Fables and Folk Tales
Grade 3 - Reading - On Level
Read this first
The Empty Pot (a folk tale from China)
Long ago in China, a boy named Ping loved to grow flowers. Anything he planted bloomed bright and tall.
The emperor was getting old. He needed to choose who would rule after him. One day, he gave a flower seed to every child in the land. "Whoever shows me the best flower in one year," he said, "will be the next emperor."
Ping planted his seed in a pot of rich soil. He watered it every day. But nothing grew. He moved it to a bigger pot with better soil. Still, nothing grew.
When the year was over, children filled the palace with pots of beautiful flowers. Ping carried his empty pot. His friends laughed at him. Ping's face felt hot, but his father said, "You did your best. Your best is enough to show the emperor."
The emperor walked past every flower without a smile. Then he stopped in front of Ping. "Why is your pot empty?" he asked.
Ping looked down. "I tried my best, but the seed would not grow," he said.
The emperor smiled for the first time. "I cooked all the seeds before I gave them out," he said. "None of them could grow. These other children planted new seeds. Only Ping was honest enough to bring me the truth."
The emperor placed his hand on Ping's shoulder. "Ping will be the next emperor," he said.
What did the emperor give every child?
- a small flower
- a flower seed
- a gold coin
- a pot of soil
Why did the emperor give out the seeds?
- to make the palace pretty
- to help farmers grow food
- to choose the next ruler
- to start a flower shop
What did Ping do when his seed did not grow?
- He moved it to a bigger pot with better soil.
- He planted a new seed.
- He asked a friend for a flower.
- He gave up on the first day.
Why did Ping's face feel hot at the palace?
- The sun was too bright.
- He had run all the way there.
- He was angry at his father.
- He was embarrassed by his empty pot.
Why did Ping's father tell him to bring the empty pot?
- He thought the emperor liked pots.
- He forgot about the seed.
- He wanted Ping to lose.
- He believed doing your best is enough.
Why could none of the seeds grow?
- The emperor had cooked them.
- The children forgot to water them.
- The seeds were planted too deep.
- The soil was too dry.
How did the other children get their flowers?
- They watered more often.
- Their soil was better.
- The emperor helped them.
- They planted new seeds.
The lesson is "Honesty is worth more than a pretty show." Which detail supports it?
- Ping moved his seed to a bigger pot.
- Only Ping brought the truth, and he was chosen.
- Ping loved to grow flowers.
- Children filled the palace with flowers.
What lesson does this folk tale teach?
- The best gardener always wins.
- Never listen to your parents.
- Being honest matters, even when the truth is hard to show.
- Pretty things are always the best.
What does the word "honest" mean in this folk tale?
- keeping a secret
- telling the truth
- being very rich
- being very strong