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in Activities for Adults· Activities for Kids

The Wolf and the Crane: Reading Comprehension Activity

Are you looking for an English short story for reading exercise? ”The Wolf and the Crane” 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 wolf and the crane, along with reading comprehensive questions and answers. Also, learn a list of key vocabulary from this English short story.

the wolf and the crane

The Wolf and the Crane 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 Crane and the Wolf.”

Beginner

In a big forest, there was a wolf named Wally who loved to eat. One day, he accidentally got a bone stuck in his throat and felt uncomfortable. Wally asked a crane named Clara for help.

Clara, with her long beak, carefully took out the bone from Wally’s throat. Wally was happy, and they became friends. They shared their experiences with other animals in the forest.

The story of Wally and Clara taught everyone in the forest the importance of helping each other. It showed that even different friends can work together to solve problems and make the forest a better place.

 Intermediate

In a big forest, there was a wolf named Wally who loved to eat. One day, he accidentally got a bone stuck in his throat and couldn’t get it out. Wally was uncomfortable and needed help.

Luckily, there was a crane named Clara with a long beak in the same forest. Wally asked for her help, and Clara kindly agreed. She used her long beak to reach into Wally’s throat and carefully took out the bone.

Wally was very thankful and learned to be more careful when eating. Clara was happy to help, and they became good friends. They shared their experiences and kindness with other animals in the forest.

The story of Wally the wolf and Clara the crane taught everyone in the forest the importance of helping each other. It showed that even unlikely friends can work together to solve problems and make the forest a better place.

 Advanced

Once upon a time, in a dense forest, there lived a wolf named Wally. Wally, although strong and fierce, was not the most careful eater. One day, while enjoying a hearty meal, he accidentally bit down on a bone, and it got stuck in his throat. Wally tried everything to get the bone out, but it remained lodged, causing him great discomfort. Worried and unable to solve the problem on his own, he decided to seek help.

In the same forest, there was a wise and gentle crane named Clara. Clara was known for her long beak, which made her skilled at reaching into tight spots. Wally approached Clara and explained his predicament, asking for her assistance.

Clara, being kind-hearted, agreed to help Wally. She gently inserted her long beak into Wally’s throat and skillfully maneuvered until she grasped the bone. With a careful and steady pull, Clara successfully removed the bone, relieving Wally from his discomfort. Grateful and humbled by Clara’s kindness, Wally apologized for being careless. He realized the importance of being mindful while eating and thanked Clara for her help.

From that day on, Wally and Clara became unlikely friends. Wally learned to eat more carefully, and Clara appreciated the value of helping others in need. Together, they roamed the forest, sharing their wisdom and kindness with the other animals.

The story of the wolf and the crane became a lesson for all the creatures in the forest — a reminder that kindness and cooperation could overcome even the trickiest of situations. And so, the forest thrived with newfound friendships and a sense of unity, all thanks to the unlikely alliance between a wolf and a crane.

The Wolf and the Crane: Moral of the Story

The moral of the story about the wolf and the crane is: “It’s important to help each other, even if we are different. Working together makes things better for everyone.”

Vocabulary

Let’s review the list of vocabulary words from the story.

  • accidentally: not on purpose.
  • crane: a kind of bird with a long neck.
  • solve: find an answer to.
  • predicament: a difficult or unpleasant situation.
  • roamed: moved around freely.
  • creatures: an animal (not a human).

the wolf and the bird moral story

The Wolf and the Crane: 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. Why did Wally, the wolf, need help?
  2. Who helped Wally, and what was special about her?
  3. What did Clara do to help Wally?
  4. How did Wally feel after Clara helped him?
  5. What did Wally learn from the experience?

Answers

  1. Wally needed help because he accidentally got a bone stuck in his throat.
  2. Clara, the crane, helped Wally. She had a long beak that was helpful in reaching into tight spots.
  3. Clara used her long beak to carefully take out the bone from Wally’s throat.
  4. Wally felt relieved and thankful after Clara helped him.
  5. Wally learned to be more careful while eating to avoid such problems in the future.

More Short Stories

  • The Bell and the Cat
  • The Lion and the Mouse
  • The Frog Who Desired a King
  • The Fox and the Hedgehog
  • The Wolf and the Crane

The Wolf and the Crane: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on this classic moral story about the wolf and the bird? 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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