The Pocket Watch Portal

Lexile: 740 | Grade: 4

Passage

Ben’s grandfather had a collection of old pocket watches. Some were shiny, some were rusty, but one had always caught Ben’s eye—it was gold, shaped like a star, and had no numbers on its face.

“That one never worked,” Grandpa always said. But Ben wasn’t so sure.

One rainy afternoon, Ben picked up the star-shaped watch. As he turned it over, the hands began to spin wildly. A soft humming filled the room. Before he could blink, everything around him shimmered—and vanished.

When the spinning stopped, Ben was no longer in the living room. He stood in a grassy field, with castles floating in the sky and glowing trees nearby.

A small creature with blue fur and silver eyes popped out of a bush. “You’re the Watch Holder!” it said. “You’ve been chosen!”

Ben gulped. “Chosen for what?”

“To fix the Clock of Realms. Time is breaking apart!”

Ben looked down at the watch. It glowed gently in his palm. He didn’t know how to fix magical clocks or save realms—but he knew one thing. He was ready to try.

Questions

Q1: What is the main theme of the story?

  • A. You should always ask before touching antiques.
  • B. Being curious and brave can lead to great adventures.
  • C. Time travel is dangerous and should be avoided.
  • D. Magical creatures can’t be trusted.

Q2: What happened right after Ben picked up the star-shaped watch?

  • A. The watch stopped working completely.
  • B. He heard a humming sound and was transported to a new place.
  • C. His grandfather told him to put it back.
  • D. The creature gave him instructions on how to fix the clock.

Q3: What does the phrase 'time is breaking apart' most likely mean?

  • A. The clocks are being thrown on the ground.
  • B. The days are getting shorter.
  • C. Something magical is causing problems in the flow of time.
  • D. People are running late to school.

Q4: What can we tell about Ben’s character from the end of the passage?

  • A. He is brave and willing to help, even if he’s unsure how.
  • B. He wants to go home right away.
  • C. He is angry that the watch took him away.
  • D. He doesn’t believe in magic at all.

Q5: Why did the author describe the castles floating and trees glowing?

  • A. To show that Ben was in a dream.
  • B. To make the reader feel confused.
  • C. To show that Ben had traveled to a magical world.
  • D. To explain the history of the forest.

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the main theme of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: Ben’s curiosity and bravery lead him into a magical world and set the stage for an exciting journey.

Q2: What happened right after Ben picked up the star-shaped watch?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: As soon as Ben picked up the watch, the hands spun and the world around him changed.

Q3: What does the phrase 'time is breaking apart' most likely mean?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The story is set in a fantasy world where time itself is unstable, and Ben must help fix it.

Q4: What can we tell about Ben’s character from the end of the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: A

💡 Reasoning: Even though he’s nervous, Ben is ready to try and help, showing courage and determination.

Q5: Why did the author describe the castles floating and trees glowing?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The unusual sights help the reader understand that Ben is no longer in the real world but a magical one.