How a plot builds, with flashbacks and hints
Grade 7 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
The Lemon Cake (story)
[1] In the school kitchen, Tala slid a lemon cake into the oven for the class party and set the timer for forty minutes. [2] The timer had always run a little slow, a fact Tala knew but did not mention to anyone. [3] While the cake baked, Tala counted candles and arranged paper plates on a table near the window.
[4] Last year, Tala had baked a cake for the same party and left it in the oven a few minutes too long. [5] The edges had turned dark brown, and the classmates had politely scraped off the black parts while Tala hid behind a stack of napkins. [6] The teacher had whispered afterward that an oven timer is only a helper and that a nose and a pair of eyes are better.
[7] This year, the sweet smell of lemon drifted across the kitchen well before the timer reached the end. [8] Tala checked the oven, saw the edges just turning golden, and lifted the cake out ten minutes early. [9] The classmates cheered as the pale yellow cake came out whole and smelling of lemon. [10] When the slow timer finally rang, the party was already eating dessert.
Ari marks the strip. Which sentence is the climax of the present story, not of the flashback?
- [10] When the slow timer finally rang, the party was already eating dessert.
- [7] This year, the sweet smell of lemon drifted across the kitchen well before the timer reached the end.
- [8] Tala checked the oven, saw the edges just turning golden, and lifted the cake out ten minutes early.
- [5] The edges had turned dark brown, and the classmates had politely scraped off the black parts while Tala hid behind a stack of napkins.
Bo thinks about the story's order. How does placing the flashback in the middle affect the reader?
- It shows Tala hiding behind a stack of napkins after last year's burned cake.
- It tells the reader that this year's cake will come out exactly right.
- It explains why Tala trusts the oven more than the timer, right before Tala makes that choice.
- It slows the story so the reader loses track of the party and the cake.
The Paper Crown (story)
[1] Ren had been chosen to play the king in the school play, and the paper crown on the prop table was Ren's own work. [2] The glue along the crown's band was still tacky, and Ren pressed it flat under a heavy book. [3] The director clapped twice, and the cast gathered backstage for the final rehearsal.
[4] The year before, Ren had worn a cardboard helmet in a different play, and it had split in half in the middle of a scene. [5] The audience had laughed, and Ren had stood frozen with two pieces of cardboard in both hands. [6] After the show, the stage manager had given Ren a roll of clear tape and said that a prop is not finished until it has been tested.
[7] At the performance, Ren set the crown on top of the head, took a deep breath, and walked on stage. [8] In the middle of the speech, a corner of the crown's band began to peel away from its edge. [9] Ren reached up as if adjusting a favorite hat, pressed the corner flat, and slipped a strip of tape from a sleeve. [10] The speech ended with a bow, and the crown stayed in place through the final applause.
Jun marks the strip. Which sentence is the climax of the present story, not of the flashback?
- [7] At the performance, Ren set the crown on top of the head, took a deep breath, and walked on stage.
- [5] The audience had laughed, and Ren had stood frozen with two pieces of cardboard in both hands.
- [10] The speech ended with a bow, and the crown stayed in place through the final applause.
- [9] Ren reached up as if adjusting a favorite hat, pressed the corner flat, and slipped a strip of tape from a sleeve.
Kira thinks about the story's order. How does placing the flashback in the middle affect the reader?
- It tells the reader that the crown will stay perfect through the whole speech and the final bow.
- It explains why Ren has tape ready, so the reader understands the quick fix on stage.
- It slows the story so the reader forgets about the crown and the play.
- It shows the audience laughing at a cardboard helmet that split in half.
Luz reads sentence 2 again. What trouble does it hint at for later in the story?
- The crown will fall apart and ruin the whole play.
- The glue may not hold, so the crown may come apart.
- The glue will dry too fast, so the crown will crack.
- The director will end the rehearsal early.
The Mossy Stones (story)
[1] On a school hike, the trail ended at a shallow stream, where a line of flat stones led to the other bank. [2] Dark green moss covered several of the stones, and the water sparkled in the morning sun. [3] The class leader said that everyone could cross at a comfortable pace, so Kira stopped to look at each stone.
[4] Kira remembered a family picnic from two summers back, when a foot had slid off a mossy rock into the water. [5] The splash had soaked Kira's sandals and socks, and the rest of the picnic had been spent with wet feet on a towel. [6] Kira's older cousin had said afterward that moss can be as slick as soap and that a stick can test a stone.
[7] Back at the stream, Kira picked up a long branch from the bank and tested the first stone. [8] The branch slid sideways on a mossy rock, so Kira chose a bare stone beside it. [9] Step by step, Kira crossed with dry feet and waited on the far bank for the others. [10] Several classmates, who had not noticed the moss, stopped to borrow the branch before they crossed.
Noah thinks about the story's order. How does placing the flashback in the middle affect the reader?
- It shows Kira's sandals and socks soaked at a family picnic.
- It tells the reader that Kira will cross the stream without any trouble.
- It slows the story so the reader forgets the stream crossing.
- It explains why Kira tests the stones with a branch, so the reader understands that careful choice.
Pia reads sentence 2 again. What trouble does it hint at for later in the story?
- The stream will rise and cover the stones.
- Mossy stones may be slippery, so someone crossing could slide.
- The hike will be canceled because the stones are too slippery.
- The moss will make the stones grip, so no one can slip.
The Windowsill Plant (story)
[1] Zee placed a small potted pepper plant on the sunny windowsill of the classroom and watered it carefully before the weekend. [2] The weather chart on the wall said that the temperature outside would drop below freezing on Saturday night. [3] By Friday afternoon, the school was quiet, and most of the class had already gone home.
[4] Last winter, Zee had left a basil plant in the shed, and it had turned limp and brown after one cold night. [5] Zee's grandmother had explained that plants feel the cold more than people do and that a windowsill can be colder than the room. [6] Zee had promised to bring plants inside from then on.
[7] Back at the windowsill, Zee glanced at the chart again and noticed the freezing forecast for the weekend. [8] Zee carried the pepper plant to a middle shelf, far from the cold glass, and wrapped the pot in a scarf. [9] On Monday morning, the plant was standing straight, and its leaves were green. [10] A fern that had stayed on the windowsill next door had curled up in the cold, and Zee shared the story with the class.
Ren marks the strip. Which sentence is the climax of the present story, not of the flashback?
- [8] Zee carried the pepper plant to a middle shelf, far from the cold glass, and wrapped the pot in a scarf.
- [7] Back at the windowsill, Zee glanced at the chart again and noticed the freezing forecast for the weekend.
- [9] On Monday morning, the plant was standing straight, and its leaves were green.
- [4] Last winter, Zee had left a basil plant in the shed, and it had turned limp and brown after one cold night.
Tala thinks about the story's order. How does placing the flashback in the middle affect the reader?
- It explains why Zee takes the forecast seriously and moves the plant, so the choice feels earned.
- It slows the story so the reader forgets about the pepper plant.
- It shows a basil plant turning limp and brown after one cold night.
- It tells the reader that the pepper plant will survive the weekend.
Ari reads sentence 2 again. What trouble does it hint at for later in the story?
- The plant will dry out without water.
- The cold will help the pepper plant grow faster.
- The plants in the whole room will wilt over the weekend.
- The freezing night may harm the plant on the windowsill.