the Mouse: Moral of the Story

The moral of the story about the mouse and the lion is: “Kindness is important, and friends can help each other no matter how big or small they are.”

Vocabulary

Check out the following list of words from the story.

• accidentally: not on purpose.
• chewed: used teeth to bite something, usually food.
• hunter: someone who kills animals for food or sport.
• gratitude: thankfulness.
• scurrying: moved very quickly.
• trembled: shook.

The Lion and the Mouse: 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 does Leo, the lion, decide to do when Molly accidentally wakes him up?
3. What does Molly promise Leo after he shows kindness?
4. How does Molly help Leo when he gets stuck in a net?
5. What does Leo learn from Molly’s help?

Answers

1. The two main characters in the story are Leo, the lion, and Molly, the mouse.
2. Instead of getting angry, Leo decides to let Molly go, asking her to be more careful.
3. Molly promises to help Leo someday.
4. Molly uses her sharp teeth to chew through the net and set Leo free.
5. Leo learns that friends can be found in unexpected places, no matter their size.

More Short Stories

• The Frog Who Desired a King: Reading Comprehension Activity
• The Fox and the Hedgehog: Reading Comprehension Activity
• The Wolf and the Crane: Reading Comprehension Activity
• The Gnat and the Bull: Reading Comprehension Activity
• The Clever Woodcutter: Reading Comprehension Activity

The Lion and the Mouse: Join the Conversation

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