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.
Q1: What is most likely to happen next in the story?
Q2: What does the author use the key to represent in the story?
Q3: Which sentence best shows Lena’s curiosity?
Q4: What is the theme of the story?
Q5: How does the author build suspense in the story?
Printable Comprehension Practice
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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.