The Blind Men and the Elephant - Reading Comprehension Questions and Answers - Grade 3

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

Short story “The Blind Men and the Elephant” followed by four reading comprehension questions with blank lines for student responses. The text describes six blind men who learn about an elephant through touch, then argue because each person interprets the parts differently. The worksheet assesses understanding of the setting, the comparison each man makes, how they treat one another, and the lesson about avoiding narrow-minded thinking and considering others’ perspectives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Questions

1. Why were the blind men on the roadside?

2. What does the elephant’s ear feel like to one of the men?

3. How do the blind men treat one another?

4. What does this passage try to teach us?

Answers

1. Why were the blind men on the roadside?

2. What does the elephant’s ear feel like to one of the men?

3. How do the blind men treat one another?

4. What does this passage try to teach us?

Read the short story. Then answer each question. The Blind Men and the Elephant Six blind men stood by the roadside and waited for the elephant parade. They had often heard of elephants, but they had never seen one as they were blind. A little later, an elephant was driven down the road where they stood. When they were told that the great beast was before them, they asked the driver to let him stop so that they might see him. Of course , they could not see him with their eyes, but they thought that by touching him they could learn just what kind of animal he was. The first one happened to put his hand on the elephant's side. “Well, well!” he said,“ Now I know all about this beast. He is exactly like a wall.” The second felt only of the elephant's tusk. “My brother,” he said, “You are mistaken. He is not at all like a wall. He is round and smooth and sharp. He is more like a spear than anything else.” The third happened to take hold of the elephant's trunk. “Both of you are wrong,” he said.“Anybody who knows anything can see that this elephant is like a snake.” The fourth reached out his arms and grasped one of the elephant's legs.“Oh, how blind you are,” he said. “ It is very plain to me that he is round and tall like a tree.” The fifth was a very tall man, and he chanced to take hold of the elephant's ear. “The blindest man ought to know that this beast is not like any of the things that you name,” he said. “He is exactly like a huge fan.” The sixth blind man seized the animal's tail. “ Oh foolish fellows,” he cried, “you surely have lost your senses. This elephant is not like a wall or a spear or a snake or a tree, nor is he like a fan. Any man with any sense can see that he is exactly like a rope.” Then the elephant moved on, and the six blind men sat by the roadside all day and quarreled about him. Each believed that he knew just how the animal looked, and each called the others unkind names because they did not agree with each other. People who have sight sometimes act just as foolishly. Questions: 1. Why were the blind men on the roadside? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 2. What does the elephant’s ear feel like to one of the men? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 3. How do the blind men treat one another? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 4. What does this passage try to teach us? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Answers: 1. Why were the blind men on the roadside? The blind men were waiting for the elephant parade . 2. What does the elephant’s ear feel like to one of the men? The elephant’s ear feels like a fan to one of the men. 3. How do the blind men treat one another? The blind men quarreled with one another and treated each other unkindly. 4. What does this passage try to teach us? The passage is trying to teach us that we should not be narrow-minded. We should try to take others’ point of view into account.

FAQs

Why were the blind men on the roadside?

They were waiting for the elephant parade.

What does the elephant’s ear feel like to one of the men?

To one of the men, the elephant’s ear feels like a fan.

What lesson does the passage try to teach?

It teaches that people should not be narrow-minded and should consider others’ points of view.

Oct 12, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana