Max the Monkey Reading Comprehension Worksheet

About the Max the Monkey reading comprehension

The passage introduces Max, a monkey who lives in the jungle and loves bananas. Readers learn that he climbs to the treetops and takes two bunches of bananas: one for himself and one for his friends. The information is stated directly, so the page is well suited to early retrieval practice.

Five questions ask children to identify who Max is, where he lives, his favourite food, what he climbs and how many bunches he takes. Each question offers three answer choices, allowing pupils to show understanding without a heavy writing demand. Use the Max the Monkey reading comprehension worksheet to model how a reader returns to the passage before choosing an answer.

What is included?

A short jungle passage: The text follows one clear character and a simple sequence involving Max and the bananas.

Five multiple-choice questions: Every question checks a fact stated in the passage and provides three possible answers.

One printable activity page: The reading text and questions appear together so pupils can return to the passage while answering.

A three-page PDF package: The activity is followed by the Word Made Easy thank-you and terms-of-use pages.

What children can practise

• reading a short narrative for meaning;
• locating explicitly stated information;
• matching a question to the relevant sentence;
• choosing between three possible answers;
• checking an answer against evidence in the text.

How to use this worksheet

Prepare for reading: Discuss the title and check that pupils understand jungle, treetops and bunches.

Read and return to the text: Ask pupils to read the passage once for overall meaning, then reread the relevant sentence for each question.

Explain the evidence: After circling an answer, invite pupils to point to or read the words that prove their choice.

Teaching and follow-up ideas

• Read the passage aloud and pause before key details so pupils can predict what may happen next.
• Highlight the sentence that answers each question in a different colour.
• Retell the passage orally using the prompts who, where, what and how many.
• Ask pupils to draw Max sharing the second bunch and write one sentence beneath the picture.

Support and challenge

Support: Read the passage together, cover two answer choices and ask the pupil to locate one key word in the text before deciding.

Challenge: Ask pupils to justify every answer in a complete sentence, then write an additional question whose answer can be found in the passage.

Where this fits in guided reading

Use this worksheet when pupils can read short sentences and are beginning to answer literal questions independently. It works well in a guided group, as a brief comprehension check or as supported home practice. The Department for Education reading framework provides wider guidance on developing accurate, fluent reading and comprehension. Revisit the Max the Monkey reading comprehension activity before moving to passages that require pupils to combine details or make a simple inference.