The Ant and the Cricket - Reading Comprehension

AP/ NCERT Board-Based Reading Comprehension Grade 8

Honeydew Poem 1 The Ant and the Cricket

Reading Comprehension 1

A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing

 

Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,

 

Began to complain when he found that, at home,

 

His cupboard was empty, and winter has come.

 

Not a crumb to be found

 

On the snow-covered ground;

 

Not a flower could he see,

 

 1. What is the main complaint of the young cricket?

   a) He is too cold in the winter.

   b) There are no flowers to be found.

   c) His cupboard is empty, and it's winter.

   d) He misses singing in the warm months.

2. When does the cricket usually sing?

   a) During winter and fall.

   b) During summer and spring.

   c) During rainy days.

   d) Throughout the entire year.

3. What is the condition of the ground where the cricket searches for food?

   a) Covered in snow.

   b) Filled with flowers.

   c) Warm and sunny.

   d) Filled with crickets like him.

4. How does the cricket feel about the current situation?

   a) He is happy and content.

   b) He is angry and frustrated.

   c) He is hopeful and optimistic.

   d) He doesn't care about the situation.

5. Why did the cricket's cupboard become empty?

   a) He ate all the food in it.

   b) Other insects stole his food.

   c) Winter arrived, and there was no more food.

   d) The cupboard was never filled in the first place.

Reading Comprehension 2

Not a leaf on a tree.

 

“Oh! what will become," says the cricket, “of me?"

 

At last by starvation and famine made boldly,

 

All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,

 

Away he set off to a miserly ant,

 

To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant

 

His shelter from the rain,

 

And a mouthful of grain.

 

He wished only to borrow;

 

He’d repay it tomorrow;

 

If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.

1. What is the cricket's main concern when he sees the tree?

   a) He is worried about the leaves falling on him.

   b) He is concerned about the ants living on the tree.

   c) He wonders if the tree will provide him with shelter.

   d) He is amazed at the beauty of the tree.

2. Why is the cricket dripping with wet and trembling with cold?

   a) He accidentally fell into a river.

   b) He got caught in a rainstorm.

   c) He was attacked by other insects.

   d) He was swimming in a pond.

3. Who does the cricket seek help from when he is starving and cold?

   a) A wise owl.

   b) A generous grasshopper.

   c) A miserly ant.

   d) A friendly butterfly.

4. What does the cricket want from the ant?

   a) Some company to pass the time.

   b) A warm place to sleep for the night.

   c) A mouthful of grain and a shelter from the rain.

   d) A loan of money to buy food.

5. How does the cricket plan to deal with the ant's assistance?

   a) He promises to work for the ant in return for the help.

   b) He plans to find more insects to share with the ant.

   c) He intends to pay back the ant tomorrow.

   d) He will forget about the ant's help and move on.

Reading Comprehension 3

If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.

 

Says the ant to the

 

cricket, “I’m your servant

 

and friend,

 

But we ants never

 

borrow; we ants never lend.

 

But tell me, dear cricket,

 

did you lay nothing by

 

When the weather was

 

warm?" Quoth the cricket,

 

“Not I!

My heart was so light

 

That I sang day and night,

 

For all nature looked gay."

 

“You sang, Sir, you say?

 

Go then," says the ant, “and dance the winter away."

1. What fate awaits the cricket if he doesn't receive help from the ant?

   a) He will be filled with sorrow and regret.

   b) He will have to find shelter on his own.

   c) He will have to find another cricket to lend to him.

   d) He will die from the cold and starvation.

2. How does the ant describe its relationship with the cricket?

   a) Servant and friend.

   b) Borrower and lender.

   c) Rival and competitor.

   d) Teacher and student.

3. Why does the ant refuse to lend to the cricket?

   a) The ant doesn't like the cricket.

   b) The ant is too busy to help.

   c) Ants never lend or borrow.

   d) The ant has already lent to others.

4. What question does the ant ask the cricket about its preparations for winter?

   a) Did you lay nothing by?

   b) Did you build a shelter?

   c) Did you find other crickets to join you?

   d) Did you hibernate like the ants?

5. How did the cricket spend its time during the warm weather?

   a) Working hard to gather food.

   b) Singing day and night.

   c) Searching for a warm place to stay.

   d) Helping other insects in need.

6. What is the ant’s final suggestion for the cricket?

    a) The ant told the cricket to eat the winter away.

    b) The ant told the cricket to dance the winter away.

    c) The ant told the cricket to sing the winter away.

    d) The ant told the cricket to enjoy the winter.

Reading Comprehension 4

Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,

 

And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.

 

Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true:

 

Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.

 

1. Who are the two characters conversing in the poem?

    a) Ant and Grasshopper

    b) Ant and Elephant

    d) Grasshopper and Cricket

    c) Ant and Cricket   

2. What is a fable?

    a) A fable is a story, often with animals as characters, that conveys funny thoughts.

    b) A fable is a story, often with animals as characters, that conveys a moral.

    c) A fable is a story, with humans as characters, that conveys a moral.

    d) A fable is a story, often with animals as characters, that has a tragic end.

3. What is the moral of the text?

    a) Those who do not wish to help themselves cannot be saved by others.

    b) Truth always wins.

    c) Honesty is the best policy.

    d)Well begun is half done.

4. Which lines in the poem express the poet’s comment?

    a) Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,

    d) And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.

    c) Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.

    d) Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true:

5. Who does the poet refer to when he says Some have two?

    a) Crickets

    b) Human

    c) Ants

    d) Birds

6. What figure of speech is seen in the line - Folks call this a fable.

    a) Alliteration

    b) Metaphor

    c) Simile

    d) Assonance