The Ant and the Grasshopper Aesop's Fables A grasshopper went outside to play one day. It was a hot summer day, the kind of perfect day for sitting around and talking with friends or playing soccer or singing a song. The grasshopper loved music, so he took his violin with him and played it in the park. As the grasshopper was playing, he saw an ant walk by. The ant was carrying a heavy piece of corn. It looked like a lot of work. The grasshopper saw the ant but didn’t think very much about it. He was having too much fun making music in the sun. The next day, the weather was the same, so the grasshopper went outside to play the violin again. He was halfway done with a wonderful song when the ant walked by. This time, the ant was carrying a piece of a potato. It looked so big and heavy, and this made the grasshopper feel sorry. The grasshopper spoke to the ant, “That piece of potato is so big and heavy. It can’t be fun carrying it. Why don’t you take a break? I’ll play a song, and you can sing along with it.” The ant replied, “Sorry, I can’t do that. We have to save some food before winter comes.” The grasshopper replied, “There’s plenty of food right now. Why would I worry?” The ant looked at the grasshopper for a few seconds but said nothing at all. She turned, picked up the piece of potato, and slowly walked away. Several months later it was November. The grasshopper couldn’t find any food to eat. He went to the anthill and yelled out, “Hello. Is anyone there?” After a while, the ant came to the door. She asked, “What’s up?” “I can’t find any food and am very hungry. Can you give me some?” “I’m sorry, but we only have enough food for ourselves. We can’t give you any.” “Please! I’m hungry! I’m starving!” “Sorry, no. Goodbye.” The grasshopper walked away, sad and hungry, with no hope of finding anything to eat. He had never learned that important lesson: There's a time for work and a time for play.
The Ant and the Grasshopper Questions Name:________________________________ Class:___________ Number:____ PART 1 Match the word and definition. 1. grasshopper ____ A. very hungry; in need of food 2. ant ____ B. a black animal with six legs 3. heavy ____ C. speak back; answer someone 4. reply ____ D. a musical instrument with four strings 5. several ____ E. a small green or brown animal 6. anthill ____ F. a brown and white vegetable 7. starving ____ G. a few; two or three 8. potato ____ H. not light; weighs a lot 9. violin ____ I. a yellow and green food 10. corn ____ J. a place where ants live PART 2 Answer the questions in sentences. 1. Can the grasshopper play any musical instrument? 2. What two kinds of food did the ant carry to the anthill? 3. In what season did the ant and grasshopper first meet? 4. Why does the ant save food in the summer? 5. What do you think happened to the grasshopper at the end of the story?