Read this extract from Spirit of the Jungle.

1 A boom of thunder woke Mak with a jolt. His eyes snapped open and he was instantly aware of
his surroundings. He didn’t know how long he’d been asleep, but the fading light indicated it
had been for a couple of hours. Another volley of lightning flashed overhead, followed
seconds later by thunder that sounded more aggressive than anything Mak could remember
hearing before.
5
He knew standing under a tree in a lightning storm was the worst thing he could do – but in
the middle of a jungle he had little choice. He couldn’t remember why it was dangerous – but
that question was answered moments later as another flash of lightning struck overhead.

8 The bang was deafening. Then the half-rotted limb it had struck several storeys above him
fell. It was the size of a motorbike and would have killed him if he hadn’t been cowering under
the fallen tree. Instead, the branch smashed to the ground only metres from his shelter –
accompanied by a horrific noise – and shattered into multiple splinters.

12 Then the gentle sound of rain resumed and all was calm once again. Except Mak, who was still
clutching his legs and trembling in fear.

14 It was several long moments later when he realized that it would soon be dark. The thought
filled him with fresh fears. He needed a fire. Rummaging through his pockets he produced his
shiny coin and a plastic spoon he had absently pocketed in the hotel over breakfast the
previous morning.

Along with his wet sock and single trainer, Mak probably had the worst survival kit in history.

19 He dabbed his palm over his clothes. They felt as wet now as they had when he’d first woke
up. He stripped his clothes off, and then wrung them out as hard as he could and was amazed
at the torrent of water he managed to expel. But still they were damp to the touch. He hung
them on twigs and hoped they’d dry in the hot humid air.

24 His body was damp all over and, aware of the smell from his feet and armpits, Mak tore a
handful of dried moss from under the log. Checking there were no bugs inside, he diligently
wiped down his body. The moss was surprisingly absorbent and scrubbed away layers of filth.

27 Next, he assembled a pile of twigs and leaves from the floor of his shelter. Miraculously they
were dry. He made a small pyramid of twigs and placed the leaves inside. He found two sticks.
Using the broad one as a base, he put the tip of the thinner twig against it and furiously
rubbed his hands back and forth, rotating the twig just as he’d seen people do before in films.

31 Nothing happened. With growing frustration, Mak rubbed the twig until his palms became
bloody, yet there wasn’t even a hint of smoke.

‘Cavemen could do this, why can’t I!’ he roared.

Mina Emad – Year 6 Reading Comprehension – Vacation Pack

1. Tick two sentences that are correct.

Mak can hear nothing at the beginning of the story.

Mak did not take time to realise where he was.

There are very few trees in the forest.

The tree branch fell on Mak.

Mak felt frightened even after the storm was over.

2. What time of day was it when Mak woke up?

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Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

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3. Why do you think is ‘standing under a tree in a lightning storm’ was the worst thing
Mak could do?

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4. Read this paragraph

‘The bang was deafening. Then the half-rotted limb it had struck several storeys above him
fell. It was the size of a motorbike and would have killed him if he hadn’t been cowering
under the fallen tree. Instead, the branch smashed to the ground only metres from his
shelter – accompanied by a horrific noise – and shattered into multiple splinters.’

How do the highlighted phrases or sentences build suspense? (Each colour has a certain
idea or technique.)
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Mina Emad – Year 6 Reading Comprehension – Vacation Pack

5. Read lines 14-17. Find and copy a short sentence.

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What is its effect?

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6. Read lines 21-22.

‘Then he wrung them out as hard as he could and was amazed at the torrent of water he
managed to expel.’

Which technique is used here? Tick one.

Simile
Alliteration
Personification
Hyperbole (exaggeration)

7. Read lines 24-26.

Why did Mak feel dirty? Write one word only.

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8. Read lines 27-30.

It seems that Mak knows what he is doing? How did he learn that? Write one word.

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9. Read the last line ‘Cavemen could do this, why can’t I!’ he roared.

What is Mak trying to do?

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What other words can replace ‘roared’?

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Mina Emad – Year 6 Reading Comprehension – Vacation Pack

34 Determined not to give up, Mak ventured beyond his shelter. The rain was just as heavy and the
light was rapidly diminishing. He prodded around some drier nooks for more kindling*. He found
some more dry moss and several interesting mushrooms the size of his hand. He considered
eating them . . . but was convinced he’d probably die on the spot, so left them alone.

38 As he returned to his shelter, he suddenly noticed something in the mud: paw prints. They
looked the same as the ones Anil had excitedly shown them on the shore the day before. Mak
suddenly felt his heart beating with fear. He hadn’t noticed the prints before; had he simply
overlooked them, or were they freshly made, indicating there was a predator prowling
around?

42 He darted back to his shelter, convinced every rustle and faint crack of a twig was a big cat
ready to pounce. He dried himself off again then added the moss to his would-be fire and
began rubbing the twig, building the friction heat between the wood.

Still nothing happened.

46 Silent tears of frustration ran down his cheeks as he pressed the sticks harder and faster
until he eventually lashed out, scattering them in utter disgust. He couldn’t even create a fire,
the basic building block of civilization. How was he supposed to survive another night in the
wild?

Mak pressed himself into the shelter’s smallest space, and wrapped his arms around his legs.

51 He took the coin and began rolling it through his fingers. It was such an ingrained activity for
him that he wasn’t consciously aware he was doing it, yet it was something familiar and
soothing.

54 He stared into space and wondered where his parents were and what they were thinking. He
hadn’t heard the sound of any aircraft, but surely a search party must be under way. Perhaps
they couldn’t fly in the storm? Yes, that must be it. They’d come tomorrow. He’d wake up and
this nightmare would be over.

58 He suddenly became aware of a creature standing in the shadows watching him. But,
strangely, Mak felt no fear.

60 How long it had been there, Mak couldn’t tell – yet the animal stood silently regarding him
with piercing blue eyes.

It was a wolf, head bowed in the rain as it stared at him. Its mouth hung open revealing a
range of deadly incisors that Mak had no doubt could effortlessly tear him apart, but even
they failed to draw his attention. What did was the tiny bundle of fur hanging from the
creature’s jaws.

A dead wolf pup.

67 Mak didn’t move. He didn’t even dare breathe . . .

*kindling: small sticks or twigs used for lighting fires

Mina Emad – Year 6 Reading Comprehension – Vacation Pack

1. Read lines 34 to 45 and copy words that have the following meanings:

Take a risky journey or action: v……………………..

Becoming less: d…………………..…………..

move about stealthily, especially in search of prey: p…………….….…………..

to run somewhere rapidly: d……….…………..

suddenly jump and take something: p…….….…………..

2. Read line 45.

Still nothing happened.

What technique is used here?

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3. In the next paragraph the writer uses a question, ‘How was he supposed to survive another night
in the wild?’

Why does he use a question?

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4. Read line 51.

The writer says that rolling the coin through Mak’s fingers was such an ingrained activity for him. Do
you think ‘ingrained’ means old or new? Tick one.

Old New

5. Read lines 54 to 57. What is its main idea of the paragraph? Tick one.

Mak is sure his parents would not come to his rescue.

Mak is trying to think positively and give himself hope.

Mak is trying to remember the sound of aircraft.

Mina Emad – Year 6 Reading Comprehension – Vacation Pack

1. What is the genre of the extract?

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2. Tick all the features that you think are unique to the genre you chose.

The setting is potentially dangerous.

The weather can make things more difficult for the main character.

The character sometimes encounters dangerous animals.

The character needs rescue or adult assistance.

The character is in a life-threatening situation.

It must be written in the first person.

It can end on a cliff-hanger to leave the readers guessing.

All the tenses are in the past.

Challenge

3. Use the senses to make the story come to life. Copy from the text words or phrases that relate to
the senses.

Sound: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sight: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Smell: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Touch: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Explain how the character feels at different parts of the text. Write down three phrases that
describe the character’s feelings.

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Mina Emad – Year 6 Reading Comprehension – Vacation Pack