The Missing Answers

Lexile: 900 | Grade: 6

Passage

Emma glanced at her friend Zoe’s paper and froze. The quiz had just started, and Zoe was already filling in answers—fast. Too fast.

Emma leaned closer and saw a folded sheet under Zoe’s arm. A cheat sheet.

Her stomach dropped. Zoe had always been her best friend. They had studied together last night, but Zoe had complained about not feeling ready. Emma had encouraged her to do her best. Now she didn’t know what to think.

After class, Zoe caught up to Emma by the lockers. 'I think I did okay,' she said casually.

Emma nodded slowly. 'Zoe... I saw the paper.'

Zoe’s smile disappeared. 'Please don’t say anything. I just didn’t want to fail.'

Emma looked down at her shoes. She didn’t want to get her friend in trouble—but she also didn’t want to pretend like nothing happened. It felt wrong to keep quiet.

That afternoon, Emma talked to the teacher privately. She didn’t name Zoe, but said she was worried someone had used notes during the quiz. The teacher thanked her and said she would handle it.

The next day, Zoe wasn’t speaking to Emma. But Emma felt a strange mix of sadness and relief. She hoped, in time, Zoe would understand why she had spoken up.

Questions

Q1: What is the main theme of the story?

  • A. Studying for tests is always fun with friends.
  • B. Being honest can be hard but sometimes necessary.
  • C. Teachers should give easier quizzes to help students.
  • D. Friends should never keep secrets from each other.

Q2: Why does Emma decide to speak to the teacher?

  • A. She wants to get Zoe in trouble for cheating.
  • B. She wants a better grade on the quiz.
  • C. She feels uncomfortable keeping a secret that goes against her values.
  • D. She hopes the teacher will cancel the test.

Q3: What does the phrase 'her stomach dropped' suggest about how Emma felt?

  • A. She was suddenly hungry.
  • B. She was surprised and nervous about what she saw.
  • C. She was excited to take the quiz.
  • D. She didn’t understand the questions on the test.

Q4: What internal conflict does Emma face in the story?

  • A. She wants to win a contest but is afraid to compete.
  • B. She doesn’t know whether to study for math or science.
  • C. She is torn between protecting her friend and doing the right thing.
  • D. She wants to join a new group of friends.

Q5: How does Zoe react when Emma mentions the cheat sheet?

  • A. She admits it and begs Emma not to tell.
  • B. She laughs and says it was just a joke.
  • C. She blames Emma for not helping her more.
  • D. She runs away without answering.

Printable Comprehension Practice

Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.

Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the main theme of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: Emma makes a difficult choice to be honest, even though it hurts her friendship—highlighting the challenge of doing the right thing.

Q2: Why does Emma decide to speak to the teacher?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Emma chooses to tell the teacher because she knows staying silent wouldn’t be right, even though it’s difficult.

Q3: What does the phrase 'her stomach dropped' suggest about how Emma felt?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The phrase is a figurative way to show Emma’s shock and discomfort when she saw Zoe cheating.

Q4: What internal conflict does Emma face in the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Emma struggles with choosing between loyalty to her friend and staying true to her values.

Q5: How does Zoe react when Emma mentions the cheat sheet?

✅ Correct Answer: A

💡 Reasoning: Zoe’s smile fades and she asks Emma to keep it secret, showing she knows what she did was wrong.