Question

theme
aesop fable: the rooster & the fox
a fox was caught in a trap one fine morning, because he had got too near the farmers hen house. no doubt he was hungry, but that was not an excuse for stealing. a rooster, rising early, discovered what had happened. he knew the fox could not get at him, so he went a little closer to get a good look at his enemy. the fox saw a slender chance of escape. \dear friend,\ he said, \i was just on my way to visit a sick relative, when i stumbled into this string and got all tangled up. but please do not tell anybody about it. i dislike causing sorrow to anybody, and i am sure i can soon gnaw this string to pieces.\ but the rooster was not to be so easily fooled. he soon roused the whole hen yard, and when the farmer came running out, that was the end of mr. fox.
this question has two parts. first, answer part a. then, answer part b.
part a: which sentence states a theme of the passage?
a protect your family from others.
b do not help those who are dangerous.
c you should always help someone in need.
d do not be fooled by others.
part b: fill in the bubble before the detail that supports the answer in part a.
a \i was just on my way to visit a sick relative, when i stumbled into this string and got all tangled up.\ b but please do not tell anybody about it. c i dislike causing sorrow to anybody, and i am sure i can soon gnaw this string to pieces.\ d but the rooster was not to be so easily fooled.
short answer: why do you think the fox was so close to the hen house?

Explanation:

In the fable, the Fox tries to deceive the Rooster with a false story about visiting a sick relative, but the Rooster is not fooled. This shows the theme of not being deceived by others. For Part B, the fact that the Rooster was not easily fooled supports the theme in Part A. The Fox was near the hen - house likely because it was trying to steal the hens.

Answer:

Part A: D. Do not be fooled by others.
Part B: D. But the Rooster was not to be so easily fooled.
Short Answer: The Fox was so close to the hen house because it was likely trying to steal the hens.