In a small village near a big green forest, there was a boy named Max. Max was special because he could talk to animals like birds, pigs, and even tiny bugs. The people in the village liked Max because he could help them talk to their pets and find animals that were lost. Max was happy to help and liked chatting with the animals.

One day, Max heard a bear crying out because it was stuck in a trap. He went to see the bear and spoke to it in a soft voice. Max told the bear, “We can work together to get you out.” The bear listened to Max and stopped being mad. Max and the other animals worked together to free the bear from the trap.

Max had some funny times with animals too. A raccoon once asked him to find a bin with yummy trash. Max showed the raccoon the way, but a neighbor was not happy about it. Another time, Max’s dog, Buster, talked about his best bone in front of people. These things made Max laugh.

Max learned from talking to animals that they have feelings too. He wanted to help protect the animals and their homes. Max taught people to be nice to animals and take care of them. He made his village a happy place, showing everyone that we can all be friends, even if we are different.

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What could Max do that made him special?
2. Why did the people in the village like Max?
3. Why was the bear crying out?
4. How did Max help the bear get out of the trap?
5. Can you tell me about a funny thing that happened with Max and the animals?
6. What did Max teach the people in his village about animals?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small village near a big green (1)______, there was a boy named Max. Max was special because he could talk to animals like birds, pigs, and even tiny bugs. The people in the village liked Max because he could help them talk to their pets and find animals that were (2)______. Max was happy to help and liked chatting with the animals.

One day, Max heard a bear (3)______ out because it was stuck in a trap. He went to see the bear and (4)______ to it in a soft voice. Max told the bear, “We can work together to get you out.” The bear listened to Max and stopped being mad. Max and the other animals worked together to free the bear from the trap.

Max had some funny times with animals too. A raccoon once (5)______ him to (6)______ a bin with yummy trash. Max showed the raccoon the way, but a neighbor was not happy about it. Another time, Max’s dog, Buster, talked about his best bone in front of people. These things made Max laugh.

Max learned from talking to (7)______ that they have (8)______ too. He wanted to help protect the animals and their homes. Max taught people to be nice to animals and take care of them. He made his village a happy place, showing everyone that we can all be friends, even if we are different.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a special thing about Max?
2. How would you feel if you could talk to animals?
3. Do you like animals? Why or why not?
4. What would you do if you heard an animal crying for help?
5. What is something funny that Max did with animals?
6. Do you have a pet? What is your pet’s name? Do you talk to your pet?
7. Why do you think it’s important to be nice to animals?
8. Do you think it’s possible for people and animals to be friends? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. village
2. special
3. animals
4. chatting
5. bear
6. trap
7. raccoon
8. protect
9. feelings
10. different

Meanings:
(A) Creatures that walk, fly, or swim, but are not people
(B) Talking in a friendly way
(C) Not like others, very unique
(D) A big furry animal that can climb trees and likes honey
(E) A black and white animal that likes to wash its food
(F) Something that catches things
(G) A small place where people live, like a tiny town
(H) Happy, sad, or mad – how you feel inside
(I) Keep safe from harm
(J) Not the same as everything else
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is special about Max?
(a) He can talk to animals
(b) He can fly
(c) He can swim
(d) He can read minds

2. What kind of animals can Max talk to?
(a) Dogs, cats, and fish
(b) Birds, pigs, and bugs
(c) Elephants, lions, and tigers
(d) Snakes, spiders, and sharks

3. How did Max help the bear?
(a) He worked together with the other animals to free the bear from a trap
(b) He gave the bear some food
(c) He ran away from the bear
(d) He ignored the bear and went home

4. What did Max do when the raccoon asked for help?
(a) He told the raccoon to go away
(b) He yelled at the raccoon
(c) He showed the raccoon where to find yummy trash
(d) He ignored the raccoon and walked away

5. Who talked about their best bone in front of people?
(a) Max’s cat, Whiskers
(b) Max’s dog, Buster
(c) Max’s bird, Polly
(d) Max’s fish, Goldie

6. What did Max learn from talking to animals?
(a) That animals can fly
(b) That animals can read minds
(c) That animals can swim
(d) That animals have feelings too

7. What did Max teach people to do?
(a) Be mean to animals and ignore them
(b) Be scared of animals and run away from them
(c) Be nice to animals and take care of them
(d) Be loud and yell at animals

8. What did Max make his village?
(a) A sad place
(b) A scary place
(c) A quiet place
(d) A happy place

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Max’s dog, Buster, talked about his best bone in front of people.
2. Max heard a bear crying out because it was stuck in a trap.
3. Max could talk to animals like birds, pigs, and bugs.
4. Max taught people to be mean to animals and ignore them.
5. Max and the other animals worked together to free the bear.
6. The people in the village didn’t like Max because he couldn’t help them talk to their pets.
7. Max had serious times with animals, like helping a raccoon find nutritious trash.
8. Max told the bear they couldn’t work together to get it out of the trap.
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 could Max do that made him special?
Max could talk to animals.

2. Why did the people in the village like Max?
The people in the village liked Max because he could help them talk to their pets and find lost animals.

3. Why was the bear crying out?
The bear was crying out because it was stuck in a trap.

4. How did Max help the bear get out of the trap?
Max told the bear that they could work together to get it out of the trap. Then, Max and the other animals helped free the bear.

5. Can you tell me about a funny thing that happened with Max and the animals?
One time, a raccoon asked Max to find a bin with yummy trash. Max showed the raccoon the way, but a neighbor was not happy about it.

6. What did Max teach the people in his village about animals?
Max taught the people in his village to be nice to animals and take care of them. He showed everyone that we can all be friends, even if we are different.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) forest
(2) lost
(3) crying
(4) spoke
(5) asked
(6) find
(7) animals
(8) feelings
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. village
Answer: (G) A small place where people live, like a tiny town

2. special
Answer: (C) Not like others, very unique

3. animals
Answer: (A) Creatures that walk, fly, or swim, but are not people

4. chatting
Answer: (B) Talking in a friendly way

5. bear
Answer: (D) A big furry animal that can climb trees and likes honey

6. trap
Answer: (F) Something that catches things

7. raccoon
Answer: (E) A black and white animal that likes to wash its food

8. protect
Answer: (I) Keep safe from harm

9. feelings
Answer: (H) Happy, sad, or mad – how you feel inside

10. different
Answer: (J) Not the same as everything else
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is special about Max?
Answer: (a) He can talk to animals

2. What kind of animals can Max talk to?
Answer: (b) Birds, pigs, and bugs

3. How did Max help the bear?
Answer: (a) He worked together with the other animals to free the bear from a trap

4. What did Max do when the raccoon asked for help?
Answer: (c) He showed the raccoon where to find yummy trash

5. Who talked about their best bone in front of people?
Answer: (b) Max’s dog, Buster

6. What did Max learn from talking to animals?
Answer: (d) That animals have feelings too

7. What did Max teach people to do?
Answer: (c) Be nice to animals and take care of them

8. What did Max make his village?
Answer: (d) A happy place
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Max’s dog, Buster, talked about his best bone in front of people. (Answer: True)
2. Max heard a bear crying out because it was stuck in a trap. (Answer: True)
3. Max could talk to animals like birds, pigs, and bugs. (Answer: True)
4. Max taught people to be mean to animals and ignore them. (Answer: False)
5. Max and the other animals worked together to free the bear. (Answer: True)
6. The people in the village didn’t like Max because he couldn’t help them talk to their pets. (Answer: False)
7. Max had serious times with animals, like helping a raccoon find nutritious trash. (Answer: False)
8. Max told the bear they couldn’t work together to get it out of the trap. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧