Name: ______________ Date: _____________

The Robotics Guy

Our whole family went to the middle school robotics fair on Saturday. My big brother, Adam,
spent weeks building a robotic lizard that vibrates when you place it in sunlight. The lizard then
stores up the energy from light, converts it into motion, and moves! Listening to my brother
explain his robot, I felt so proud.

Afterward, when we were getting ready to go home, some of the kids and their parents came
over to congratulate Adam. To my surprise, Daniel brought his family over to meet us. His
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, shook hands with my parents.

"You must be so proud to have such an intelligent son," said Mrs. Johnson.

While the grown-ups were talking, Daniel’s brother, Mark, came over. "Well, well, well. The
intelligent and amazing Adam,” he said to Adam. “I hear you are an Einstein. The robotics guy,”
he said using air quotes.

Was Mark being sarcastic? It didn’t sound quite like a compliment. Adam replied, looking at his
feet, "I work really hard, that’s all.”

Mark’s lips turned into a small smile. "Yeah, sure. Hey, soccer tryouts are next week. Are you
going to try out?” He looked as sly as a fox.

Adam shook his head. "No, I gave up soccer to focus more on robotics."

Mark started to laugh, and tried to cover his mouth with his hand to try and hide it.

Adam shyly looked up from his feet. "Laugh if you want, but I’m not going to pretend to be
something I’m not.”

"Wow," Mark muttered quietly, shaking his head as he walked away.

After we got home that afternoon, I sat next to Adam, who was reading a book on the sofa. I sat
there for a moment, waiting to see if Adam would say anything. I didn’t know if he felt like
talking, or not.

“Hey,” he said, closing his book to look at me.

I wanted to tell him he did a great job at the robotics fair, but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted
to say. I felt my brow furrow as I thought.

“Hey, would you like to see how the lizard moves in this light?” Adam asked with a quiet smile.

I smiled back. Maybe I didn’t need to say anything at all. “Yeah, I would really love that,” I
replied.

© Miss Doodlebug 2019

 Comprehension Questions

1. What is the theme of the text? Use one text evidence to support your
thinking!
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2. Why does the author include that Mark’s comment, “didn’t sound like a
compliment?”
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3. Adam says, “Laugh if you want, but I’m not going to pretend to be
something I’m not.” What does this reveal about Adam?
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4. The text says that Mark “looked as sly as a fox.” What type of figurative
language is this? What does this phrase mean?
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© Miss Doodlebug 2019

5. The text says, “Mark muttered.” What can you infer the verb mutter
means?
a. To make fun of someone
b. To shout loudly
c. To speak softly
d. To think carefully

6. Which text evidence best supports your answer in #5?

a. “Mark started to laugh...”
b. “Mark’s lips turned into a small smile…”
c. “Was Mark being sarcastic?”
d. “Mark muttered quietly…”

7. What type of figurative language is “I heard you are an Einstein?”

a. Metaphor
b. Simile
c. Alliteration
d. Hyperbole

8. What can you infer that the metaphor “You are an Einstein” means?
a. You are old
b. You are intelligent
c. You are silly
d. You have gray hair

I would like more help with:

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Teacher feedback:
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© Miss Doodlebug 2019