The Last Rehearsal

Lexile: 880 | Grade: 6

Passage

Noah sat backstage, gripping the edges of the script in his shaking hands. The final rehearsal for the school play was starting in five minutes, and his stomach twisted like a knot.

He had been excited when he got the lead role in *The Winter Star*, but now, with the lights and the empty seats staring at him, his confidence was melting. What if he forgot his lines? What if everyone laughed?

Across the stage, Priya adjusted a prop tree. She noticed Noah’s expression and walked over. 'You okay?' she asked.

Noah shrugged. 'What if I mess up in front of everyone?'

Priya smiled. 'Then you keep going. That’s what rehearsals are for.'

The director called them to places. As the curtain rose, Noah took a deep breath and stepped into the light. His first line came out a little too fast, and he stumbled over a few words—but then he heard something surprising: applause. Not from the audience, but from his castmates, watching from the wings.

Scene after scene, Noah’s voice grew stronger. By the final act, he was no longer acting—he was the character. When he bowed, the auditorium erupted in cheers. Even though it was just a rehearsal, it felt real.

Later, Priya nudged him. 'Told you.'

Noah grinned. 'Yeah. You were right.'

Questions

Q1: What is the central message of the story?

  • A. Always memorize your script the night before a show.
  • B. Rehearsals are more important than performances.
  • C. Overcoming fear takes courage and support from others.
  • D. Only confident people should join school plays.

Q2: Which sentence best shows Noah’s nervousness?

  • A. Noah grinned. 'Yeah. You were right.'
  • B. Scene after scene, Noah’s voice grew stronger.
  • C. Noah sat backstage, gripping the edges of the script in his shaking hands.
  • D. Priya adjusted a prop tree.

Q3: What does the author mean by 'his stomach twisted like a knot'?

  • A. He was physically ill from something he ate.
  • B. He had a stomach cramp from running backstage.
  • C. He was feeling nervous or anxious.
  • D. He had forgotten to eat lunch.

Q4: How does Noah change from the beginning to the end of the story?

  • A. He starts feeling confident and ends up nervous.
  • B. He begins unsure and scared, but becomes confident through experience.
  • C. He doesn’t care about the play at first but ends up loving it.
  • D. He tries to leave the play but is forced to stay.

Q5: What role does Priya play in the story?

  • A. She is the director who gives instructions.
  • B. She helps Noah with his costume backstage.
  • C. She gives Noah confidence when he doubts himself.
  • D. She takes over the lead role from Noah.

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the central message of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Noah overcomes his fear with encouragement and gains confidence by performing anyway.

Q2: Which sentence best shows Noah’s nervousness?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: That sentence uses vivid imagery to show Noah’s fear before the rehearsal begins.

Q3: What does the author mean by 'his stomach twisted like a knot'?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The phrase is a figurative expression showing Noah’s stage fright.

Q4: How does Noah change from the beginning to the end of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: At first, Noah is nervous and afraid of failure, but by the end he enjoys performing and feels proud.

Q5: What role does Priya play in the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Priya’s kind words and support encourage Noah to keep going and not give up.