Compare Stories in the Same Genre

Grade 5 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the answer.

Read this first
Two Myths About Gifts from the Sky
Story 1: Why the Sky Is Far Away
Long ago, the sky hung so low that people could touch it. Whenever they were hungry, they broke off a piece of sky and ate it. It tasted like sweet bread.
The Sky Spirit gave one rule. "Take only what you need," it warned. "Do not waste my gift."
For many years, the people listened. Then they grew careless. They broke off huge pieces and tossed away what they could not finish. Soon piles of sky lay spoiling in the fields.
The Sky Spirit grew sad. "You have not cared for my gift," it said. That night, the sky rose up and up. By morning, it was far out of reach. From then on, people had to plant and harvest their own food.
Story 2: Why Rain Falls in Drops
Long ago, Cloud Mother kept all the rain in one giant clay jar. When the land was dry, she tipped the jar over. The water crashed down all at once. It flooded fields and washed away gardens.
A girl named Ama watched the water rush past her village. She climbed the tallest hill and called up to the clouds.
"Cloud Mother, thank you for the rain," Ama said politely. "But could you share it more gently? Our seeds wash away before they can grow."
Cloud Mother thought about this. Then she took a thin stick and poked many tiny holes in the bottom of her jar. The next time she lifted it, rain fell softly in small drops.
The seeds stayed in the soil and sprouted. Ever since, rain has fallen in drops.
1.
What do both myths explain?
- why a village moved to the top of the tallest hill
- how something in nature came to be the way it is
- how people first learned to bake bread from the sky
2.
In Story 1, why does the sky move far away?
- Ama asked the Sky Spirit to lift it higher.
- The people wasted it.
- The sky grew too heavy to stay low.
3.
In Story 2, how does Ama solve the problem?
- She pokes tiny holes in the clay jar herself.
- She digs long ditches to carry the flood away from the fields.
- She asks Cloud Mother to share the rain gently.
4.
Which sentence best states the theme of Story 1?
- Hard work always brings a good harvest.
- Gifts should be treated with care, not wasted.
- Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
5.
Which sentence best states the theme of Story 2?
- Rain is more important than sunshine.
- Speaking up kindly can make things better.
- People who waste gifts will lose them.
6.
How are the endings of the two myths different?
- Story 1 ends happily for the people, but Story 2 ends sadly for Ama.
- Both stories end with the village fields flooding.
- Story 1 ends with a loss, but Story 2 ends with an improvement.

Compare Stories in the Same Genre

Answer Key - Grade 5 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the answer.

Read this first
Two Myths About Gifts from the Sky
Story 1: Why the Sky Is Far Away
Long ago, the sky hung so low that people could touch it. Whenever they were hungry, they broke off a piece of sky and ate it. It tasted like sweet bread.
The Sky Spirit gave one rule. "Take only what you need," it warned. "Do not waste my gift."
For many years, the people listened. Then they grew careless. They broke off huge pieces and tossed away what they could not finish. Soon piles of sky lay spoiling in the fields.
The Sky Spirit grew sad. "You have not cared for my gift," it said. That night, the sky rose up and up. By morning, it was far out of reach. From then on, people had to plant and harvest their own food.
Story 2: Why Rain Falls in Drops
Long ago, Cloud Mother kept all the rain in one giant clay jar. When the land was dry, she tipped the jar over. The water crashed down all at once. It flooded fields and washed away gardens.
A girl named Ama watched the water rush past her village. She climbed the tallest hill and called up to the clouds.
"Cloud Mother, thank you for the rain," Ama said politely. "But could you share it more gently? Our seeds wash away before they can grow."
Cloud Mother thought about this. Then she took a thin stick and poked many tiny holes in the bottom of her jar. The next time she lifted it, rain fell softly in small drops.
The seeds stayed in the soil and sprouted. Ever since, rain has fallen in drops.
1.
What do both myths explain?
- why a village moved to the top of the tallest hill
- how something in nature came to be the way it is
- how people first learned to bake bread from the sky
2.
In Story 1, why does the sky move far away?
- Ama asked the Sky Spirit to lift it higher.
- The people wasted it.
- The sky grew too heavy to stay low.
3.
In Story 2, how does Ama solve the problem?
- She pokes tiny holes in the clay jar herself.
- She digs long ditches to carry the flood away from the fields.
- She asks Cloud Mother to share the rain gently.
4.
Which sentence best states the theme of Story 1?
- Hard work always brings a good harvest.
- Gifts should be treated with care, not wasted.
- Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
5.
Which sentence best states the theme of Story 2?
- Rain is more important than sunshine.
- Speaking up kindly can make things better.
- People who waste gifts will lose them.
6.
How are the endings of the two myths different?
- Story 1 ends happily for the people, but Story 2 ends sadly for Ama.
- Both stories end with the village fields flooding.
- Story 1 ends with a loss, but Story 2 ends with an improvement.

Two Myths About Gifts from the Sky

Two Myths About Gifts from the Sky