The Tunnel Under the Garden (Fiction)

Lexile: 720 | Grade: 4

Passage

Ellie’s grandma had a huge backyard garden filled with tall sunflowers and twisty vines. One afternoon, while chasing her cat near the tool shed, Ellie noticed a soft patch of dirt behind a bush.

She brushed away some leaves and found an old wooden door lying flat on the ground. With effort, she lifted it open and saw a tunnel!

Grabbing a flashlight, Ellie climbed down the ladder. The tunnel walls were lined with smooth stone, and drawings of animals and plants covered the sides.

At the end of the tunnel, she found a tiny room filled with old books, jars, and a globe. It looked like someone had once used it to study nature in secret.

When Ellie showed her grandma, she smiled. 'That was your great-grandpa’s nature lab. He believed the best discoveries were made close to home.'

Ellie grinned. She had just made one of her own.

Questions

Q1: How are the two passages connected?

  • A. They both explain how to build a tunnel.
  • B. They both describe exciting discoveries made close to home.
  • C. They both tell about digging for dinosaur bones.
  • D. They both show how to take care of a garden.

Q2: What is the theme of the fictional story?

  • A. Always listen to your grandparents.
  • B. Adventure is only possible far away.
  • C. Even familiar places can hide surprises.
  • D. Cats like to explore more than people.

Q3: Why was Ellie able to find the tunnel?

  • A. Her grandma told her where it was.
  • B. She saw a map in the garden.
  • C. She followed her cat and noticed something unusual.
  • D. She was looking for fossils near the sunflowers.

Q4: What does the word 'curiosity' mean in the nonfiction passage?

  • A. A kind of coin
  • B. A strong desire to know or explore something
  • C. A place where scientists work
  • D. A plant that grows in gardens

Q5: What do both passages suggest about discoveries?

  • A. They only happen with special equipment.
  • B. They require a lot of travel and planning.
  • C. They often happen when people are curious and observant.
  • D. They are usually found in science labs or museums.

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: How are the two passages connected?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: Both passages focus on discoveries made in ordinary places like a backyard or home.

Q2: What is the theme of the fictional story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Ellie’s discovery shows that you don’t need to travel far to find something exciting.

Q3: Why was Ellie able to find the tunnel?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The story says she found the soft dirt while chasing her cat, which led to the discovery.

Q4: What does the word 'curiosity' mean in the nonfiction passage?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The passage encourages readers to be curious in order to make discoveries, even nearby.

Q5: What do both passages suggest about discoveries?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Both stories show that being curious and paying attention can lead to surprising discoveries close to home.