The Mirror in the Hallway

Lexile: 1135 | Grade: 7

Passage

The mirror had always been there, tucked between the library and the art room. It wasn’t fancy—no golden frame or secret panel behind it. Just a rectangle of slightly cloudy glass with a chip in the top left corner. Most students walked past it without a glance. But not Leena.

Leena had noticed it in fifth grade. She didn’t know why, but something about it felt different. Sometimes, it reflected her exactly. Other times, it didn’t. Not in any supernatural way—just in mood. On days she felt brave, the mirror made her look taller. On days she was uncertain, her reflection seemed unsure too. It didn’t change her image, exactly. It just reflected something more than her outside.

Now in seventh grade, Leena still passed the mirror every day. She had stopped checking it on purpose, but she always knew it was there. A quiet presence. A question she hadn’t yet answered.

One rainy Thursday, everything felt off. Her group project had fallen apart. Her best friend was quiet and distant. She felt like a puzzle with the wrong pieces. On her way to art class, she slowed down near the mirror.

This time, the reflection surprised her. It looked like her—but older. Not in years, but in weight. As if she was carrying something invisible. The girl in the mirror didn’t smile or frown. She simply looked back. Waiting.

Leena didn’t flinch. She stood straighter. Not to impress the reflection, but to meet it. To admit: yes, things had changed. Yes, she had questions. Yes, she was still becoming. The mirror hadn’t changed. But maybe she had.

Later that day, she passed the mirror again, this time walking quickly with friends. She didn’t stop. She didn’t need to. She knew the mirror would still be there, holding space—not just for who she was, but for who she was becoming.

Questions

Q1: What is the central theme of the story?

A. School mirrors should be removed for privacy.
B. People can see their emotional growth through quiet moments of reflection.
C. Leena wants to become an artist like her teacher.
D. Friendships in middle school are not important.

Q2: Why does the author describe the mirror as 'a question she hadn’t yet answered'?

A. Leena was curious about who put the mirror there.
B. The mirror confused her with different images each day.
C. The mirror symbolizes self-reflection and unanswered parts of her identity.
D. She wanted to break the mirror but wasn’t allowed.

Q3: How does Leena’s interaction with the mirror change by the end of the story?

A. She stops seeing herself in the mirror entirely.
B. She feels frightened by the mirror and avoids it.
C. She no longer needs to stop and question the mirror to feel grounded in herself.
D. She starts telling others about the mirror’s secrets.

Q4: What does the reflection 'looked like her—but older. Not in years, but in weight' suggest?

A. Leena had physically grown up overnight.
B. The reflection showed emotional depth and the burden of growing self-awareness.
C. The mirror was magical and could change ages.
D. The weight meant she was carrying books.

Q5: How does the mirror function as a metaphor throughout the story?

A. It reveals other people’s secrets.
B. It shows only the physical appearance of students.
C. It reflects emotional truth and the journey of becoming oneself.
D. It distracts students from getting to class on time.

Q6: What is the author’s tone in the final paragraph?

A. Playful and humorous
B. Bitter and frustrated
C. Hopeful and quietly confident
D. Dramatic and fearful

Q7: What role does Leena’s environment (the hallway and mirror) play in her emotional journey?

A. It’s simply a physical space that stays the same.
B. It reflects a fantasy world she escapes into.
C. It becomes a backdrop for her inner transformation, mirroring her growth.
D. It is the cause of her emotional stress.

Q8: Which quote best supports the idea that Leena is becoming more self-aware?

A. 'The mirror had always been there, tucked between the library and the art room.'
B. 'She didn’t know why, but something about it felt different.'
C. 'She stood straighter. Not to impress the reflection, but to meet it.'
D. 'She walked quickly with friends.'

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the central theme of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The mirror serves as a metaphor for Leena’s internal development and how she sees herself through changing emotions.

Q2: Why does the author describe the mirror as 'a question she hadn’t yet answered'?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The mirror represents an emotional and psychological prompt for self-awareness that Leena hasn’t fully processed.

Q3: How does Leena’s interaction with the mirror change by the end of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: By the end, Leena has accepted change and no longer relies on the mirror for validation.

Q4: What does the reflection 'looked like her—but older. Not in years, but in weight' suggest?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The weight is symbolic of emotional challenges and personal development.

Q5: How does the mirror function as a metaphor throughout the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The mirror is a consistent symbol for self-reflection and identity growth.

Q6: What is the author’s tone in the final paragraph?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The closing suggests Leena’s peaceful acceptance of change and her ongoing personal journey.

Q7: What role does Leena’s environment (the hallway and mirror) play in her emotional journey?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The mirror and hallway provide a quiet place where Leena processes invisible but meaningful change.

Q8: Which quote best supports the idea that Leena is becoming more self-aware?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: This moment reflects her conscious acceptance of who she is and who she is becoming.