Reading and listening worksheet for ESL learners

The more we practice our English, the better it will get. We need to listen and also make sure we understand what we read.

source

First watch the video and then read the story. Look up any words you do not understand and try and answer the questions.

Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his
mother. They were very poor. All they had was a cow.
One morning, Jack’s mother told Jack to take their cow to market
and sell her. On the way, Jack met a man. He gave Jack some magic
beans for the cow.
Jack took the beans and went back home. When Jack’s mother saw the beans she was very angry.
She threw the beans out of the window.
The next morning, Jack looked out of the window. There was a giant beanstalk. He went outside and
started to climb the beanstalk.
He climbed up to the sky through the clouds. Jack saw a beautiful castle. He went inside.
Jack heard a voice. ‘Fee, fi, fo, fum!’ Jack ran into a cupboard.
An enormous giant came into the room and sat down. On the table there was a hen and a golden
harp.
‘Lay!’ said the giant. The hen laid an egg. It was made of gold. ‘Sing!’ said the giant. The harp began to
sing. Soon the giant was asleep.
Jack jumped out of the cupboard. He took the hen and the harp. Suddenly, the harp sang, ‘Help, master!’
The giant woke up and shouted, ‘Fee, fi, fo, fum!’ Jack ran and started climbing down the beanstalk.
The giant came down after him.
Jack shouted, ‘Mother! Help!’ Jack’s mother took an axe and chopped down the beanstalk. The giant
fell and crashed to the ground. Nobody ever saw him again.
With the golden eggs and the magic harp, Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.

1. What was the name of the boy?
2. Were they rich or poor and how do you know it?
3. What did Jack's mom tell him to do with the cow?
4. Did Jack get money for the cow?
5. Was his mom happy?
6. What did she do with the beans?
7. What was growing outside his window the next day?
8. What did he find at the top of the beanstalk?
9. Give another name for 'enormous'.
10. What items were on the table?
11. Who lived in the castle?
12. Why did the giant wake up when Jack stole the harp?
13. Jack was in trouble because the giant followed him. What did Jack do when he got back on Earth.
14. How did his mom help him?
15. How does the fairy tale end?

Try and re-tell the story in your own words.