Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Read the short story. Then answer each question.
The Princess Who Never Smiled
Many long years ago, there was a Tsar in Russia. The Tsar had a beautiful
daughter who grew more and more lov ely every year. To keep her happy,
the Tsar gave her everything she could want. She had the finest clothes,
the most beautiful jewelry, the most delicious food, and the best
entertainment. Still, the princess nev er smiled. This pained the Tsar, and
each night he asked, “Are you happy, my dear?”
“Yes, Father. I am very happy,” the princess replied.
The Tsar did not believe her. After all, happy people
smiled, and the princess never did.
After years and years of watching his beautiful
daughter’s sad face, the Tsar announced that
whoever made her smil e would have her hand in
marriage.
Young men came from all over Rus sia.
A clown dressed in colorful stripes and polka -dots juggled glasses filled
with water. The princess didn’t smile.
A troupe of actors performed a skit dressed as donkeys. The princess did
not smile.
A comedian told jokes dressed as a giant chicken. The princess didn’t
smile.
The Tsar looked on with tears in his eyes. Would anyone ev er be able to
make his beautiful daughter smile?
The seasons passed. The birds sang in the spring. The crops grew in the
summer. Gorgeous colors stretched as far as the eye could see in the
autumn. Snow covered the land and shown like crystals in the winter.
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Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Still, the princess did not smile.
The Tsar did not know what else to do. Young men continued to come to
the palace. Some brought sparkling jewels and laid them at the princess’s
feet. Some brought gowns of the softest silk with the most delicate
handmade lace. Others brou ght the fattest geese or the most
delicious chickens. Still, the princess did not smile.
In a nearby village, a young man named Jack
worked for a farmer. He plowed the fields. He
cared for the animals. He repaired the barn. He
constantly worked, and the f armer was pleased.
At the end of the year, the farmer called Jack into
his house. A large bag of money sat on the table.
“You’ve worked well this last year,” the farmer said.
“Take as much money as you would like.” The farmer
left the room.
Jack thought f or a few moments, then he took a single coin. He was an
honest man, after all, and he did not want to appear greedy.
Jack went to the town well for a sip of water. As he drank, the coin
slipped out of his hand and tumbled into the water with a splash ! The
young man stared into the well for a long moment. Perhaps, I di dn’t work
hard enough , he thought. That must be why I had such bad luck. He
resolved to work harder the next year.
Meanwhile, more and more people came to the palace. A zookeeper
brought a dancing bear. The king of a far -off country brought the
princess a pet parrot that spoke three languages. A falconer had his birds
perform an aerial dance. Still, the princess did not smile.
The seasons passed again. Jack planted the corn in spring. He cared for it
throughout the summer , and harv ested it in the autumn , so the farmer
had a full bin of corn by the time the snow sparkled in winter.
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Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Once again, the farmer placed the money on the table and told the
young man to take what he wanted and left the ro om. Again, Jack took a
single coin so as not to be greedy. Again, the coin slipped from his hand
and landed in the well with a splash ! Again, the young man decided to
work harder the following year, since he had such bad luck.
The third year came and went. Jack worked as hard as he could. He
rarely slept. He rarely ate. He worked around the clock. At the end of the
year, he took a single coin and went to drink at the well.
“Ah!” Jack cried.
The two coins from the previous years floated to
the top of the water. Jack grabbed them and
placed them in his pocket. “It is now time for me
to see the world,” he said, and he left the
village.
Jack walked through a grassy field. The sun shone ov erhead and warmed
him, so he stopped for a m oment to enjoy its glow. A small mous e ran up
to him as he stood with his eyes closed.
“Please, sir. Give me a coin, and I will help you.”
Jack smiled down at the mouse and gav e him the coin. The mouse
scampered up the young man’s leg and settled in his p ocket.
Jack and the mouse continued their journey and soon came to a dense
forest. The trees grew close together and kept the ground in darkness,
and the creatures of the forest were unusually silent. Jack and the mouse
proceeded carefully, but they soon met a beetle.
“Please, sir. Give me a coin, and I will help you.”
Jack gave the beetle a coin, and the insect settled into Jack’s hair. The
group continued their way and soon came to a stream.
“Let’s stop for a drink,” Jack said. Mouse and Beetle agreed.
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Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet
“Please, sir. Give me a coin, and I will help you.”
Jack looked down to see a toad swimming at the edge of the water. He
could not refuse, so he gave Toad his last coin. The toad joined Jack and
his friends on their journey.
Jack soon came to the city. Pe ople bustled here and there. Horses filled
the street. Voices shouted. The young man looked around, not sure where
to go. At last, he noticed the Tsar’s palace at the end of a long street
and decided to go in that direction.
Jack dodged people throughout the city and soon stopped for a break in
front of the Princess’s window. He looked up and was shocked by her
beauty.
Dizziness washed over Jack, and he fell into the mud in front of the castle.
Toad dove into the puddle and gently flapped Jack’s face to w ake him.
Beetle quickly cleaned Jack’s boots, and Mouse took his coat to rid it of
mud.
High above the street, the princess watched the small creatures take
care of the young man. Their actions touched her heart. “He must be a
very special man to inspire these creatures to care for him so w ell,” she
whispered, and she smiled.
“Look!” cried an old woman in the street.
“The princess is s miling!”
A cry of joy went through the city, and
the Tsar nearly burst with happiness. He
had the guards bring Jack to the palace
and treated him to a banquet. As the
Tsar had promised, Jack and the
princess were married. They liv ed
happily ever after.
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Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Questions:
1. In what country does the princess liv e ?
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2. What kinds of entertainment does the princess se e?
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3. Where does Jack work ?
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4. What creatures join Jack ?
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5. Why does the princess smile when she sees the creatures caring for
Jack ?
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6. What can we learn from the story ?
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Grade 5 Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Answers:
1. In what country does the princess liv e?
The princess lives in Russia .
2. What kinds of entertainment does the princess see?
The princess sees a clown juggling glasses of water, actors dressed
as donkeys, a comedian dressed in a chicken suit, a dancing bear,
and falcons flying.
3. Where does Jack work?
Jack works for a farmer in a nearby v illage.
4. What creatures join Jack?
A mouse, a beetle, and a toad join Jack.
5. Why does the princess smile when she sees the creatures caring for
Jack?
The princess smiles at their kindness and caring, and she thinks the
young man must be very special as well.
6. What can we learn from the story?
Answers may vary. An act of kindness and caring ca n be more
rewarding than the best entertainment, the best food, and the best
clothes and jewelry.
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