Cause and Effect

Read the story. Then answer the questions.

School starts in a week and today is the day we go shopping for school supplies!
I told mom that I didn’t need anything. I loved my backpack from last year. It had a
picture of Topaz, my favorite rock singer. It even had her
Autograph across the bottom of her picture. I couldn’t wait to get it out and check my
supplies. When I pulled out my backpack from the back of my closet, I was horrified at
how dirty it was. Somehow, over the summer, a strap was broken, the color was faded,
and the zipper was stuck. There was a dark spot right on Topaz’s chin and you could
hardly read her signature any more. When I looked inside, I found papers that were
stuck together from an open glue bottle. I wondered who took the cap off of my glue
bottle. There was a library book I borrowed and forgot to return. My markers had
escaped from the box and the caps were mysteriously missing. My lucky pencil was too
short to write with anymore. I discovered the dark spot on Topaz’s chin was from the
cupcake I packed away from the end-of-the-year picnic. The frosting melted all over my
notebooks and scissors. I decided it was time to make my list of new school supplies.

1. Why didn’t the main character think she needed new school supplies?

2. What caused her to change her mind?

3. What caused the dark spot on her backpack?

4. Why couldn’t the markers be used?

5. How do you think the cap came off of the glue bottle?

6. What synonym for autograph is used later in the story?

Story 1

You are visiting a friend in Jaipur. It is February and the temperature is about 20
degrees. The clouds are low and dark. You have helped bring in plenty of wood for the
fireplace. Your friend’s father is going to buy some extra food and salt for the driveway.
The weatherman is forecasting

Story 2

Abbie has her backpack on her bed. She is packing for a trip. She lays out a waterproof
jacket and rain hat, extra socks, a flashlight, compass, binoculars, and water bottle. She
hunts for extra batteries and decides to bring her camera. She checks on her sleeping
bag and helps her parents bring out the tent. Abbie and her parents are going

Story 3

Max has a very strong arm. He keeps his lucky leather glove in good condition. All
spring he practices to get in shape. He has a great fast ball and is working on his spin
ball. He plays for the Delhi Daredevils. He is their

Story 4

Mrs. Taylor knows everyone in town. Every morning she greets people and takes their
packages. She checks pin codes and makes sure each box and envelope is properly
addressed. She lets me know when there are new stamps coming out since I am a
collector. Mrs. Taylor works at

Story 5

Luther has been saving his allowance for almost a year. He has earned money by
mowing lawns and washing cars. He bought the helmet and lock already. He has
practiced his hand signals and he even took a class on street safety from the local police.
Luther is planning to buy a
The Cry in the Corridor

At first each day which passed by for Mary Lennox was exactly like the others. Every
morning she awoke in her tapestry room and found Martha kneeling upon the hearth
building her fire; every morning she ate her breakfast in the nursery which had nothing
amusing in it; and after each breakfast she gazed out of the window across to the huge
moor which seemed to spread out on all sides and climb up to the sky, and after she had
stared for a while she realized that if she did not go out she would have to stay in and do
nothing—and so she went out. She did not know that this was the best thing she could
have done, and she did not know that, when she began to walk quickly or even run
along the paths and down the avenue, she was stirring her slow blood and making
herself stronger by fighting with the wind which swept down from
the moor. She ran only to make herself warm, and she hated the wind which rushed at
her face and roared and held her back as if it were some giant she could not see. But the
big breaths of rough fresh air blown over the heather filled her lungs with something
which was good for her whole thin body and whipped some red color into her cheeks
and brightened her dull eyes when she did not know anything about it.

Why? Circle the correct answer.

Why did Mary go outside?

A. She liked to run.
B. It was too hot inside.
C. It was too cold inside.
D. She had nothing else to do.

Why did Mary run?

A. She wanted to get warm.
B. She was in a hurry to get to breakfast.
C. She heard a scary sound.
D. She had to find the garden.

Why was going outside good for Mary?

A. It made her think clearly.
B. She could get away from Martha.
C. It made her stronger and healthier.
D. She could see her uncle
Main Character
Read the story. Then answer the questions.

If he hadn’t been strapped in, Jason would not be able to sit still. He wanted to tell
everyone that he was going to be on TV. Every evening at 6:00 he watched his favorite
show “Class Acts.” Players answered questions for money. If they missed a question
they had to act out the title of a song, TV show, or book. He knew most of the answers,
so he sent in a letter to try to get on the show. Three weeks ago, his mother called him to
the phone. He had been chosen to be a contestant. They even sent him two tickets so he
and
his mother could fly into the city. Jason worked hard to get ready. He watched “Class
Acts” every evening. His family would play against each other. Everyone made up all
kinds of questions about science, music, movies, games, and books. His friends asked
him questions on the playground at recess. Even his teacher took time to play the game
in class. She asked questions about the subjects they were studying.
Jason could feel the plane getting ready to land. He looked out the window and saw the
Statue of Liberty. He had butterflies in his stomach, but he couldn’t wait for the game to
begin.

1. Who is the main character of the story?

2. Where is Jason during the story?

3. Why is the main character so excited?

4. What is one way Jason prepared for the show?

5. What clue helps you know the name of the city where Jason is going?

6. What do the words “butterflies in his stomach” tell you about Jason?
Read the story below, and then answer the questions

It was Saturday, and Mindy was getting ready for her birthday party. In
just three hours, all of her friends would arrive with presents and
excitement. Every year, Mindy and her mom made a cinnamon cake fresh on the day of
her birthday party, and Mindy thought this year would be no deferent. Excited, she
waited for her mom in the kitchen.
Mindy’s mother came into the kitchen and took her apron from a
hook on the wall. Instead of putting it on, though, she lifted it over
Mindy’s head. Surprised, Mindy stood as her mom tied the strings of the
apron behind her.
“Mindy, I think you’re old enough to mix the batter yourself this year.
I’m sure you can do it. Remember what we say?”
“Yes... Baking is just a little sugar and a little spice.”
“That’s right,” said Mindy’s mom. “Now, go ahead and start. I’m going
to go blow up the balloons.” With that, she left Mindy alone in the kitchen.
Maybe her mom was right; maybe there wasn’t much to it. Carefully,
Mindy measured out the ingredients and poured them into a big bowl.
Carefully, she mixed the batter until it was perfectly smooth. Carefully, she poured the
batter into the cake pan. Then she called to her mom.
“It’s ready to go into the oven,” Mindy said. Her mom turned on the
oven, set the temperature, and popped the pan into the oven. Mindy had
actually done it!
When the cake came out, thought, something seemed wrong. Mindy
tried to poke it with a toothpick, just as her mother always did. The
toothpick wouldn’t go through. The cake was almost as hard as a rock!
“I did exactly what I was supposed to,” Mindy moaned. “I was so
careful! I didn’t put the eggs in until last, and I measured the baking soda exactly.”
“Baking soda? Oh, dear. That’s the problem. You were supposed to
use baking powder.”
Mindy began to cry. “I’m sorry, mom. I tried so hard.”
Mindy’s mom gave her a big hug. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I expected
too much and I was hard on you. I guess you could say I used too little
sugar and too much spice!”
Mindy laughed, and her mom laughed, too.
“Now, let’s try again,” said Mindy’s mom. “This time, we’ll do it
together.”
Why do you think Mindy was nervous about mixing the batter by
herself?
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Why do you think Mindy’s mom thought Mindy could do it herself?

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What did Mindy’s mom mean when she said she used “too little sugar
and too much spice”?
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How would you feel if you had to do a big project alone, like Mindy did?
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