Sword of Damocles Reading Passage
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Grade 3 • Ancient Rome Legend Word Count: 127 Words
The Sword of Damocles
Adapted classic tale featuring multiple plural nouns
Grammar Target
Plural Nouns
Read the Story
Tip: Keep an eye out for naming words that mean more than one!
Long ago, Damocles envied the great rulers of Syracuse. He believed that kings enjoyed luxurious lives filled with endless riches and royal feasts.
To teach him a lesson, King Dionysius offered to trade places for one day. Damocles happily agreed. Attentive servants dressed him in velvet robes and placed soft cushions on the throne. Talented musicians played joyful songs while servers carried silver trays of sweet grapes and roasted meats. Damocles smiled, feeling completely delighted.
Suddenly, he glanced up and gasped. Directly above his head hung a heavy iron sword, dangling by a single horse hair! Damocles froze in terror, fearing the thread would snap.
Dionysius explained that all powerful leaders live with unseen dangers and jealous enemies. Great treasures cannot bring peace when deadly threats loom.
Part 1: Plural Noun Collector
Write 4 plural nouns from the text and their singular form
Plural:
Singular:
Plural:
Singular:
Plural:
Singular:
Plural:
Singular:
Part 2: Story Meaning
According to the legend, why did Dionysius hang a sword over Damocles' head? What moral or lesson was he teaching?