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Reading Comprehension - Legends

Free printable traditional legends and stories from Indigenous Peoples cultures. Read and test reading comprehension online or print and use offline. Recommended level: 3rd Grade and up

Turtle and the Magic Drum

A Folktale from Nigeria

Long ago there was a king who had a magic drum. Whenever he beat the drum, a big feast appeared. The king invited everyone to the feasts - even his enemies. There were never any wars and everyone was happy.

The magic drum had a secret. The king was the only one who knew it. If the drum's owner ever stepped on a fallen branch, the magic power of the drum would be lost.

Turtle was a bit jealous of the king. He was tired of working so hard collecting palm nuts for his family to eat.

One day when Turtle was picking nuts, one fell to the ground. A woman walked by, picked up the nut and ate it. That woman was the king's wife.

"You ate my palm nut!" cried Turtle. "You are a thief and I'm going to report you to the king."

"Sorry," said the queen. "I didn't know that nut was yours."

Turtle and the queen went to the palace and told the king what happened. The king, a very kind man, said, "Turtle, I will make it up to you. You can take anything you want from the palace."

Turtle looked around and went straight for the drum. The king was a man of his word and let Turtle take it. But he didn't tell him about the drum's secret.

"We're rich!" cried Turtle to his family. He beat the drum and a huge feast of food appeared. They ate and ate and Turtle grew very fat and lazy. When he wasn't eating, he walked around the village and bragged about how rich he was.

One day as he was walking home, Turtle tripped on a fallen branch. He would soon find out that his magic drum had lost its magic.

Turtle came home tired and hungry. He beat his drum, but this time there was no food. Instead, his house filled up with enemies ready to attack.

Turtle gathered his family and raced to the riverbank. There they hid, and there they have lived ever since, eating only snails and slugs and fallen palm nuts.


Source: wordville.com/ReadingComp/TurtleDrum.html Turtle and the Magic Drum
©Courseware Solutions  Wordville.com for Fun English Language Arts Learning

From where is this folktale?
India
Japan
Nigeria
Nigeria What is the secret of the magic drum?
It loses its magic if its owner steps on a fallen branch.
It casts a spell on enemies.
It loses its magic if used too much.
It loses its magic if its owner steps on a fallen branch. Why were there no wars when the king had his drum?
The king had feasts for his enemies, so they were happy.
The magic drum cast a peace spell.
Everyone was too afraid of the king.
The king had feasts for his enemies, so they were happy. Why was Turtle jealous of the king?
The king had a beautiful wife.
The king was rich and didn't have to work hard to get food.
The king lived in a big palace.
The king was rich and didn't have to work hard to get food. How did Turtle get the magic drum?
Turtle broke into the palace and stole it.
The king's wife gave it to him.
The king let him take it to make up for his wife eating one of the palm nuts.
The king let him take it to make up for his wife eating one of the palm nuts. What happened when Turtle tripped on a branch?
His shell cracked.
He fell down the hill and into the river.
His magic drum lost its magic.
His magic drum lost its magic. Why did Turtle and his family hide forever by the riverbank?
They were afraid of enemies attacking them.
They liked eating snails.
They like to swim.
They were afraid of enemies attacking them. In the end, the king gets the drum back.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
It doesn't say in the story.


©Courseware Solutions   Wordville.com for Fun English Language Arts Learning




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