Read the text and answer the questions.

The bird by the river chirped twice before breaking into song, to tell all the other animals to sing along. The dog barked, the other birds sang, the squirrel squeaked, and the rabbit clapped its ears together. The cat did not because his mouth was hot from some very strong mustard. He thought to himself that he wouldn't have eaten that hot dog if he knew it was on it. He tried to look for water, but that mustard drove his nose crazy and he couldn't smell anything. Not even water.

Luckily for the cat, cats have very good eyes, and he saw a puddle out of the corner of his eye. He ran to it. He wondered why the water was kind of yellow, and thought it must be from the leaves floating in the puddle. The cat took a big drink. It made his tongue felt so much better that it made him want to sing, but the others were done and the bird had flown away.

1. What is the main character in this story?
2. What was bothering the cat?
3. From where?
4. What negative effects was the mustard having on him?
5. Since he couldn't do that, what senses was he relying on?
6. What did this sense help him accomplish?
7. What was strange about the water?
8. Why?
9. Did he drink it anyway?
10. Did it solve the problem with his mouth?
11. What did he desire to do after he felt normal again?
12. So did he?
13. How many different animals were singing at the beginning of the story?
14. Did they all use their voices only?
15. What else did they use besides their voices?
16. What sound did the squirrel make?
17. What was the bird's cue for all the others?

Numbered answers:
1. The cat
2. his mouth was hot from strong mustard
3. a hot dog
4. couldn't smell
5. sight
6. find water
7. it was yellow
8. maybe the floating leaves
9. Yes
10. Yes
11. sing
12. no
13. Four
14. No.
15. ears
16. a squeak
17. two chirps