The Locked Drawer

Lexile: 890 | Grade: 6

Passage

Lena had walked past the dusty hallway cabinet at her grandmother’s house a hundred times, but she had never paid it much attention—until the day one of the drawers caught her eye.

It wasn’t like the others. Its tiny brass keyhole gleamed, even in the shadows. Lena tugged the handle. Locked.

That night, while helping her grandmother clean the attic, Lena spotted something small and shiny under an old rug. She picked it up—it was a tiny key. Her heart quickened.

Later, when no one was looking, Lena slipped back down to the hallway. The key fit perfectly into the locked drawer.

Inside, she found a stack of yellowed letters, tied with blue ribbon, and a worn leather notebook. On the first page, in faded ink, was her grandmother’s name—and the words, *“Summer, 1964: The Truth About the Island.”*

Lena’s breath caught. What truth? What island?

Footsteps echoed down the hall. Lena quickly closed the drawer and slid the key into her pocket. She didn’t have answers yet—but she was sure of one thing: this summer was about to get interesting.

Questions

Q1: What is most likely to happen next in the story?

  • A. Lena forgets all about the notebook and letters.
  • B. Lena asks her friends to help her clean the attic.
  • C. Lena reads the notebook to discover the mystery of the island.
  • D. Lena throws away the key and leaves the house.

Q2: What does the author use the key to represent in the story?

  • A. A symbol of lost childhood
  • B. A secret connection between Lena and her friends
  • C. A clue that unlocks a hidden part of the past
  • D. A trick to confuse Lena

Q3: Which sentence best shows Lena’s curiosity?

  • A. Lena had walked past the dusty hallway cabinet at her grandmother’s house a hundred times.
  • B. Lena tugged the handle. Locked.
  • C. Lena’s breath caught. What truth? What island?
  • D. Lena helped her grandmother clean the attic.

Q4: What is the theme of the story?

  • A. Curiosity can lead to unexpected adventures.
  • B. Cleaning the attic is an important family duty.
  • C. Always ask for permission before opening drawers.
  • D. Spending time with grandparents is always fun.

Q5: How does the author build suspense in the story?

  • A. By using humor and silly characters
  • B. By ending the story with a solved mystery
  • C. By revealing clues slowly and leaving questions unanswered
  • D. By describing a long list of items in the attic

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is most likely to happen next in the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The story builds suspense around the notebook and hints that Lena will try to uncover the mystery.

Q2: What does the author use the key to represent in the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The key leads Lena to a hidden drawer filled with old letters and a mysterious notebook—unlocking a family mystery.

Q3: Which sentence best shows Lena’s curiosity?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Her reaction to the words in the notebook shows growing curiosity and a sense of mystery.

Q4: What is the theme of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: A

💡 Reasoning: Lena’s curiosity leads her to discover a hidden drawer and a mysterious notebook, suggesting more to come.

Q5: How does the author build suspense in the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The locked drawer, hidden key, and mysterious notebook build suspense by revealing information a little at a time.