short stories for beginners

Jenny visited her grandmother in the hospital.  She saw how kind and helpful the nurses were to her grandmother.  Now she wants to be a nurse when she grows up.  She wants to help sick people get well. 
What is the main idea?

• Jenny got sick.
• Jenny wants to be a nurse.
• Her grandmother was in the hospital.
• Jenny was glad the nurses were being kind to her grandmother.

Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers.  They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.  Mrs. Jones works nights.  She bakes cakes, cookies, and pies.  Mrs. Brown works in the daytime.  She bakes bread and rolls.  Both Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are very good bakers.
What is the main idea?

• Mrs. Jones bakes pies.
• Mrs. Brown bakes rolls.
• Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Brown are bakers
• They work at a store called Bake Goods to Go.

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
What is the main idea?

• Weekends are times to travel.
• The author enjoys spending time with her family.
• The author's grandparents live far away.
• The author is sad to leave her cousins.

Snow was falling again. Every puzzle was put together, every book was read, and the refrigerator was covered in artwork. Buddy and William were bored. They couldn't go out and play in the snow because they were both sick. Even though school might be canceled tomorrow, they were ready to go back to school.
What is the main idea or main event of the passage?

• they were sick
• it was snowing again
• they were bored and ready to go back to school
• the refrigerator was covered in artwork, and the puzzles were put together

Jane has a new toy bird. She likes to play with it. Jane makes the bird go up and down. She helps the bird fly.

The main idea of the story is _____.

• The bird can fly

• Jane likes to play with the bird

• Jane has a new toy bird

Cody is a great soccer player. He practices every day after school. Cody plays for his school soccer team. So far this year he has scored six goals. Cody can kick the ball very far. He can also run very fast. Everyone thinks that Cody is the best soccer player they know.

The main idea of the story is _____.

• Cody plays for school soccer team

• Cody is the best soccer player

• Cody has scored six goal

John loves to go running every morning. Running makes him feel good. He is training to be a professional runner. His dream is to be in the Olympics when he grows up.

The main idea of the short poem is _____.

• John likes to go running

• He wants to be a runner

• His dream is to be in the Olympics

Fred was running down the icy street. His mom told him to be careful. The next thing Fred was already down.

You can guess that _____.

• Fred was hit by his mother

• Fred was pushed by his friend

• Fred fell on the ice

Mr. Lee was a nice man. He was on the bus heading to the store. At one of the stops, he realized a woman holding a baby could not find a seat.

What do you think Mr. Lee will do?

• He offered his seat to the woman

• He ignored the woman

• He told the woman to get off the bus

Mary has a new pet.  Her pet is a baby kitten.  It is soft and cuddly.  The kitten likes to sleep a lot.  Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed.  Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake.  She never forgets to feed her kitten.
What is the main idea?

• The kitten sleeps a lot.
• Mary plays with her kitten
• Mary’s new pet is a kitten.
• Mary want a new pet.