How a new story reuses an old pattern

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Lion and the Mouse, and The Knot Under the Risers (pair: an old tale and a new story)

   The old tale: The Lion and the Mouse
   [1] A lion lay napping in the shade when a tiny mouse ran across its paw and woke it. [2] The lion pinned the mouse beneath one great paw, and the mouse begged to be set free. [3] “Spare me today,” squeaked the mouse, “and someday I may repay your kindness.” [4] The lion laughed at the thought that so small a creature could ever help so mighty a lion, but it let the mouse go.

   [5] Weeks later, the lion was caught in a rope net that had been strung between two trees. [6] The lion roared and thrashed, but the ropes only pulled tighter. [7] The mouse heard the roar, hurried over, and gnawed through the ropes one strand at a time. [8] Soon the net fell away, and the lion walked out free. [9] From then on, the lion never laughed at the small. [10] Kindness, the animals said, comes back to the giver, even from the smallest friend.

   The new story: The Knot Under the Risers
   [11] On the first day of band practice, Pia, the smallest sixth grader, tripped over a music stand and sent Noah's sheet music flying. [12] Noah, the section leader and the loudest trumpet in school, turned around with a thundering frown. [13] Pia gulped and promised that someday there might be a way to make up for the mess. [14] The whole trumpet row giggled at the idea that Pia could ever help Noah, but Noah waved a hand and picked up the pages.

   [15] Two weeks later, ten minutes before the spring concert, a microphone cable twisted into a tight knot around the metal legs of the risers. [16] The knot trapped Noah's microphone stand in a back corner, and each tug made the cable pull tighter. [17] Grown-up hands were too big to reach the knot, and Mr. Reyes, the band director, looked at the clock in worry. [18] Pia crawled under the risers and worked the knot loose one loop at a time. [19] The cable slid free, and Noah strode to center stage in time for the solo. [20] From then on, nobody in the trumpet row laughed at Pia's help.

2. 1.

   Ari compares [4] in the tale with [14] in the story. The lion laughs, but the trumpet row giggles and Noah does not. Why might the author change this?

   • The row giggles to fill the scene with more characters and a little extra noise.
   • The row carries the doubt, so the ending where nobody laughs shows the lesson landing on the whole group.
   • Noah is made kind from the start, so no one in the story has to learn anything at all.
   • Noah stays angry at Pia, so the story keeps the lion's scorn toward the small helper.
3. 2.

   Bo notices that the tale opens with the lion in [1], but the story opens with Pia in [11]. Why might the author change who the story follows?

   • To keep the lion's view, since the helper does not matter until trouble arrives.
   • To hide that Pia is small, so the rescue is a surprise to readers who expect a hero.
   • To make Noah's solo the main event, since the story ends on stage with the full band at the spring concert.
   • To put readers where the doubted helper stands, so the promise and the rescue become Pia's own story.
4. 3.

   Esme wants the story to keep the tale's pattern: mercy first, then help from the one who was spared. Which change would break that pattern?

   • Pia drops the sheet music in the hallway before practice.
   • The knot forms in a stage curtain rope instead of a microphone cable.
   • Mr. Reyes unties the knot while Pia only watches.
   • Noah plays the drums instead of the trumpet.
5. 4.

   Jun wants to keep the pattern: mercy first, then help from the one who was spared. Which change to [14] would break it?

   • Noah makes Pia pay for the music and holds the mess against Pia for good.
   • The row picks up the pages while Noah looks on.
   • Pia promises in writing instead of out loud.
   • Noah laughs out loud with the row but still lets the mess go and picks up the pages.

6. The Fox and the Crow, and The Last Radio Spot (pair: an old tale and a new story)

   The old tale: The Fox and the Crow
   [1] A crow perched on a high branch with a piece of cheese in its beak, proud of its find. [2] A fox trotted beneath the tree, sniffed the air, and wanted that cheese badly. [3] “What a handsome bird you are,” the fox called up, “with shining feathers and a noble head.” [4] The crow ruffled its feathers and said nothing, but it liked the praise.

   [5] “If your voice is as lovely as your looks,” the fox went on, “you must be the finest singer in the forest.” [6] The crow was so pleased that it opened its beak to caw, and the cheese dropped to the ground. [7] The fox snapped up the cheese and grinned. [8] “Next time,” the fox said, “remember that a flatterer usually wants something.” [9] The crow flapped away with an empty beak and a wiser head.

   The new story: The Last Radio Spot
   [10] Only one spot was left on Friday's school radio show, and Zee had just signed the sheet with a proud flourish. [11] Zee stood in the hallway holding the clipboard high so everyone could see the signed name. [12] Tala wandered over, eyed the clipboard, and said Zee had the best radio voice in the whole school. [13] “I bet you could read the morning announcements better than anyone,” Tala added with a wide smile.

   [14] Zee felt warm all over, because nobody had ever said anything like that before. [15] “Read this announcement for me,” Tala said, “and hand me the clipboard so your hands are free.” [16] Zee started to reach out the clipboard, then noticed that Tala's eyes were on the clipboard and not on Zee. [17] Zee tucked the clipboard under an arm and said the praise was kind but the spot was staying put. [18] Tala's smile slipped, and Tala admitted wanting a turn on the radio show for a long time. [19] Zee offered to ask Mr. Okoye whether Tala could join the show next week. [20] Tala laughed, and the two walked to the radio room together.

7. 5.

   Milo compares [6] in the tale with [16] and [17] in the story. The crow drops the cheese, but Zee keeps the clipboard. Why might the author change the ending?

   • To show the warning sign, a flatterer's eyes on the prize, caught in time, so the lesson comes from noticing rather than from loss.
   • To show that Zee does not enjoy the praise the way the crow does, so Zee is not at risk.
   • To end with the same loss as the tale, just in a gentler setting with friendlier kids.
   • To show that flattery stops working once a listener is careful, however sweet the words.
8. 6.

   Noah compares [7] with [18] and [19]. The fox keeps the cheese, but Zee offers Tala a way to join the show. Why might the author change this?

   • Zee wants Tala to keep praising, so Zee agrees to anything Tala asks for next.
   • Tala did not really want the spot, so Zee has nothing to share with anyone.
   • A radio spot can be shared, unlike one piece of cheese, so the story can end with a fair way for Tala to join.
   • Tala is a bully, so the story must punish Tala's trick before the scene can end.
9. 7.

   Pia wants the story to keep the tale's pattern: someone praises the holder to get the prize. Which change would break that pattern?

   • Tala praises Zee's voice in the cafeteria instead of the hallway.
   • Tala asks for the clipboard right away and never praises Zee.
   • The last spot is on the morning announcements, not a radio show.
   • Ren, not Tala, is the one who praises Zee.
10. 8.

    Ren wants the story to keep the pattern: the praise comes from someone who wants the prize. Which change would break it?

    • Tala wants nothing, and the kind words about Zee's voice are only kindness.
    • Zee holds the clipboard low instead of high.
    • The talk happens at the lockers instead of in the hallway, and Tala still wants the prize.
    • Tala wants the clipboard only a little, not badly.
11. 9.

    Kira notes that Zee nearly makes the crow's mistake. Which sentence most strongly shows Zee almost handing over the prize?

    • [17]: Zee tucked the clipboard under an arm and said the praise was kind but the spot was staying put.
    • [16]: Zee started to reach out the clipboard, then noticed that Tala's eyes were on the clipboard and not on Zee.
    • [15]: “Read this announcement for me,” Tala said, “and hand me the clipboard so your hands are free.”
    • [14]: Zee felt warm all over, because nobody had ever said anything like that before.
12. 10.

    Luz notes that the story explains why the praise moves Zee, which the tale never does for the crow. Which sentence most strongly shows the reason?

    • [13]: “I bet you could read the morning announcements better than anyone,” Tala added with a wide smile.
    • [10]: Only one spot was left on Friday's school radio show, and Zee had just signed the sheet with a proud flourish.
    • [14]: Zee felt warm all over, because nobody had ever said anything like that before.
    • [11]: Zee stood in the hallway holding the clipboard high so everyone could see the signed name.