Narrator Point of View
Grade 5 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the answer.
Read this first
Report from the Windowsill
I am Duchess, and I have guarded this house for six years. In that time, I have chased off four moths, one leaf, and a very suspicious paper bag. So when the family brought home the Invader, I was the only one who saw the danger.
The Invader arrived on a Tuesday in a cardboard box. It was brown, with ears too large for its head and paws too large for its legs. It made small squeaking noises and tripped over its own paws twice on the way to its water bowl. The children called it Biscuit. I called it what it was. I watched it from the top of the bookshelf for most of the afternoon, which is where important guards stand.
On the first day, the Invader tried to take my territory. It wandered into the sunny square of carpet by the window, the square I have napped in every afternoon since I was a kitten. It sniffed the carpet. It sneezed. Then it flopped down in the exact center of my square and fell asleep. Clearly, this was a warning.
On the second day, the Invader made its boldest move. I was walking past with great dignity when it bounced toward me, tail spinning like a propeller. It lowered its front end and raised its back end, a challenge if I ever saw one. Then it barked a small, squeaky bark. I hissed my most terrible hiss. The Invader tipped its head to one side, as if amazed by my strength, and rolled onto its back. I believe it was giving up.
The family did not understand the danger at all. Ravi, the boy, kept saying, "Look, Biscuit wants to be friends!" Ravi even took a photo of the Invader asleep in my square and called it adorable. Even worse, his sister, Asha, gave it my old blue blanket. My blanket, which I had not used in only three years.
On the third night, a thunderstorm rolled over the house. I was not frightened, of course. I simply chose to sit under the couch for a while. The Invader crept under the couch too. It was shivering. It pressed its warm side against mine and whimpered softly.
I allowed this. A guard must study the Invader up close.
By the fourth day, I had a new plan. I would keep the Invader where I could watch it at all times. So now we nap together in the sunny square. When it chews the corner of my blanket, I wash its oversized ears so it stays presentable. When the family goes out, I sit beside it at the door until they return. The parents say the house has never been so peaceful.
Ravi says, "Duchess loves Biscuit now."
The boy understands nothing. I am simply doing my job. The Invader is still dangerous. It is just dangerous, I have decided, in a very small and warm way.
Duchess lists chasing off "four moths, one leaf, and a very suspicious paper bag." What does this list suggest about her as a narrator?
- She is embarrassed about her past as a guard.
- She makes small events sound more important than they are.
- She has faced many real dangers before.
- She is a skilled and fearless guard.
Why does Duchess call Biscuit's nap in her sunny square a warning?
- Biscuit had been trained to guard the window.
- She sees everything Biscuit does as a threat to her.
- The family told her Biscuit wanted her spot.
- Biscuit growled at her before falling asleep.
When Biscuit bows with its tail spinning and then rolls onto its back, what is really happening?
- Biscuit is trying to take the blue blanket.
- Biscuit is frightened by the thunderstorm.
- Biscuit is inviting Duchess to play.
- Biscuit is getting ready to chase Duchess away.
Duchess complains that Asha gave away a blanket "which I had not used in only three years." What does this detail reveal?
- Asha took the blanket away as a punishment.
- Duchess is upset over a blanket she no longer needs.
- Duchess uses the blanket every night.
- The blanket was too small for Duchess.
During the storm, Duchess says she "simply chose to sit under the couch." What can readers infer?
- Duchess wanted to guard the couch.
- Duchess was frightened but will not admit it.
- Duchess was hiding from Biscuit.
- Duchess was looking for her blanket.
Which detail best shows that Duchess's feelings have changed, even though she denies it?
- She still calls the puppy the Invader.
- She says she is simply doing her job.
- She hisses her most terrible hiss.
- She washes Biscuit's ears and waits with it at the door.