The Question Collector

Lexile: 780 | Grade: 5

Passage

She keeps her questions in a jar,

beside the books and candy bar.

Some are shaped like tiny seeds,

Others hum like bumblebee needs.

She shakes the jar when skies turn gray,

and pulls a question out to play:

'Why do raindrops race on glass?'

'Can shadows run? Do daydreams pass?'

She hides them deep inside her coat,

Each one a pebble, note, or quote.

And when the grown-ups call her strange,

she smiles—she wouldn’t want to change.

For those who ask and those who seek,

Will always find what others sneak.

A question starts where answers end—

A spark, a swirl, a twist, a bend.

Questions

Q1: What does the jar in the poem most likely represent?

  • A. A place to store food
  • B. A toy filled with noise
  • C. A symbol for imagination and curiosity
  • D. A secret message from a friend

Q2: Which line includes a simile?

  • A. 'She keeps her questions in a jar,'
  • B. 'Each one a pebble, note, or quote.'
  • C. 'Some are shaped like tiny seeds,'
  • D. 'She smiles—she wouldn’t want to change.'

Q3: How does the author use figurative language to describe the girl's questions?

  • A. By saying they are too difficult to understand
  • B. By comparing them to sounds, shapes, and objects
  • C. By showing she writes them on a chalkboard
  • D. By making fun of the questions she asks

Q4: What is the tone of the poem?

  • A. Silly and careless
  • B. Curious and proud
  • C. Sad and lonely
  • D. Strict and serious

Q5: What theme is most supported by the poem?

  • A. Always answer questions with facts.
  • B. It’s better to follow rules than be curious.
  • C. Being curious and different is something to celebrate.
  • D. You should never share your questions with others.

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What does the jar in the poem most likely represent?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The poem describes questions being kept in a jar and used in creative, thoughtful ways—showing it’s a metaphor for curiosity and wonder.

Q2: Which line includes a simile?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: This line uses 'like' to compare questions to seeds, which is a simile.

Q3: How does the author use figurative language to describe the girl's questions?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The poem compares questions to seeds, bumblebees, pebbles, and notes—making them feel magical and meaningful.

Q4: What is the tone of the poem?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The girl enjoys being curious and is proud of her unique way of thinking, even when others call her strange.

Q5: What theme is most supported by the poem?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The poem celebrates the girl’s curiosity and her refusal to conform, showing that her questions lead to wonder and discovery.