The Shadow Project

Lexile: 940 | Grade: 7

Passage

Liam had never been the center of attention. He preferred sitting in the back row, sketching ideas in the margins of his notebook, and letting others answer questions in class. So when his science teacher, Mr. Grant, announced a public exhibition for their group projects, Liam’s stomach twisted.

Each group would present a hands-on science demo for students and parents at the school showcase. It would be judged, and awards would be given. Liam had hoped for a quiet assignment, something written, something safe.

He was paired with Alyssa and Jamal, two students known for being outspoken and competitive. On the first day, Alyssa suggested a flashy volcano eruption. Jamal pitched building a miniature hovercraft.

Liam hesitated. He had an idea too—but it was different.

He spoke slowly. 'What if we show how light bends and creates shadows with different materials? We could build a dark box and cut shapes into panels, then use flashlights to control the shadows.'

Alyssa raised an eyebrow. 'So… like shadow puppets?'

'Sort of,' Liam said. 'But scientific. We’d explain light angles, refraction, opacity... I can design the structure.'

There was a pause. Jamal shrugged. 'Actually, that could be really cool. Nobody else is doing that.'

Over the next two weeks, Liam sketched designs, tested materials, and adjusted angles while Alyssa and Jamal planned the talking points. The night of the showcase, the gym was packed. Kids in lab coats hovered around colorful stations. Liam’s hands were sweating.

When it was their turn, Liam stepped back, ready to let the others speak. But then Alyssa whispered, 'You should start. It was your idea.'

Liam blinked. All eyes turned toward him. His heart pounded—but he cleared his throat and began. Slowly at first, then more confidently. He explained how shadows changed based on the distance of the light, how transparent and opaque objects blocked or filtered beams. He answered questions. He smiled.

When the judges came around, one of them said, 'This is a clever and original concept. Who came up with it?'

Jamal grinned. 'Liam did. He’s the brains behind the box.'

They didn’t win first place. But later that night, Liam opened his sketchbook to a fresh page—not to escape, but to plan something new.

Questions

Q1: Which statement best expresses the central theme of the story?

  • A. Science is better when done as a group.
  • B. Creativity always wins competitions.
  • C. Taking ownership of your ideas builds confidence.
  • D. Judges always reward original work.

Q2: How does Liam change from the beginning to the end of the passage?

  • A. He starts as quiet and ends as confident in sharing his ideas.
  • B. He is popular at the beginning and embarrassed later.
  • C. He is a strong speaker at first but forgets what to say during the presentation.
  • D. He starts excited and ends frustrated by his teammates.

Q3: What does the phrase 'his hands were sweating' suggest about Liam before the showcase?

  • A. He was physically tired from carrying the project.
  • B. He was nervous about presenting in front of people.
  • C. He was too hot in the gymnasium.
  • D. He had practiced so much that his hands were sore.

Q4: Why is it important that Alyssa tells Liam to start the presentation?

  • A. It shows Alyssa doesn’t want to speak in public.
  • B. It reveals that she doesn’t like the project.
  • C. It demonstrates that Liam’s teammates recognize his leadership.
  • D. It proves that the team was unprepared.

Q5: How does the author build suspense leading up to Liam’s presentation?

  • A. By describing how complicated the science is
  • B. By showing Liam’s internal fear and physical symptoms
  • C. By including dialogue with the judges early in the story
  • D. By using flashbacks to Liam’s past projects

Q6: What is the most likely reason Liam opens his sketchbook again at the end of the story?

  • A. He wants to forget the showcase and move on.
  • B. He is ready to create something new with more confidence.
  • C. He plans to redraw the old project with better designs.
  • D. He wants to draw pictures of his group members.

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: Which statement best expresses the central theme of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Liam’s growth happens because he steps forward and takes ownership of his shadow project idea, which leads to confidence and pride, even without winning.

Q2: How does Liam change from the beginning to the end of the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: A

💡 Reasoning: Liam begins as a shy, reserved student but ends up presenting and gaining the respect of his group and the judges.

Q3: What does the phrase 'his hands were sweating' suggest about Liam before the showcase?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: This figurative detail shows Liam’s anxiety and fear of public speaking.

Q4: Why is it important that Alyssa tells Liam to start the presentation?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Alyssa’s encouragement signals that Liam’s group values and trusts him, reinforcing his development as a confident contributor.

Q5: How does the author build suspense leading up to Liam’s presentation?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The narrative builds tension by focusing on Liam’s nervousness and how uncertain he is about public speaking.

Q6: What is the most likely reason Liam opens his sketchbook again at the end of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The story ends with Liam choosing to continue creating, now with excitement and self-belief instead of fear.