The Mysterious Footprints

Lexile: 580 | Grade: 3

Passage

Lila loved snow days. She woke up early, pulled on her boots, and ran outside. The world was quiet, and the snow sparkled like sugar on the ground.

As she walked across the yard, Lila noticed something strange—tiny footprints in the snow. They weren’t from a dog or a cat. They were too small, and they went in a perfect circle around the tree in her backyard.

Curious, Lila followed the prints. They led to a small hole near the tree trunk. She knelt down and peeked inside. Nothing moved, but she saw something shiny deep inside.

The next morning, Lila returned with a flashlight. When she looked into the hole again, she saw a little button, a tiny sock, and a piece of glittery ribbon. She smiled. 'It must be a winter fairy!' she whispered.

Lila didn’t tell anyone. Every morning that week, she left a crumb of cookie or a tiny drawing by the hole. And each day, something new appeared. A pebble shaped like a heart. A pine needle tied with thread.

She never saw the fairy, but that was okay. Sometimes, magic is quiet.

Questions

Q1: What did Lila find in the snow that made her curious?

  • A. A snowman with a hat
  • B. A trail of tiny footprints
  • C. A letter in the mailbox
  • D. A sled under the tree

Q2: What does Lila do after she finds the hole near the tree?

  • A. She fills it with snow
  • B. She puts a toy inside it
  • C. She looks into it with a flashlight and leaves small gifts
  • D. She tells her teacher about it

Q3: What does the word 'sparkled' mean in the first paragraph?

  • A. Moved fast
  • B. Made a noise
  • C. Shined or twinkled
  • D. Melted away

Q4: What can we guess about Lila from the story?

  • A. She does not like winter
  • B. She believes in magic and has a big imagination
  • C. She is afraid of the snow
  • D. She wants to tell everyone her secret

Q5: What is the main idea of the story?

  • A. Lila builds a snow fort in her yard
  • B. A snowstorm keeps Lila inside all week
  • C. Lila finds tiny footprints and imagines they belong to a winter fairy
  • D. Lila finds a lost dog and takes it home

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What did Lila find in the snow that made her curious?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The story says Lila saw tiny footprints that were not from a dog or cat, which made her follow them.

Q2: What does Lila do after she finds the hole near the tree?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The story explains how she brings a flashlight, sees small objects, and leaves gifts like cookie crumbs and drawings.

Q3: What does the word 'sparkled' mean in the first paragraph?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The snow sparkled like sugar, meaning it looked bright or shiny.

Q4: What can we guess about Lila from the story?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: Lila imagines the small objects belong to a winter fairy and enjoys the mystery.

Q5: What is the main idea of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The story is about Lila’s discovery and her belief that a fairy may be visiting the tree.