A clever answer

One morning, when the mighty lion was just waking up, he yawned a great big yawn. He roared a great big roar to let all of the other animals know that he was awake. You see, the lion was the king of all the animals.

“Oh my,” said the lioness. “You have morning breath!”

The lion roared in dismay. “I am the king! I am perfect!”

As he walked along he met a donkey. “Tell me true, do I have morning breath?” he roared into the donkey’s face.

“Whew!” said the donkey. “Indeed you do.”

The lion was insulted and immediately killed the donkey.

Next the lion met a leopard and asked him the same question.

Knowing that the lion had just killed the donkey because of his answer, the leopard replied, “Oh great sire, your breath is as sweet as the morning dew. Your breath is as delightful as the finest flower. Your breath is finer than the finest perfume.”

Again the lion roared in anger. “You are making fun of me, the mighty king!” So he killed the leopard too.

The fox had seen everything that happened. The lion turned to him and asked, “Fox, do I have morning breath?”

Now everyone knows that a fox is a clever animal. The fox took a deep breath and with a slight cough he replied, “Oh mighty king, I am sorry. Much as I would like to answer your question, I cannot. You see, I have a cold. I cannot smell anything right now.”

The lion answered, “I hope that you are feeling better soon.” The lion went on his way.

Who Said It? Choose the correct answer.

1. “Oh my.” a. Lion b. Lioness c. Donkey

2. “I hope that you are feeling better soon.” a. Lion b. Lioness c. Fox

3. “Whew! Indeed you do.” a. Donkey b. Leopard c. Fox

4. “I am sorry.” a. Donkey b. Leopard c. Fox 5. “Your breath is finer than the finest perfume.” a. Donkey b. Leopard c. Fox

This story is an old folk tale. With a team of your classmates, come up with five ways that you know this story is a folk tale.

For example, it is a tale because animals are talking.