Once upon a time in the enchanting forest of Doram, there lived a mischievous red panda named Ruby. Ruby was known for her dazzling red fur and her love for puzzles and riddles. One sunny morning, as she was frolicking among the tall bamboo shoots, Ruby stumbled upon an ancient scroll hidden beneath a pile of leaves. It was a riddle! Excitedly, she read aloud, “In the heart of the forest, where leaves dance and sing, a treasure awaits a clever little thing. Seek the golden tree with leaves of blue, and solve its riddle to find a clue.”

Ruby’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she set off on her quest to find the mysterious golden tree. She darted through the forest, asking the wise owl and the chattering squirrels for any clues. After much searching, Ruby stumbled upon a tree with golden shimmering leaves. Ruby jumped with joy, but her triumph was short-lived when she noticed two paths before her.

Puzzled, Ruby scratched her furry head. “Which path should I choose?” she pondered aloud. With an impish grin, Ruby decided to follow her instincts and chose the path that led uphill. The path twisted and turned, but Ruby forged ahead. Suddenly, she found herself standing in front of a massive boulder, blocking her way. Ruby’s heart sank as she realized she couldn’t budge the rock by herself.

Just as she was about to give up, a friendly elephant named Ellie appeared. After hearing Ruby’s predicament, Ellie decided to lend a helping trunk. Together, they pushed with all their might, causing the boulder to roll away. Ruby thanked Ellie for her kind assistance and continued on her quest.

As Ruby ventured deeper into the forest, she stumbled upon an old, wise tortoise called Terrance. Terrance was known for his vast knowledge of the forest and its secrets. Ruby shared her riddle with Terrance, who scratched his wrinkled chin thoughtfully. “Solve this riddle for me, oh wise one,” Ruby pleaded. Terrance chuckled, “What has a heart that does not beat, runs but has no feet?” Ruby furrowed her brow and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she shouted, “A river!”

With newfound confidence, Ruby followed Terrance’s directions and soon found herself standing before a magnificent sight – a hidden waterfall cascading into a sparkling pool. As she approached, Ruby noticed a small chest floating in the pool. She eagerly opened it and found not gold or jewels, but a note that simply said, “The real treasure is the friendships made along the way.”

Ruby’s heart swelled with happiness as she realized the true meaning of her journey. It wasn’t just about solving riddles or finding treasure; it was about the joy of making new friends and helping others. With a twinkle in her eye and a skip in her step, Ruby returned to her forest home, vowing to cherish the friendships she had made and to never stop exploring the magic of the world around her.

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was Ruby known for in the forest of Doram?
2. What did Ruby find hidden beneath a pile of leaves?
3. What did the riddle on the scroll say?
4. How did Ruby decide which path to choose when she found the golden tree?
5. Who helped Ruby move the massive boulder blocking her path?
6. What was the riddle that Terrance the tortoise asked Ruby?
7. What did Ruby find in the hidden waterfall?
8. What did Ruby realize was the true meaning of her journey?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time in the enchanting forest of Doram, there lived a mischievous red panda named Ruby. Ruby was known for her dazzling red fur and her love for (1)______ and riddles. One sunny morning, as she was frolicking among the tall bamboo shoots, Ruby stumbled upon an (2)______ scroll (3)______ beneath a pile of leaves. It was a riddle! Excitedly, she read aloud, “In the heart of the forest, where leaves dance and sing, a treasure awaits a clever (4)______ thing. Seek the golden tree with leaves of blue, and solve its riddle to find a clue.”

Ruby’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she set off on her quest to find the mysterious golden tree. She darted through the forest, asking the wise owl and the chattering squirrels for any clues. After much searching, Ruby stumbled upon a tree with golden shimmering leaves. Ruby jumped with joy, but her triumph was short-lived when she noticed two paths before her.

(5)______, Ruby scratched her furry head. “Which path should I choose?” she pondered aloud. With an (6)______ grin, Ruby decided to follow her instincts and chose the path that led uphill. The path twisted and turned, but Ruby forged ahead. Suddenly, she found herself standing in front of a massive boulder, blocking her way. Ruby’s heart sank as she realized she couldn’t budge the rock by herself.

Just as she was (7)______ to give up, a friendly elephant named Ellie (8)______. After hearing Ruby’s predicament, Ellie decided to lend a helping trunk. Together, they pushed with all their (9)______, causing the boulder to roll away. Ruby thanked Ellie for her kind assistance and continued on her quest.

As Ruby ventured deeper into the forest, she (10)______ upon an old, wise tortoise called Terrance. Terrance was known for his vast knowledge of the forest and its secrets. Ruby shared her riddle with Terrance, who scratched his wrinkled chin thoughtfully. “Solve this riddle for me, oh wise one,” Ruby pleaded. Terrance (11)______, “What has a heart that does not beat, runs but has no feet?” Ruby furrowed her brow and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she shouted, “A (12)______!”

With newfound confidence, Ruby followed Terrance’s directions and soon found herself standing before a magnificent sight – a hidden waterfall cascading into a sparkling pool. As she approached, Ruby noticed a small chest floating in the pool. She eagerly opened it and found not gold or jewels, but a note that simply said, “The real (13)______ is the friendships made along the way.”

Ruby’s (14)______ swelled with happiness as she realized the true meaning of her journey. It wasn’t just about solving riddles or finding treasure; it was about the joy of making new friends and helping others. With a (15)______ in her eye and a skip in her step, Ruby returned to her forest home, (16)______ to cherish the friendships she had made and to never stop exploring the magic of the world around her.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think about the character Ruby? Do you admire her mischievous nature and love for puzzles?
2. How would you feel if you stumbled upon an ancient scroll with a riddle? Would you be excited or scared?
3. Do you think it’s important to follow your instincts when faced with a difficult decision, like Ruby did? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had a situation where you needed help from someone else, like Ruby did with the boulder? How did you feel when someone offered their assistance?
5. What do you think about the character Ellie the elephant? Do you think it’s important to help others when they’re in need?
6. How do you interpret the meaning of the note that Ruby found in the chest? Do you agree that the real treasure is the friendships made along the way?
7. Have you ever had an experience where the journey itself was more important than the destination? Can you share that experience?
8. What qualities do you think are important in a friend, based on Ruby’s interactions with Ellie and Terrance?
9. How do you think Ruby’s love for puzzles and riddles influenced her journey? Do you think it made it more exciting or challenging?
10. What do you think the author is trying to teach us through Ruby’s story? Do you agree with the lesson?
11. How do you think Ruby’s forest home and her love for exploring the magic of the world around her shaped her character?
12. Have you ever had an experience where you learned something valuable about yourself, like Ruby did on her journey? Can you share that experience?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. enchanting
2. mischievous
3. frolicking
4. ancient
5. riddle
6. quest
7. shimmering
8. triumph
9. impish
10. predicament
11. assistance
12. ventured
13. vast
14. confidence
15. cherish

Meanings:
(A) Charming and captivating, often in a magical way
(B) Belief in one’s own abilities or qualities
(C) A difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to resolve
(D) To hold something dear or to treat it with love and care
(E) A feeling of pride or joy after achieving something
(F) A search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something
(G) To go somewhere, especially when involving risk or danger
(H) Having a playful desire to cause trouble
(I) Playfully causing trouble or acting in a naughty manner
(J) A puzzling question or problem designed to test ingenuity
(K) Glittering, glistening, or gleaming with a soft radiance
(L) Very old and from a time long past
(M) Help provided to someone in need
(N) Moving in a lively, playful, or energetic way
(O) Extremely large or extensive
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Ruby find hidden beneath a pile of leaves?
(a) A treasure chest
(b) A golden tree
(c) An ancient scroll
(d) A riddle

2. What did the riddle say about the golden tree?
(a) It was hidden in the heart of the forest
(b) It had leaves of blue
(c) It held a clue to the treasure
(d) All of the above

3. How did Ruby decide which path to choose?
(a) She asked the wise owl for advice
(b) She flipped a coin
(c) She closed her eyes and picked randomly
(d) She followed her instincts

4. Who helped Ruby move the massive boulder blocking her way?
(a) Terrance the tortoise
(b) The wise owl
(c) The chattering squirrels
(d) Ellie the elephant

5. What did Terrance the tortoise ask Ruby to solve?
(a) A riddle
(b) A puzzle
(c) A math problem
(d) A crossword

6. What was the answer to Terrance’s riddle?
(a) A river
(b) A mountain
(c) A tree
(d) A cloud

7. What did Ruby find in the hidden waterfall?
(a) Gold and jewels
(b) A note
(c) A chest
(d) All of the above

8. What did Ruby learn from her journey?
(a) The importance of solving riddles
(b) The true meaning of friendship
(c) The value of treasure
(d) The magic of the forest

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Ruby finds a modern scroll with a riddle hidden in the forest.
2. Ruby encounters a twig blocking her path and is unable to move it alone.
3. Ruby learns that the true treasure of her journey is the friendships she made along the way.
4. Ruby discovers a hidden waterfall and finds a chest with a meaningful note inside.
5. Ruby is a red panda who loves puzzles and riddles.
6. Ruby meets a clueless tortoise named Terrance who hinders her from solving a riddle.
7. Ellie the elephant helps Ruby move the boulder and continues on her quest.
8. The riddle leads Ruby to search for a silver tree with green leaves.
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 was Ruby known for in the forest of Doram?
Ruby was known for her dazzling red fur and her love for puzzles and riddles.

2. What did Ruby find hidden beneath a pile of leaves?
Ruby found an ancient scroll hidden beneath a pile of leaves.

3. What did the riddle on the scroll say?
The riddle on the scroll said, “In the heart of the forest, where leaves dance and sing, a treasure awaits a clever little thing. Seek the golden tree with leaves of blue, and solve its riddle to find a clue.”

4. How did Ruby decide which path to choose when she found the golden tree?
Ruby followed her instincts and chose the path that led uphill.

5. Who helped Ruby move the massive boulder blocking her path?
A friendly elephant named Ellie helped Ruby move the massive boulder.

6. What was the riddle that Terrance the tortoise asked Ruby?
Terrance asked, “What has a heart that does not beat, runs but has no feet?”

7. What did Ruby find in the hidden waterfall?
Ruby found a small chest floating in the pool of the hidden waterfall.

8. What did Ruby realize was the true meaning of her journey?
Ruby realized that the true meaning of her journey was not just about solving riddles or finding treasure, but about the joy of making new friends and helping others.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) puzzles
(2) ancient
(3) hidden
(4) little
(5) Puzzled
(6) impish
(7) about
(8) appeared
(9) might
(10) stumbled
(11) chuckled
(12) river
(13) treasure
(14) heart
(15) twinkle
(16) vowing
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. enchanting
Answer: (A) Charming and captivating, often in a magical way

2. mischievous
Answer: (I) Playfully causing trouble or acting in a naughty manner

3. frolicking
Answer: (N) Moving in a lively, playful, or energetic way

4. ancient
Answer: (L) Very old and from a time long past

5. riddle
Answer: (J) A puzzling question or problem designed to test ingenuity

6. quest
Answer: (F) A search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something

7. shimmering
Answer: (K) Glittering, glistening, or gleaming with a soft radiance

8. triumph
Answer: (E) A feeling of pride or joy after achieving something

9. impish
Answer: (H) Having a playful desire to cause trouble

10. predicament
Answer: (C) A difficult or unpleasant situation that is hard to resolve

11. assistance
Answer: (M) Help provided to someone in need

12. ventured
Answer: (G) To go somewhere, especially when involving risk or danger

13. vast
Answer: (O) Extremely large or extensive

14. confidence
Answer: (B) Belief in one’s own abilities or qualities

15. cherish
Answer: (D) To hold something dear or to treat it with love and care
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Ruby find hidden beneath a pile of leaves?
Answer: (c) An ancient scroll

2. What did the riddle say about the golden tree?
Answer: (b) It had leaves of blue

3. How did Ruby decide which path to choose?
Answer: (d) She followed her instincts

4. Who helped Ruby move the massive boulder blocking her way?
Answer: (d) Ellie the elephant

5. What did Terrance the tortoise ask Ruby to solve?
Answer: (a) A riddle

6. What was the answer to Terrance’s riddle?
Answer: (a) A river

7. What did Ruby find in the hidden waterfall?
Answer: (c) A chest

8. What did Ruby learn from her journey?
Answer: (b) The true meaning of friendship
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Ruby finds a modern scroll with a riddle hidden in the forest. (Answer: False)
2. Ruby encounters a twig blocking her path and is unable to move it alone. (Answer: False)
3. Ruby learns that the true treasure of her journey is the friendships she made along the way. (Answer: True)
4. Ruby discovers a hidden waterfall and finds a chest with a meaningful note inside. (Answer: True)
5. Ruby is a red panda who loves puzzles and riddles. (Answer: True)
6. Ruby meets a clueless tortoise named Terrance who hinders her from solving a riddle. (Answer: False)
7. Ellie the elephant helps Ruby move the boulder and continues on her quest. (Answer: True)
8. The riddle leads Ruby to search for a silver tree with green leaves. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧