Look at the pictures and try to predict what the story is about.



One sunny day, Mr Crow sat on a branch of the marula tree watching the animals busily collecting their food. Suddenly he saw a piece of paper blow past. Crow swooped down and caught the scrap of paper and read it. It said "DM - BW - 2".

"This must be a secret message," Crow said to himself.

Frog was hopping by and overheard Crow. "A secret?" he said. "I love secrets!"

Crow showed Frog the note.

"I wonder what it means?" asked Frog, nervously.

"DM," Crow muttered. "DM must mean Don't Move. Someone is watching me! I'm sure they are tough. I must be in terrible danger. What can I do?"

"I wonder what BW means?" Crow asked, flapping his wings. "I've got it!" he screeched. "BW means Beware. I must not move and I must beware. Poor me, what can I do?"

"Wait a minute," Frog cried. "The note is for me too. It says 2. It means the note is for both of us." "We're in terrible danger," screeched Crow. "We're in big trouble!" "What can we do?" Frog croaked. "Oh, what can we do?"

They fell to the ground, holding their heads.

Just then Mrs Hen came down the path carrying a shopping basket.

"What is the matter with the two of you?" she asked. "Why are you lying on the ground moaning?" Then she saw the scrap of paper and she took it.



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"Oh, you found my second shopping list. I've been looking for it everywhere", said Mrs Hen.
"Your second shopping list?" Crow and Frog asked?
"Yes, it says number 2. DM means Dried Mealies. And BW means Bag of Worms. There's nothing tastier than dried mealies and worms."
Crow and Frog looked at each other and they began to laugh. They fell to the floor laughing at each other. Mrs Hen walked off with her basket.
"I wonder what's so funny. I can't wait to have mealies and worms for supper. I can never eat enough worms," she thought.

Adapted from Pennsylvania Department of Education: Bureau of Assessment and Accountability 2009.



Circle the letter next to the correct answer. If you are not sure what the answers are, go back and read the story again.

What is the main problem in the story?
A Crow is sitting in the tree.
B Crow and Frog fell to the ground.
C Frog is trying to explain a message to his friends.
D Crow and Frog think they are in danger.
What caused the problem in the story?
A Frog and Crow try to keep a secret to themselves.
B Frog and Crow did not understand the note.
C Frog and Crow fall on the floor.
D Mrs Hen goes to the shop.


What does the word beware mean?
A make a noise
B be careful.
C lie on the ground.
D be quiet
Why do Frog and Crow fall down laughing at the end of the story?
A They understand that the note was a harmless shopping list.
B They would like to eat worms.
C They think the hen is funny.
D They want to buy food.


Tell your friend, in the correct sequence, what happened at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the story.
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