The Wolf and the Dog – 3rd Grade Reading Worksheet (Free Printable)

This free 3rd grade reading comprehension worksheet uses a short fable to build inference and main idea skills.

Reading Passage

A wolf met a well-fed dog one day. 'You look healthy,' said the wolf. 'Come live with my owner,' said the dog. 'You will always have food.' The wolf noticed a mark on the dog's neck. 'What is that?' the wolf asked. 'A collar,' said the dog. 'My owner ties me up sometimes.' The wolf shook his head. 'I would rather be hungry and free than well-fed and tied up.'

Questions

  1. Why did the wolf notice the mark on the dog's neck? (It was from a collar / It was from a fight / It was paint / It was from the sun)
  2. The wolf decided to live with the dog's owner.
  3. The wolf said he would rather be hungry and ___.
  4. What is the main lesson of this fable? (Freedom is more valuable than comfort / Dogs are smarter than wolves / It is good to share food / Wolves are dangerous)
  5. The dog always had plenty of food.

About This Worksheet

Fables are ideal for teaching reading comprehension because they have clear characters, conflict, and moral lessons. This passage introduces inference skills by asking students to think beyond the literal text.

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