Reading Comprehension Unit 2

Reading Comprehension 2

​Dear Diary,

My punishment has begun. My parents have disallowed me from leaving the house on my own for a week!

I am disappointed, of course, but I think I deserve this because of what happened this afternoon. What I did or did not do almost cost a life! Other than a few scratches, I am thankful that my little sister feels fine, though…

​Read the text below and answer the following questions.

​Well, Carol had always wanted a pet. So, after school, I took her to Pat’s Aquarium. She was delirious, pointing to each guppy, goldfish or any other brightly coloured creature with an excitement I had never seen. Eventually, we settled for a baby guppy because it was all I could afford.

Fill in the Blank

Which 4-word phrase tells us that the writer was surprised at how his sister was behaving at Pat's aquarium?

​We were on our way home and needed to cross the road to take a bus. The rain had just stopped so we were glad that we didn’t have to delay our journey home. Carol held the guppy, now swimming in a plastic bag, tightly in her hands.

Multiple Choice

What does 'the rain had just stopped' tell us about the condition of the road?

• It was dry.

• It was wet.

• It was muddy.

• It was hard.

​In her desire to get home quickly, Carol suggested that we dash across the road even though the “green man” sign of the traffic lights was blinking. In that way, we could catch bus 16 which had stopped at the traffic lights. I assessed the traffic condition and agreed that it was safe to cross, although the “green man” sign was blinking and beeping. I stretched my arm to hold Carol’s but she was so excited by the thought of finally owning a pet that she dashed across the road.

Multiple Select

What two actions of the writer tell us that he was doing his best to ensure their safety when crossing the road?

• checked that the green man was on

• suggest to dash across when the green man was blinking

• stretch out to hold Carol's hand to cross the road

• dash across the road to catch the bus

Multiple Select

What did Carol do that tells us about ‘her desire to get home quickly’?

• She stretched out her hand.

• She dashed across the road even though the green man was blinking.

• She did not hold the author's hand while crossing the road.

• She suggested dashing across the road to catch the bus that had stopped at the traffic light.

​Just before she reached the other side, however, Carol slipped, sending the plastic bag in her hands flying to the pavement! Carol managed to regain her balance and slid across the tarmac almost gracefully. The plastic bag, unfortunately, landed on the pavement with a loud thud and burst open, leaving its contents scattered.

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Carol fell on the road.

• True

• False

​Carol went down hard on her knees on the rough surface of the pavement and tried to rescue the gasping guppy with little success as it slipped off her fingers again and again. Tears rolling down her cheeks, she cried repeatedly, “Don’t die! Don’t die!” By then, a crowd had gathered around us. A few elderly strangers offered us tissue paper.

​I took up one of their offers and removed the lid of my water bottle. (Yes, I carry it around wherever I go.) With the tissue paper, my grip of the guppy was firmer and I managed to transfer the struggling fish into my water bottle. Who would have thought of that? The fish circled in the water and I thought I saw it wave with its fin. The crowd soon dispersed. Some of the onlookers patted me on my back.

​Well, this event could have escaped Mum and Dad’s knowledge if not for the scratches on Carol’s knees. Maybe I would get her to wear jeans when we go out next.

Just me,

Jake

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Carol managed to pick up the guppy.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False?

The witnesses sympathized with Carol.

• True

• False

Fill in the Blank

In the phrase "I took up one of their offers", what did Jake take?

Multiple Choice

How did Jake feel about himself?

• proud

• amazed

Multiple Choice

How did the crowd feel about Jake?

• grateful

• impressed

Poll

Do you think Jake is a good older sibling?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

What evidence shows that he is a good older brother?