Short Stories
In this beginner’s tutorial, learners are able to upgrade their reading comprehension through “Short Stories”. Who, What, Where, When, Why and How it happened in a “Short Stories”.
In this lesson, you will equipped of reading comprehension skills and you are able to answer perfectly the comprehension question based on “Short Stories” given.
Lets start learning Short Stories
Direction : Read the short story “The Drive” and answer the following question.
Gustavo works far away from his home.
He drives a car to work. It takes him 3 hours to get there.
Gustavo drives.
While he drives, he thinks about many things.
He thinks about his little girl. She likes to ride horses.
He thinks about is wife. She milks the cows on the farm.
Gustavo thinks of things he has to do when he gets home.
He needs to cut the grass.
He needs to water the flowers.
Questions:
1) How does Gustavo get to work?
A. By bus B. By car
C. By horse D. By train
2) What does Gustavo do when he drives?
A. He sings. B. He talks.
C. He thinks. D. He works.
3) What does Gustavo think about?
A. His car. B. His little boy.
C. His wife. D. His work.
4) How long does it take Gustavo to get to work?
A. ___________________
5) What does his little girl like to do?
A. Milk cows. B. Play fireman.
C. Ride horses. D. Water flowers.
6) What does his little boy like to play?
A. ___________________
7) What does Gustavo need to do when he gets home?
A. Read a story. B. Milk the cows.
C. Cut the grass. D. Water the flowers.
8) What does Gustavo want to do when he gets home?
A. Sit with his wife. B. Water the flowers.
C. Read to his little girl. D. Play a game with his little boy
9) Why may Gustavo need to cut the grass?
A. It is too green. B. It is too brown.
C. It is too long. D. It is too short.
10) Why may Gustavo need to water the flowers?
A. So they will go. B. So they will give.
C. So they will grow. D. So they will guess.
Roly-Poly Pill Bugs
by Cynthia Sherwood
Direction : Read the short story “Roly-Poly Pill Bugs” and answer the following question.
Some people are afraid of bugs such as spiders or beetles. But there is one bug
that just about everybody likes—pill bugs. If you ever pick one up, you know why its nickname is “roly-poly.” A pill bug rolls up into a tight little ball to protect itself. This bug is scared of you, not the other way around!
These little gray or brown bugs can be found almost everywhere in the United
States except the desert. That is because they need to stay moist. But they can live in dry places like California thanks to lawn sprinklers. One of their favorite
hang-outs is under damp flower pots. Did you know that pill bugs have
something in common with kangaroos? After her eggs hatch, the mother pill bug
carries her young in a pouch under her belly. The little pill bugs stay there until
they are big enough to be on their own. Pill bugs also have something in common
with snakes. Just as snakes shed their skin when it gets too small, pill bugs do too.
This is called “molting.” A pill bug molts about five times until it is full-grown.
Pill bugs are a little like owls, too. Pill bugs are nocturnal, meaning they are
most active at night. That is when they most like to wander around and look
for food. And just like earthworms, pill bugs help break down plants in the
soil. Pill bugs aren’t just nice bugs. They are also interesting ones!
Comprehension Questions
Roly-Poly Pill Bugs
1. Why are pill bugs nicknamed “roly-poly”?
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2. Where would you be least likely to find a pill bug?
a. under a large rock near a pond
b. under a log near a downspout
c. in a vegetable garden
d. hiding in the roots of a cactus
3. How is a pill bug like a kangaroo?
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_________________________________________________________________________
4. What does the word “molting” mean?
a. active at night
b. shedding its skin
c. crawling in a damp place
d. crawling like a snake
5. How are pill bugs and earthworms alike?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
6. Which statement from the article is an opinion?
a. This bug is scared of you, not the other way around.
b. A pill bug molts about five times until it is full-grown.
c. Pill bugs aren’t just nice bugs; they are interesting ones.
d. One of their favorite hang-outs is under damp flower pots.
Roly-Poly Pill Bugs (Answer key)
1. Why are pill bugs nicknamed roly-poly?
Pill bugs are nicknamed roly-poly because they can
roll up in tight balls to protect themselves.
2. Where would you be least likely to find a pill bug? d
a. under a large rock near a pond b. under a log near a downspout
c. in a vegetable garden d. hiding in the roots of a cactus
3. How is a pill bug like a kangaroo?
Like a kangaroo, a mother pill bug is able to carry her young in a pouch inher belly.
4. What does the word “molting” mean? b
a. active at night b. shedding its skin
c. crawling in a damp place d. crawling like a snake
5. How are pill bugs and earthworms alike?
Earthworms and pill bugs both break down plants in the soil.
6. Which statement from the article is an opinion? c
a. This bug is scared of you, not the other way around.
b. A pill bug molts about five times until it is full-grown.
c. Pill bugs aren’t just nice bugs; they are interesting ones.
d. One of their favorite hang-outs is under damp flower pots.
Direction : Read the short story “The Skeleton Key” and answer the following question.
The Skeleton Key by Kelly Hashway
Erik rang his grandparents’ doorbell and silently wished the next four hours would go by quickly. He didn’t want to give up his entire Saturday afternoon at his grandparents’ house where there were no kids in the neighborhood.
“You’re right on time,” Grandma Bethany said, opening the door. “There’s tea and cake in the dining room.” Cake? At least the first ten minutes would go by quickly. Erik hung his coat on the rack by the door and saw a strange looking key hanging on a hook. “Grandpa Bill, what’s this funny key
for?” “That’s a skeleton key. It opens the best room in this house,” Grandpa Bill whispered so no one else could hear. “It’s the room I go to when your grandmother tries to make me help with the dishes.”
“What’s so special about the room?” Erik asked.
“It’s a game room,” Grandpa Bill said. “Take the key and see if you can find the room by the time I finish my tea.” Erik grabbed the key and stared at it. “A skeleton key? It looks old.” Erik decided the oldest things in the house were probably upstairs in the walk-up attic. He headed past the dining room and to the stairs. Grandpa Bill sipped his tea and shook his head.
Erik knew that meant he was going the wrong way. He headed back to the front door where’d found the key. Erik thought about the oldest part of a house. “The basement! It’s the first part that’s built.” He rushed to the basement door and looked at the lock. It was different from a normal lock. He slid the key inside and turned it. With a click, the door opened.
Erik switched on the light and walked down the stairs. The basement was one giant room with a pool table in the middle and a dartboard on the far wall. “Awesome!” Erik said. “Ever learn to play pool?” Grandpa Bill
asked, coming down the stairs. “No,” Erik said.
“Well then, grab a cue from the rack and I’ll teach you.”
Erik smiled. The next four hours were going to fly by.
Comprehension Questions
1. What is the setting of this story?
(Tell where and when the story takes place.)
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________________________________________________________________
2. Why didn’t Erik want to visit his grandparents’ house at the beginning of the story?
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3. Grandpa told Erik that the skeleton key opened…
a. a trunk with secrets
b. the basement door
c. the attic door
d. a game room
4. Why did Erik think the key would open the attic door?
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_________________________________________________________________
Now try this: On a sheet of lined paper, write a continuation of this story. Tell what
happens from the time Erik starts playing pool to the time he leaves.
The Skeleton Key
Vocabulary
Choose the best definition for the underlined word in each
sentence.
1. Erik and his grandfather played a game of pool.
a. a hole in the ground filled with water
b. a game where a large ball is shot into a goal
c. a game where a stick is used to shoot balls across a table
2. Grandpa Bill grabbed a cue from the rack.
a. a ball used to play pool
b. a stick used to play pool
c. a storage container for pool equipment
3. Erik noticed a dartboard on the wall in Grandpa Bill’s game room.
a. a square box where darts are kept
b. a piece of wood use to keep score while playing darts
c. a target made of cork that is used in a game of darts
In the space below, draw a pencil sketch of Erik and Grandpa Bill playing pool. Label the pool table and cue. Draw a picture of a dartboard in the background and label it too.
ANSWER KEY
The Skeleton Key
by Kelly Hashway
1. What is the setting of this story?
(Tell where and when the story takes place.)
This story takes place at Erik’s grandparents’ house on a Saturday afternoon.
2. Why didn’t Erik want to visit his grandparents’ house at the beginning of the story?
There were no kids in the neighborhood and he thought he would be bored.
3. Grandpa told Erik that the skeleton key opened… d
a. a trunk with secrets
b. the basement door
c. the attic door
d. a game room
4. Why did Erik think the key would open the attic door?
The key looked old and he thought the attic contained the oldest things in the house.
Now try this: On a sheet of lined paper, write a continuation of this story. Tell what happens from the time Erik starts playing pool to the time he leaves.
The Skeleton Key
Vocabulary
Choose the best definition for the underlined word in each
sentence.
1. Erik and his grandfather played a game of pool. c
a. a hole in the ground filled with water
b. a game where a large ball is shot into a goal
c. a game where a stick is used to shoot balls across a table
2. Grandpa Bill grabbed a cue from the rack. b
a. a ball used to play pool
b. a stick used to play pool
c. a storage container for pool equipment
3. Erik noticed a dartboard on the wall in Grandpa Bill’s game room.
a. a square box where darts are kept
b. a piece of wood use to keep score while playing darts
c. a target made of cork that is used in a game of darts
In the space below, draw a pencil sketch of Erik and Grandpa Bill playing pool. Label the pool table and cue. Draw a picture of a dartboard in the background and label it too.
For more readings
- WHO or WHOM – English grammar rules and lesson
- FAIL – 5 different meanings + expression
- How to agree and disagree in English using short answers
- When to use “a little” and “a few”: English Grammar Rules
- Compound Words: English Vocabulary
- The difference between MUST and HAVE TO
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