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Little Red Riding Hood: reading passage and questions

A free printable reading passage for 3rd grade (367 words) with 6 comprehension questions and an answer key. No sign-up.

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Little Red Riding Hood

A girl had a red cape with a hood. She wore it every single day. So everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood.

One day, Mother packed a basket with cake and juice. "Take this to Grandma," she said. "She is sick in bed."

"Stay on the path, and do not talk to strangers." Little Red Riding Hood skipped off into the woods.

Soon a wolf stepped out from behind a tree. "Good morning," he said with a big smile. "Where are you going?"

She forgot what her mother had told her. "To Grandma's house," she said. "It is at the end of the path."

The wolf had a sly idea. "Look at the pretty flowers," he said. "Why not pick some for your grandma?"

So she left the path to pick flowers. The wolf ran quickly, straight to Grandma's house.

Knock, knock. "Who is there?" called Grandma. "It's me," said the wolf in a high, squeaky voice.

Grandma peeked out the window. She saw a big gray tail! Quick as a mouse, she hid in the wardrobe.

The wolf came in. He put on Grandma's nightcap and her glasses. Then he hopped into her bed.

Soon Little Red Riding Hood arrived with her flowers. "Grandma, it's me!" she called. "Come in, dear," said a funny voice.

"Grandma, what big ears you have!" "All the better to hear you with, my dear."

"Grandma, what big eyes you have!" "All the better to see you with, my dear."

"Grandma, what big teeth you have!" "All the better to eat you with!" The wolf jumped out of bed!

"Help!" cried Little Red Riding Hood, running around the table. A woodcutter in the woods heard her.

In he ran with his axe held high. "Out, you bad wolf!" he shouted. "Out of this house!"

The wolf ran so fast, he lost the nightcap. He disappeared into the woods and never came back.

Then the wardrobe door creaked open. Out came Grandma! "Is he gone?" she whispered.

They all sat down together for cake and juice. Little Red Riding Hood gave Grandma her flowers.

"I will always stay on the path," she said. "And I will never talk to wolves again!"

Questions

1. What did Mother tell Little Red Riding Hood?
  1. Pick some flowers
  2. Run fast
  3. Stay on the path
2. Why did the wolf tell her to pick flowers?
  1. So he could get to Grandma's first
  2. He liked flowers
  3. Grandma asked him to
3. Where did Grandma hide?
  1. Under the bed
  2. In the wardrobe
  3. Behind a tree
4. What does "sly" mean in this story?
  1. Sneaky
  2. Sleepy
  3. Kind
5. Who chased the wolf away?
  1. Grandma
  2. A woodcutter
  3. Her mother
6. What did Little Red Riding Hood learn?
  1. Wolves like cake
  2. Capes keep you warm
  3. Listen and stay on the path

Words to know

  • cape: coat without sleeves
  • strangers: unknown people
  • sly: sneaky
  • wardrobe: big clothes cupboard
  • woodcutter: tree chopper

Answer key: Little Red Riding Hood

  1. C. Stay on the path
  2. A. So he could get to Grandma's first
  3. B. In the wardrobe
  4. A. Sneaky
  5. B. A woodcutter
  6. C. Listen and stay on the path