Free printable reading comprehension passage. Print for offline use as a worksheet or test comprehension with the fun online quiz. Recommended level: 3rd Grade and up
Two Goats Cross a River
A Fable
One day a goat was crossing a very narrow bridge over a river. At the middle of the bridge he met another goat. There was no room for them to pass.
"Go back," said one goat. "There is no room for both of us."
"Why should I go back?" asked the other goat. "You go back!"
"No way," said the first goat. "I am stronger than you."
"You are not!" said the second goat.
The first goat huffed and puffed and got ready to fight.
"Stop!" said the second goat. "If we fight, we will both fall into the river. Instead I will lie down and you can walk over me."
The wise goat lay down on the bridge and the other goat walked lightly over him. They passed each other and went on their ways.
What is the setting of this story? a bridge a hiking path a mountain road a bridge
What is the opposite of narrow? tall heavy wide wide
Why was there a problem on the bridge? The bridge was too narrow for two goats The bridge was falling. The goats were making the bridge swing. The bridge was too narrow for two goats
What is the lesson in this story? to stay off narrow bridges to think about a solution before fighting to stay away from goats to think about a solution before fighting
What might have happened if both goats were like the first goat? They would both turn around and walk away. They would fight and both fall off the bridge into the river. They would lie down on the bridge to let the other pass. They would fight and both fall off the bridge into the river.
How can you tell that this is not a true story? Goats don't cross rivers. No bridge would be that narrow. Animals can't really talk. Animals can't really talk.
