In a faraway land, there was a magical place called Shimmering Lake. The lake shined like stars and many animals were curious about it. It was said that if someone solved three riddles from a wise frog named Sir Ribbit, they would get a wish. But the riddles were hard.

One sunny day, a squirrel named Nutty decided to try. She wanted to win a wish to help her friends gather enough acorns for winter. She went to the lake and met Sir Ribbit, who wore a tiny hat and held a twig like a cane. “Welcome!” he said. “Answer my three riddles to get your wish. Ready?”

“Ready!” Nutty said excitedly. Sir Ribbit asked, “I have keys but open no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter but can’t go outside. What am I?” Nutty thought hard and guessed funny things like a crocodile and pancake. Then she shouted, “A piano!” Sir Ribbit smiled. “Correct! Next one!”

Nutty listened carefully to the second riddle. “I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?” Nutty thought and finally figured it out. “An echo!” she said. Sir Ribbit clapped. “Good job! One more to go!”

The last riddle was, “What runs around the yard without moving?” Nutty imagined silly things and then laughed. “A fence!” she said. Sir Ribbit jumped with joy. “Right! You did it!” Nutty decided to wish for a big festival where everyone could share food and have fun together. Sir Ribbit agreed, and the lake became a place for a grand celebration. They all learned that the best wishes bring joy to many.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the magical place in the story?
2. Who is the wise frog that gives riddles to Nutty?
3. What does Nutty want to wish for after solving the riddles?
4. What does the first riddle ask about?
5. What does Nutty guess for the second riddle?
6. How do the animals feel about the festival at the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a faraway land, there was a magical place (1)______ Shimmering Lake. The lake shined like stars and many animals were curious about it. It was said that if someone solved three riddles from a wise frog (2)______ Sir Ribbit, they would get a (3)______. But the riddles were hard.

One sunny day, a squirrel named Nutty decided to try. She wanted to win a wish to help her friends gather enough acorns for (4)______. She went to the lake and met Sir Ribbit, who wore a tiny hat and (5)______ a twig like a cane. “Welcome!” he said. “Answer my three riddles to get your wish. Ready?”

“Ready!” Nutty said excitedly. Sir Ribbit (6)______, “I have keys but open no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter but can’t go outside. What am I?” Nutty thought hard and guessed funny things like a crocodile and pancake. Then she shouted, “A piano!” Sir (7)______ smiled. “Correct! Next one!”

Nutty listened carefully to the second riddle. “I speak without a (8)______ and hear without (9)______. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?” Nutty thought and finally figured it out. “An echo!” she said. Sir Ribbit clapped. “Good job! One more to go!”

The last riddle was, “What runs around the yard without moving?” Nutty imagined silly things and then laughed. “A fence!” she said. Sir Ribbit (10)______ with joy. “Right! You did it!” Nutty decided to wish for a big festival where everyone could share food and have fun together. Sir Ribbit agreed, and the lake became a place for a (11)______ celebration. They all learned that the (12)______ wishes bring joy to many.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a wish you would make if you could have one? Why?

2. How would you feel if you had to solve hard riddles to get something you really wanted?

3. Do you like puzzles or riddles? Why or why not?

4. What is a special festival you enjoy? What do you like about it?

5. How would you feel if you met a talking animal like Sir Ribbit?

6. Do you think sharing food with friends is important? Why or why not?

7. What is a magical place you would like to visit? What would you do there?

8. How do you think Nutty felt when she solved all the riddles? Why do you think so?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. curious
3. riddle
4. twig
5. cane
6. guessed
7. figured
8. imagined
9. festival
10. celebration
11. joy
12. grand

Meanings:
(A) A big party or event with lots of activities
(B) Thought of something in your mind
(C) Very big and impressive
(D) Something that has special powers or is very enchanting
(E) Thought the answer might be something
(F) A tricky question or puzzle
(G) Solved or understood something
(H) Wanting to know more about something
(I) A feeling of great happiness
(J) A stick used to help someone walk
(K) A small, thin branch from a tree
(L) A happy event where people have fun together
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the magical place in the story?
(a) Sparkling River
(b) Glowing Pond
(c) Twinkling Ocean
(d) Shimmering Lake

2. Who did Nutty meet at the lake?
(a) Mr. Toad
(b) Sir Ribbit
(c) Captain Croak
(d) Lady Leap

3. What did Nutty want to wish for?
(a) A new home
(b) A treasure chest
(c) A magic wand
(d) A big festival

4. How many riddles did Nutty have to solve?
(a) Three
(b) Two
(c) Four
(d) Five

5. What was the first riddle about?
(a) A piano
(b) A book
(c) A door
(d) A clock

6. What was the answer to the second riddle?
(a) A shadow
(b) A whisper
(c) An echo
(d) A breeze

7. What runs around the yard without moving, according to the last riddle?
(a) A tree
(b) A fence
(c) A dog
(d) A garden

8. What did everyone learn from Nutty’s wish?
(a) Wishes should be kept secret
(b) Only one person can have a wish
(c) The best wishes bring joy to many
(d) Wishes are always about money

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Nutty wished for a small gathering where only a few could share food and have fun together.
2. Sir Ribbit wears a tiny hat and holds a twig like a cane.
3. The first riddle was about something that has keys but opens no locks, which Nutty answered correctly as a piano.
4. Nutty the squirrel wanted to win a wish to help her friends gather acorns for winter.
5. A wise frog named Sir Ribbit gives riddles to those who want to make a wish.
6. Nutty failed to solve three riddles given by Sir Ribbit.
7. Shimmering Lake is an ordinary place that shines like stars.
8. The second riddle was about something that whispers without a mouth and is an echo.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the magical place in the story?
Shimmering Lake.

2. Who is the wise frog that gives riddles to Nutty?
Sir Ribbit.

3. What does Nutty want to wish for after solving the riddles?
She wants to wish for a big festival where everyone can share food and have fun together.

4. What does the first riddle ask about?
It asks about something that has keys but opens no locks, has space but no room, and you can enter but can’t go outside.

5. What does Nutty guess for the second riddle?
She guesses “an echo.”

6. How do the animals feel about the festival at the end of the story?
They feel happy and joyful because they can share food and have fun together.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) named
(3) wish
(4) winter
(5) held
(6) asked
(7) Ribbit
(8) mouth
(9) ears
(10) jumped
(11) grand
(12) best
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (D) Something that has special powers or is very enchanting

2. curious
Answer: (H) Wanting to know more about something

3. riddle
Answer: (F) A tricky question or puzzle

4. twig
Answer: (K) A small, thin branch from a tree

5. cane
Answer: (J) A stick used to help someone walk

6. guessed
Answer: (E) Thought the answer might be something

7. figured
Answer: (G) Solved or understood something

8. imagined
Answer: (B) Thought of something in your mind

9. festival
Answer: (A) A big party or event with lots of activities

10. celebration
Answer: (L) A happy event where people have fun together

11. joy
Answer: (I) A feeling of great happiness

12. grand
Answer: (C) Very big and impressive
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the magical place in the story?
Answer: (d) Shimmering Lake

2. Who did Nutty meet at the lake?
Answer: (b) Sir Ribbit

3. What did Nutty want to wish for?
Answer: (d) A big festival

4. How many riddles did Nutty have to solve?
Answer: (a) Three

5. What was the first riddle about?
Answer: (a) A piano

6. What was the answer to the second riddle?
Answer: (c) An echo

7. What runs around the yard without moving, according to the last riddle?
Answer: (b) A fence

8. What did everyone learn from Nutty’s wish?
Answer: (c) The best wishes bring joy to many
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Nutty wished for a small gathering where only a few could share food and have fun together. (Answer: False)
2. Sir Ribbit wears a tiny hat and holds a twig like a cane. (Answer: True)
3. The first riddle was about something that has keys but opens no locks, which Nutty answered correctly as a piano. (Answer: True)
4. Nutty the squirrel wanted to win a wish to help her friends gather acorns for winter. (Answer: True)
5. A wise frog named Sir Ribbit gives riddles to those who want to make a wish. (Answer: True)
6. Nutty failed to solve three riddles given by Sir Ribbit. (Answer: False)
7. Shimmering Lake is an ordinary place that shines like stars. (Answer: False)
8. The second riddle was about something that whispers without a mouth and is an echo. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧