In the lively village of Whimsy Woods, a curious young boy named Oliver found a mysterious map in an old book in his attic. The map had “Crystal Cavern” written in shiny silver letters. Excited, Oliver packed his backpack with snacks (because he thought snacks were essential for any adventure) and set off to find the glittering cavern.

As he walked deeper into the woods, the trees seemed to whisper secrets to him and the birds chirped happily. After wandering for hours, Oliver finally saw the entrance to the Crystal Cavern hidden behind a curtain of sparkling vines. Just as he was about to enter, a mischievous squirrel appeared and said, “You think you’re the only one who wants to explore that cavern?” Oliver replied with a grin, “Unless you have a magical map, I guess I’m going in first!” The squirrel rolled his eyes and decided to join Oliver.

Inside the cavern, everything sparkled like a million stars. Crystals of all colors glowed, making rainbows on the walls. Suddenly, a loud voice echoed, “Who dares disturb the peace of the Crystal Cavern?” A fluffy creature with three eyes and a huge purple mustache stepped out from behind a big crystal. “I am Glimmer, the Guardian of the Crystals! To explore, you must answer my riddle!” Nervously, Oliver and the squirrel listened carefully.

Glimmer’s riddle was tough: “I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. Whenever I go, darkness flies. What am I?” Oliver thought hard. The squirrel, feeling smart, jumped around shouting, “A cloud! A cloud!” After a few wrong guesses, Oliver finally shouted, “It’s the sun!” Glimmer laughed, his mustache wiggling. “Very well! You have solved the riddle and may explore, but be wise!”

Exploring the cavern, they found a sparkling pool. The squirrel jumped in, splashing water everywhere. The pool bubbled, and out came a tiny emerald fish with a tiny crown! “Thank you for freeing me!” said the fish. “I will grant you one wish!” Oliver wished for a joyful feast back in Whimsy Woods, so everyone could celebrate together. The fish waved its fin, and instantly, delicious treats appeared in the village square.

Back in the village, everyone gathered for the feast. Oliver and the squirrel shared their adventure, making everyone laugh. The villagers discovered that curiosity and friendship could lead to amazing things. Oliver realized he found the best treasure of all: the joy of being with friends and the happiness of the community.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Oliver find in his attic that sparked his adventure?
2. How did Oliver prepare for his journey to the Crystal Cavern?
3. Who did Oliver meet at the entrance of the cavern, and what did this character say?
4. What was the riddle that Glimmer, the Guardian of the Crystals, asked Oliver and the squirrel?
5. What wish did Oliver make after finding the tiny emerald fish in the sparkling pool?
6. How did the villagers react when Oliver and the squirrel returned from their adventure?
7. What important lesson did Oliver learn by the end of the story?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In the lively village of Whimsy Woods, a curious young boy named Oliver found a (1)______ map in an old book in his attic. The map had “(2)______ Cavern” written in shiny (3)______ letters. Excited, Oliver packed his backpack with snacks (because he (4)______ snacks were essential for any adventure) and set off to find the glittering cavern.

As he walked deeper into the woods, the trees seemed to whisper secrets to him and the birds chirped happily. After wandering for hours, Oliver finally saw the entrance to the Crystal Cavern hidden behind a curtain of sparkling vines. Just as he was about to enter, a mischievous squirrel (5)______ and said, “You think you’re the only one who (6)______ to explore that (7)______?” Oliver replied with a grin, “Unless you have a magical map, I guess I’m going in first!” The squirrel rolled his eyes and decided to join Oliver.

Inside the cavern, everything sparkled like a million stars. Crystals of all colors glowed, making rainbows on the walls. Suddenly, a loud voice echoed, “Who (8)______ disturb the peace of the Crystal Cavern?” A fluffy creature with three eyes and a huge purple mustache stepped out from behind a big crystal. “I am Glimmer, the Guardian of the Crystals! To explore, you must answer my (9)______!” Nervously, Oliver and the squirrel listened carefully.

Glimmer’s riddle was tough: “I fly without (10)______, I cry without eyes. Whenever I go, darkness flies. What am I?” Oliver thought hard. The squirrel, feeling smart, jumped around shouting, “A (11)______! A cloud!” After a few wrong guesses, Oliver finally shouted, “It’s the sun!” Glimmer laughed, his mustache wiggling. “Very well! You have solved the riddle and may explore, but be wise!”

Exploring the cavern, they found a sparkling pool. The squirrel jumped in, splashing water everywhere. The pool (12)______, and out came a tiny emerald fish with a tiny crown! “Thank you for freeing me!” said the fish. “I will grant you one wish!” Oliver wished for a joyful feast back in Whimsy (13)______, so everyone could celebrate together. The fish (14)______ its fin, and instantly, delicious treats appeared in the village square.

Back in the village, everyone gathered for the feast. Oliver and the (15)______ shared their adventure, making everyone laugh. The villagers discovered that curiosity and friendship could lead to amazing (16)______. Oliver realized he found the best treasure of all: the joy of being with friends and the happiness of the community.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite adventure you have ever been on?

2. How would you feel if you found a mysterious map like Oliver did?

3. Do you like exploring new places? Why or why not?

4. What is a riddle that you find interesting or fun?

5. How do you think Oliver felt when he solved the riddle?

6. Do you think it’s important to share your adventures with friends? Why or why not?

7. What is a special wish you would make if you met a magical creature?

8. How would you react if a talking animal asked to join you on an adventure?

9. Do you believe that curiosity can lead to great discoveries? Why or why not?

10. What do you think makes a community strong and happy, like the village of Whimsy Woods?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. mysterious
2. essential
3. mischievous
4. explore
5. cavern
6. whispered
7. glittering
8. echoed
9. disturb
10. riddle
11. guessed
12. splashing
13. emerald
14. grant
15. celebrate

Meanings:
(A) A bright green precious stone
(B) Something that is difficult to understand or explain
(C) A sound that repeats because it bounces off surfaces
(D) Spoke very softly or quietly
(E) A question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer
(F) Made an estimate or assumption without sufficient information
(G) Playfully causing trouble or being naughty
(H) Absolutely necessary or very important
(I) To give or allow someone something they have asked for
(J) To travel through an unfamiliar area to learn about it
(K) To do something enjoyable because of a special occasion
(L) Shining with a bright, shimmering, reflected light
(M) A large cave or a large chamber in a cave
(N) To interrupt or bother someone or something
(O) Causing water to fly around by hitting it
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Oliver find in the old book in his attic?
(a) A mysterious map
(b) A treasure chest
(c) A diary
(d) A letter

2. What was written on the map that Oliver found?
(a) Hidden Treasure
(b) Enchanted Forest
(c) Secret Garden
(d) Crystal Cavern

3. Who joined Oliver on his adventure to the Crystal Cavern?
(a) A squirrel
(b) A rabbit
(c) A bird
(d) A fox

4. What did Glimmer, the Guardian of the Crystals, require from Oliver and the squirrel?
(a) To bring him a gift
(b) To sing a song
(c) To answer a riddle
(d) To solve a puzzle

5. What was the answer to Glimmer’s riddle?
(a) A cloud
(b) The sun
(c) The moon
(d) A star

6. What did Oliver wish for after freeing the tiny emerald fish?
(a) A magical adventure
(b) A new backpack
(c) A treasure map
(d) A joyful feast in Whimsy Woods

7. What did the villagers do when Oliver returned with the squirrel?
(a) They went on another adventure
(b) They built a statue
(c) They gathered for a feast
(d) They sang songs

8. What lesson did Oliver learn from his adventure?
(a) The importance of treasure hunting
(b) The joy of being with friends and community
(c) The value of keeping secrets
(d) The need to be brave alone

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The map led him to a place called “Crystal Cavern.”
2. Inside the Crystal Cave, they encountered Sparkle, the Protector of the Crystals, who gave them a puzzle.
3. Oliver brought snacks for his journey because he thought they were optional.
4. They encountered a small ruby fish in a bubbling pool, which granted Oliver three wishes.
5. Oliver solved the puzzle by correctly answering “the moon.”
6. Oliver discovered a mysterious map in an old book located in his attic.
7. A mischievous squirrel joined Oliver on his journey to the cavern.
8. Oliver wished for a joyful feast in Whimsy Woods, bringing the villagers together to celebrate.
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 did Oliver find in his attic that sparked his adventure?
Oliver found a mysterious map in an old book that had “Crystal Cavern” written on it.

2. How did Oliver prepare for his journey to the Crystal Cavern?
Oliver packed his backpack with snacks, thinking they were essential for any adventure.

3. Who did Oliver meet at the entrance of the cavern, and what did this character say?
Oliver met a mischievous squirrel who said, “You think you’re the only one who wants to explore that cavern?”

4. What was the riddle that Glimmer, the Guardian of the Crystals, asked Oliver and the squirrel?
Glimmer’s riddle was: “I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. Whenever I go, darkness flies. What am I?”

5. What wish did Oliver make after finding the tiny emerald fish in the sparkling pool?
Oliver wished for a joyful feast back in Whimsy Woods so everyone could celebrate together.

6. How did the villagers react when Oliver and the squirrel returned from their adventure?
The villagers gathered for the feast and laughed as Oliver and the squirrel shared their adventure.

7. What important lesson did Oliver learn by the end of the story?
Oliver learned that curiosity and friendship could lead to amazing experiences and that the best treasure is the joy of being with friends and the happiness of the community.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) mysterious
(2) Crystal
(3) silver
(4) thought
(5) appeared
(6) wants
(7) cavern
(8) dares
(9) riddle
(10) wings
(11) cloud
(12) bubbled
(13) Woods
(14) waved
(15) squirrel
(16) things
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. mysterious
Answer: (B) Something that is difficult to understand or explain

2. essential
Answer: (H) Absolutely necessary or very important

3. mischievous
Answer: (G) Playfully causing trouble or being naughty

4. explore
Answer: (J) To travel through an unfamiliar area to learn about it

5. cavern
Answer: (M) A large cave or a large chamber in a cave

6. whispered
Answer: (D) Spoke very softly or quietly

7. glittering
Answer: (L) Shining with a bright, shimmering, reflected light

8. echoed
Answer: (C) A sound that repeats because it bounces off surfaces

9. disturb
Answer: (N) To interrupt or bother someone or something

10. riddle
Answer: (E) A question or statement intentionally phrased to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer

11. guessed
Answer: (F) Made an estimate or assumption without sufficient information

12. splashing
Answer: (O) Causing water to fly around by hitting it

13. emerald
Answer: (A) A bright green precious stone

14. grant
Answer: (I) To give or allow someone something they have asked for

15. celebrate
Answer: (K) To do something enjoyable because of a special occasion
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Oliver find in the old book in his attic?
Answer: (a) A mysterious map

2. What was written on the map that Oliver found?
Answer: (d) Crystal Cavern

3. Who joined Oliver on his adventure to the Crystal Cavern?
Answer: (a) A squirrel

4. What did Glimmer, the Guardian of the Crystals, require from Oliver and the squirrel?
Answer: (c) To answer a riddle

5. What was the answer to Glimmer’s riddle?
Answer: (b) The sun

6. What did Oliver wish for after freeing the tiny emerald fish?
Answer: (d) A joyful feast in Whimsy Woods

7. What did the villagers do when Oliver returned with the squirrel?
Answer: (c) They gathered for a feast

8. What lesson did Oliver learn from his adventure?
Answer: (b) The joy of being with friends and community
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The map led him to a place called “Crystal Cavern.” (Answer: True)
2. Inside the Crystal Cave, they encountered Sparkle, the Protector of the Crystals, who gave them a puzzle. (Answer: False)
3. Oliver brought snacks for his journey because he thought they were optional. (Answer: False)
4. They encountered a small ruby fish in a bubbling pool, which granted Oliver three wishes. (Answer: False)
5. Oliver solved the puzzle by correctly answering “the moon.” (Answer: False)
6. Oliver discovered a mysterious map in an old book located in his attic. (Answer: True)
7. A mischievous squirrel joined Oliver on his journey to the cavern. (Answer: True)
8. Oliver wished for a joyful feast in Whimsy Woods, bringing the villagers together to celebrate. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧