Think Before You Act


Look Before You Leap
Have you ever heard the saying, "Look before you leap"? It's a proverb, which is a short, well-known saying that gives advice. This particular proverb tells us to think carefully before we do something. It's about considering the possible consequences of our actions before we take them.
Imagine you're walking in the woods and come to a stream. You see a log across it. You could just run and jump onto the log without looking, right? But what if the log is slippery, or rotten, or not as sturdy as it looks? You might fall into the stream! Looking before you leap means checking the log first. Make sure it's safe to cross.
This advice isn't just for crossing streams. It applies to many situations in our lives. Let's say your friend asks you to help them with something, but you already have a lot of homework. Leaping without looking would mean immediately saying yes. However, if you look first, you'd consider your homework. You'd think about how much time you have and whether you can really help your friend without falling behind in your studies.
- Proverb:
- A short, popular saying that expresses a common truth or belief.
- Consequences:
- The results or effects of an action.
- Sturdy:
- Strong and not easily damaged.
- immediately:
- Right away, without waiting at all.
- prevent:
- To stop something from happening before it occurs.
- decision:
- A choice that you make after thinking about your options.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.

Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What does the proverb "Look before you leap" mean?
- 2Why is it important to "look" before you "leap"?
Where this passage belongs
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Think Before You Act” is a explanatory article reading passage about Decision Making, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (348 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.