Which term describes a short moral story often featuring animals as characters?

• A. Allegory
• B. Parable
• C. Anecdote
• D. Fable

Answer: (D)

A fable is a short story that conveys a moral lesson and often features animals as characters with human-like traits to illustrate that lesson. The animals make the message memorable and accessible, showing virtues or vices in action.

This fits best because it combines a brief narrative with a clear moral, specifically using animal characters to stand in for human behavior. An allegory uses symbolic figures and ideas to represent broader truths and is usually longer; a parable is a brief moral tale often with human characters; an anecdote is a short, real-life story about a specific event, not primarily designed to teach a universal lesson.