The Sound of the Second Floor

Lexile: 1020 | Grade: 10

Passage

Elena had lived on the second floor for three years and still hadn’t met her neighbors. She heard them, though—footsteps at odd hours, distant laughter, the clink of a dropped mug late at night. The walls were thin, but the silences in between seemed even louder.

Every day she passed the welcome mat next door that said 'Come in, we’re kind!' and felt a tug of contradiction. No one had ever knocked. No one had ever smiled in the stairwell.

On a rainy Thursday, the power went out. Elena fumbled with her phone flashlight and opened her door, planning to head downstairs. But in the hall stood the woman from 2B, holding a candle in a jar. Her eyes were soft and unsure.

They both froze for a second, each caught in the surprise of the other’s existence.

'Do you want to come over?' the woman asked. 'I’ve got cards and one flashlight left.'

It wasn’t dramatic, just a small sentence. But it seemed to slice through months of invisible barriers. Elena nodded, and for the first time since moving in, she stepped into the apartment next door.

The hallway smelled like cinnamon and rain. And for the first time, the second floor sounded like home.

Questions

Q1: Which sentence best expresses a key turning point in the story?

  • A. 'Elena had lived on the second floor for three years and still hadn’t met her neighbors.'
  • B. 'No one had ever knocked. No one had ever smiled in the stairwell.'
  • C. 'But in the hall stood the woman from 2B, holding a candle in a jar.'
  • D. 'The hallway smelled like cinnamon and rain.'

Q2: What theme is most clearly conveyed by the story?

  • A. Friendship develops only after long conversations.
  • B. People who live in apartments are usually unfriendly.
  • C. Unexpected moments can lead to human connection.
  • D. Power outages are dangerous and should be avoided.

Q3: What is the tone of the final paragraph?

  • A. Lonely and hesitant
  • B. Warm and reflective
  • C. Humorous and lighthearted
  • D. Angry and regretful

Q4: How does the author use figurative language in the sentence: 'It wasn’t dramatic, just a small sentence. But it seemed to slice through months of invisible barriers.'?

  • A. To show how the hallway was physically divided by walls
  • B. To emphasize the neighbor's tone of voice
  • C. To highlight how powerful simple words can be in breaking emotional distance
  • D. To explain the literal cause of Elena’s silence

Q5: What abstract idea does the story most explore?

  • A. The danger of technology during storms
  • B. How easy it is to ignore neighbors
  • C. The power of small gestures in forming human bonds
  • D. Why people prefer to live alone

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: Which sentence best expresses a key turning point in the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: This moment marks the first real interaction between Elena and her neighbor, setting the emotional shift in motion.

Q2: What theme is most clearly conveyed by the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage shows how a simple moment of vulnerability—during a power outage—creates a bridge between two strangers.

Q3: What is the tone of the final paragraph?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The tone shifts to one of warmth and belonging, highlighting how a small change created emotional comfort.

Q4: How does the author use figurative language in the sentence: 'It wasn’t dramatic, just a small sentence. But it seemed to slice through months of invisible barriers.'?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The phrase 'slice through invisible barriers' is a metaphor showing how a quiet offer broke through emotional isolation.

Q5: What abstract idea does the story most explore?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The story explores how a small act—a simple invitation—can lead to emotional connection and change.