Levelled Reading: Levels L-O

Grade 3 - Reading - Challenge Me

NameDate

Read this first
The Mystery Photo
Andre helped at the town history museum every Saturday morning. His favorite job was sorting old photos that families had given to the museum. Each photo needed a label that told who was in it, where it was taken, and when.
One faded photo showed a group of workers outside a brick factory. Its old label said only Factory Workers. There was no date and there were no names. Andre wanted to know more.
He studied the photo closely with a big magnifying glass. At the edge, he spotted a delivery truck. A company name was painted on its side: Miller Bread. Andre searched the museum's old newspapers for that name. He found an ad for Miller Bread. Another article said the company had closed in 1952.
"So the photo must be older than 1952," Andre said to himself.
Next, he noticed that the workers' shirts had a small star on the pocket. He looked through other factory photos in the collection. One photo showed the same star on the same kind of shirt. That photo was labeled 1948.
Andre took his notes to Ms. Okafor, who was in charge of the museum's records. She read them carefully. Then she pulled out an old city book that listed every business in town. The factory had been at that address from 1940 to 1950.
"Your clues fit together," Ms. Okafor said. "1948 is a very good guess."
Andre wrote a new label: Factory Workers, about 1948. Under it, he listed his clues: the bread truck, the star on the shirts and the city book.
Ms. Okafor asked Andre to help with three more photos the next week. On the way home, Andre told his little sister about the mystery. "History is like a puzzle," he said. "Every small clue is a piece." His sister asked if she could come next Saturday.
What is this story mostly about?
- using clues to find out when a photo was taken
- finding the names of the factory workers
- painting a delivery truck for the museum
- taking new photos of an old factory
What was wrong with the old label?
- It had the wrong date on it.
- It was stuck to the wrong photo.
- It was written in another language.
- It gave no date and no names.
Why did Andre search the old newspapers?
- to buy bread for the museum
- to read about brick factories
- to find the workers' names
- to learn when Miller Bread was in business
What did the bread company's closing date tell Andre?
- The photo was taken before 1952.
- The photo was taken in 1952.
- The factory closed in 1952.
- The truck was made in 1948.
Which clue led Andre to the year 1948?
- the city book
- the star on the workers' shirts
- the bread truck
- the brick wall
Why did Ms. Okafor look in the old city book?
- to find the owner of the bread company
- to find a new label for the photo
- to look up Andre's address
- to check that the factory was there at that time
Which word best describes Andre?
- careless
- bossy
- shy
- careful
Which detail best shows that Andre's guess was a good one?
- The old label said Factory Workers.
- His clues all fit together.
- The photo was faded.
- His sister listened to him.
What does Andre mean when he says "Every small clue is a piece"?
- Each clue is too small to matter.
- Small details fit together to solve a mystery.
- Old photos break into small pieces.
- Puzzles are more fun than history.
Which of these did NOT happen in the story?
- Andre used a magnifying glass.
- Ms. Okafor read his notes.
- Andre found the workers' names in a newspaper.
- Andre wrote a new label.

The Mystery Photo

Andre helped at the town history museum every Saturday morning. His favorite job was sorting old photos that families had given to the museum. Each photo needed a label that told who was in it, where it was taken, and when.

One faded photo showed a group of workers outside a brick factory. Its old label said only Factory Workers. There was no date and there were no names. Andre wanted to know more.

He studied the photo closely with a big magnifying glass. At the edge, he spotted a delivery truck. A company name was painted on its side: Miller Bread. Andre searched the museum's old newspapers for that name. He found an ad for Miller Bread. Another article said the company had closed in 1952.

"So the photo must be older than 1952," Andre said to himself.

Next, he noticed that the workers' shirts had a small star on the pocket. He looked through other factory photos in the collection. One photo showed the same star on the same kind of shirt. That photo was labeled 1948.

Andre took his notes to Ms. Okafor, who was in charge of the museum's records. She read them carefully. Then she pulled out an old city book that listed every business in town. The factory had been at that address from 1940 to 1950.

"Your clues fit together," Ms. Okafor said. "1948 is a very good guess."

Andre wrote a new label: Factory Workers, about 1948. Under it, he listed his clues: the bread truck, the star on the shirts and the city book.

Ms. Okafor asked Andre to help with three more photos the next week. On the way home, Andre told his little sister about the mystery. "History is like a puzzle," he said. "Every small clue is a piece." His sister asked if she could come next Saturday.