A Window Into History: The Mystery of the Cellar Window

Read the sentence from the text.

"It's too bad these old walls can't talk. I'm sure they'd have some stories to tell."

What does the author mean with the phrase "too bad these old walls can't talk"?

• Everyone should listen to the stories they are told.

• Houses that are old can talk.

• The house has been a place where a lot of history has happened.

• If the house could talk it would not be torn down.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

What is Patricia's attitude at the beginning of the story?

• She thinks its a good idea to preserve the Andrew's home.

• She thinks its a good idea to replace the Andrew's home with a park.

• She is upset with Celia.

• She wants the Andrew's home for herself.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

Select the text evidence that supports how Patricia feels at the beginning of the story.

• "The family will be fairly compensated and the playground will be in a central area, close to our largest elementary school."

• "The city council may offer us money, but money isn't everything."

• "It's an old house but it should be important to this town."

• "You have your report and I am going to lose my house."

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

Who is the narrator of the passage?

• Grandma J

• Patricia

• An outside observer

• Celia

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Which evidence from the text best supports who the narrator is?

• “I’m not sure. We’ll figure something out. Let’s make some phone calls.”

• “We’re building a playground for the children of our great city.”

• “This is Celia Andrews, the daughter of the owner, Jean Andrews.”

• “Grandma J. is showing a letter to her daughter, Celia.”

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

“An old house like this is a window into history.”

Part A: What does the phrase “window into history” mean?

• A window in an old house is different than a window in a new house.

• An old house can give insight into what happened in the past.

• Old houses are always best.

• People need to know the history of where they live

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

Part B: Which evidence from the text best supports what a window into history means?

• “Well, first of all, old houses like this one have a lot to tell us about the history of this area.”

• “This house can’t be torn down, not for a playground, not for anything.”

• “Jean Andrews has lived here since she was a child and now, she’s almost ninety.”

• “It was your inquisitive grandchildren that made the discovery.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

What is Patricia's attitude at the end of the story?

• She thinks it's a good idea to replace the house with a playground.

• She wants to preserve the house.

• She thinks it's a bad idea to keep the house intact.

• She wants to move into the house.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.7.3