There was an old lady who swallowed a fly Reading Comprehension Questions
by Simms Taback
Book Summary
This is a classic cumulative story about an old lady who swallows a fly, then a spider to catch the fly, then a bird to catch the spider, and so on, swallowing bigger and bigger animals until she swallows a horse and dies.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 8 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
1.What was the very first animal the old lady swallowed?
2.Why did the old lady swallow the spider?
3.What happened to the old lady after she swallowed the horse?
4.Why do you think the old lady kept swallowing bigger and bigger animals?
5.What silly lesson can we learn from the old lady's story?
6.What does the word "wiggled" mean when the spider "wiggled and jiggled" inside her?
7.Which animal do you think was the funniest for the old lady to swallow? Why?
8.What would you tell the old lady to do instead of swallowing animals?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from There was an old lady who swallowed a fly to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading There was an old lady who swallowed a fly with children.
What was your favorite part of There was an old lady who swallowed a fly? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from There was an old lady who swallowed a fly, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did There was an old lady who swallowed a fly make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend There was an old lady who swallowed a fly to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Simms Taback wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is There was an old lady who swallowed a fly?
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly by Simms Taback is recommended for grades K-1 readers with an AR level of 1.2. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for There was an old lady who swallowed a fly?
ReadBuddy provides 8 carefully crafted comprehension questions for There was an old lady who swallowed a fly, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use There was an old lady who swallowed a fly for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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