Today you will read the folktale "The Fox and the Horse." As you read and answer the questions, pay close attention to characters and events to prepare to write a narrative story.

Read the folktale "The Fox and the Horse." Then answer the questions.
Passage
The Fox and the Horse

(1) A peasant once had a faithful horse, but it had grown old and could no longer do its work. Its master begrudged it food, and said: "I can't use you anymore, but I still feel kindly towards you, and if you show yourself strong enough to bring me a lion I will keep you to the end of your days. But away with you now, out of my stable"; and he drove it out into the open country.

(2) The poor horse was very sad, and went into the forest to get a little shelter from the wind and weather. There he met a fox, who said: "Why do you hang your head, and wander about in this solitary fashion?"

(3) "Alas!" answered the horse. "Avarice and honesty cannot live together. My master has forgotten all the service I have done him for these many years, and because I can no longer plough he will no longer feed me, and he has driven me away."

(4) "Without any consideration?" asked the fox.

(5) "Only the poor consolation of telling me that if I was strong enough to bring him a lion he would keep me, but he knows well enough that the task is beyond me."

​(6) The fox said, "But I will help you. Just you lie down here, and stretch your legs out as if you were dead." The horse did as he was told, and the fox went to the lion's den, not far off, and said: "There is a dead horse out there. Come along with me, and you will have a rare meal." The lion went with him, and when they got up to the horse, the fox said, "You can't eat it in comfort here. I'll tell you what. I will tie it to you, and you can drag it away to your den and enjoy it at your leisure."

(7) The plan pleased the lion, and he stood quite still, close to the horse, so that the fox should fasten them together. But the fox tied the lion's legs together with the horse's tail and twisted and knotted it so that it would be quite impossible for it to come undone.

(8) When he had finished his work he patted the horse on the shoulder and said: "Pull, old grey! Pull!"

(9) Then the horse sprang up and dragged the lion away behind him. The lion in his rage roared so that all the birds in the forest were terrified and flew away. But the horse let him roar and never stopped till he stood before his master's door.

(10) When the master saw him he was delighted and said to him: "You shall stay with me and have a good time as long as you live."

(11) And he fed him well till he died. ​

"The Fox and the Horse"—Public Domain

1
(a)
Part A
Which two sentences belong in a summary of "The Fox and the Horse"?


A
The old horse is sent away by its owner.
B
The horse lay down as the fox told him to do.
C
The horse receives help from a cunning fox.
D
The peasant does not want to feed the old horse.
E
The birds in the forest are frightened by the lion.
F
The horse ignores the lion's enraged roar.
(b)

Part B
Which two additional sentences belong in the summary in Part A?
A
The horse was sad when his master turned him out.
B
The fox promises the lion a special meal.
C
The fox tricks the lion into being tied to the horse.
D
The horse is able to bring a lion back to his master.
E
The lion is in his den when the fox comes to trick him.
F
The master forgot the horse's many years of service.

1 answer

1. (a)

Part A The two sentences that belong in a summary of "The Fox and the Horse" are:
A The old horse is sent away by its owner.
C The horse receives help from a cunning fox.

1. (b)

Part B
The two additional sentences that belong in the summary in Part A are:
B The fox promises the lion a special meal.
D The horse is able to bring a lion back to his master.