Making Inferences
Grade 3 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the answer.
Read this first
The Case Behind the Rug
Rain drummed on the roof all Saturday. Hana's mother sent her to sort boxes in Grandma Keiko's attic. Most boxes held old dishes and faded sweaters. Then, behind a rolled-up rug, Hana found a black case with silver latches. A strip of tape on the handle said "K. Mori."
Hana carried the case downstairs. Grandma Keiko was folding towels at the kitchen table. When she saw the case, her hands stopped moving. She set down the towel and reached out slowly. Her fingers traced the latches as if she were touching something asleep.
"Where did you find this?" she asked softly.
"Behind the rug," Hana said. "What's inside?"
Grandma opened the case. A violin lay on blue velvet, with a bow and a folded paper program. The program showed a city orchestra and a date from fifty years ago. Grandma read it quietly and smiled with shining eyes.
"Can you play it?" Hana asked.
Grandma laughed and shook her head. "These fingers are stiff now," she said. "It has been a very long time." But she lifted the violin to her chin anyway. She plucked each string and turned the small pegs until the notes sounded right. Then she drew the bow across the strings.
The first notes squeaked. Grandma frowned, moved her elbow, and tried again. This time, a slow, sweet tune filled the kitchen. Hana's mother stepped in from the hallway and stood very still. Nobody spoke until the last note faded.
"I didn't know you could do that," Hana's mother whispered.
Grandma wiped her eyes with a towel. "Neither did I, anymore," she said with a little laugh.
That evening, Hana noticed the case was no longer in the kitchen. It sat open on the piano bench in the living room. Beside it lay a pencil and a sheet of music. Tiny notes were penciled in its margins.
What can you infer about Grandma Keiko's past?
- She bought the violin at a yard sale.
- She once sold violins in a shop.
- She taught Hana's mother the violin.
- She once played violin in an orchestra.
Which clue best supports the idea that Grandma played in an orchestra?
- Grandma was folding towels at the table.
- Hana found the case behind a rolled-up rug.
- The program showed a city orchestra from long ago.
- Most boxes held old dishes and sweaters.
How did Grandma most likely feel when she first saw the case?
- surprised and full of memories
- annoyed that Hana had opened her boxes
- bored by one more dusty old box
- frightened by something in the attic
Why did the first notes squeak?
- Hana bumped Grandma's elbow.
- The rain was too loud to hear.
- The violin strings were broken.
- Grandma had not played in many years.
Why did Hana's mother stand very still in the kitchen?
- She was listening for the rain to stop.
- She was amazed and did not want to interrupt.
- She was upset about the noise.
- She was waiting for her turn to play.
Hana's mother says, "I didn't know you could do that." What can you infer?
- She had heard Grandma play many times.
- Grandma had not played for her family before.
- Grandma had learned the violin that day.
- She wanted Grandma to teach her to play.
Grandma says, "Neither did I, anymore." What does she mean?
- She thought Hana had played the tune.
- She did not want anyone to hear her.
- She was not sure she could still play well.
- She had forgotten she owned a violin.
What will Grandma most likely do next?
- ask Hana to sort more boxes
- keep practicing the violin
- put the violin back in the attic
- sell the violin to a music store
Which clue best supports your answer about what Grandma will do next?
- Penciled notes lay on the piano bench.
- Grandma wiped her eyes with a towel.
- The program was folded in the case.
- The first notes squeaked loudly.
"Her fingers traced the latches." What does traced mean here?
- snapped open quickly
- wiped the dust from
- drew a picture of
- ran gently along