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

How the Turtle Got Its Shell

A Folktale from Australia

A long, long time ago, a Turtle and a Snail lived together in the deep ocean.

The Turtle and the Snail were opposites. The Snail was very proud of her shell. She was always boasting to the Turtle about it. The Turtle was calm and quiet. She never boasted about anything.

The Snail and the Turtle had one thing in common. They were both very afraid of the Big Shark.

One day when the Snail was busy admiring her shell, the Big Shark snuck up on her and pounced.

"Help!" screamed the Snail. "I need help!"

The Turtle heard the cry and quickly went to help the Snail who was in big trouble.

Just as the Big Shark was about to bite the Snail's head, the Turtle kicked the Big Shark in the nose. The Shark made a loud noise, then went immediately to sleep and floated away. That is what happens when a Big Shark is kicked in the nose.

"Thank you!" cried the Snail. "You saved me! But my shell went a little flat when the Big Shark tried to eat me. Here - you can have it. I don't want it anymore. I can get a new one."

"That's great," said the Turtle. "I've always wanted a beautiful shell like yours. That shape will fit me perfectly."

From that day on, the Turtle always had her dome shaped shell. She always loved it but never boasted about it like the Snail did.

And that's how the Turtle got its shell.

Source: wordville.com/ReadingComp/TurtleShell.html How the Turtle Got Its Shell
©Courseware Solutions Wordville.com for Fun English Language Arts Learning

From which country is this folktale?
Africa
Australia
Columbia
Australia Where did the Turtle and the Snail live?
in the jungle
in the forest
in the ocean
in the ocean Which animal was the calm quiet one?
Turtle
Snail
Big Shark
Turtle The Snail boasted about her shell.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
True The Snail was not afraid of the Big Shark.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
False How did the Turtle stop the Big Shark from hurting the Snail?
She killed the Shark.
She kicked the Shark in the nose.
She poked the Shark in the eye.
She kicked the Shark in the nose. What happens when a Big Shark is kicked in the nose?
It goes to sleep.
It dies.
It stops breathing.
It goes to sleep. The Turtle boasted about her new shell.
True
False
It doesn't say in the story.
False Why did the Snail give her shell to the Turtle?
It was a gift to the Turtle for saving her life.
The shell was flattened and she didn't want it anymore.
Both are true.
Both are true.

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All Turtle Stories

Why Turtles Live in the Water

How Turtle Flew South for the Winter