Milo found the violin in the corner of the thrift store, half-buried beneath a pile of mismatched scarves and forgotten toys. Its case was cracked, and the strings hung loose like frayed threads. But there was something about it—something silent and waiting.
He had walked past the shop every day on his way to school, staring at the sign that read 'Everything Deserves a Second Chance.' That day, for reasons he couldn't name, he stepped inside.
He had never played an instrument, but he had heard them. On his sister’s old stereo. In the subway tunnels. Once, on a warm summer night, a man played violin outside the laundromat, and Milo had stood still in the street, just listening.
The cashier raised an eyebrow when he brought the violin to the counter. 'You play?' she asked. Milo shrugged. 'Not yet.'
For weeks, he searched online tutorials, borrowed books from the library, and practiced in secret after school. The first sounds were awful—tight and screeching like the instrument was trying to speak a language he didn’t know. But he kept playing. The calluses on his fingers grew, the bow stopped slipping, and the melodies slowly stopped hiding from him.
At the school talent night, his name was last on the list. As he stepped into the light, the room fell silent. He took a breath, steadied his hands, and played—not perfectly, but honestly. The notes weren’t flawless, but they were his.
When the last sound faded, the audience clapped, not wildly, but warmly. Milo smiled—not because they liked it, but because he did.
Q1: What does the violin most likely symbolize in the story?
Q2: How does Milo’s character change over the course of the story?
Q3: What theme is most strongly developed in this passage?
Q4: Why does the author include the moment at the talent show?
Q5: What abstract idea is suggested in the line, 'The melodies slowly stopped hiding from him'?
Printable Comprehension Practice
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Q1: What does the violin most likely symbolize in the story?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The violin represents something forgotten or neglected, just like Milo’s potential, which he nurtures through dedication and patience.
Q2: How does Milo’s character change over the course of the story?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: Milo moves from curiosity and self-doubt to confidence and self-expression, learning to value effort over perfection.
Q3: What theme is most strongly developed in this passage?
✅ Correct Answer: D
💡 Reasoning: Milo doesn’t win anything, but he learns to appreciate his own journey and improvement, which is the story’s core message.
Q4: Why does the author include the moment at the talent show?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The talent show scene is the emotional climax, where Milo performs with honesty and realizes his growth regardless of audience approval.
Q5: What abstract idea is suggested in the line, 'The melodies slowly stopped hiding from him'?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The line personifies music as something hidden that reveals itself as Milo gains skill and confidence, symbolizing personal transformation.