Jalen sat on the bench by the window long after the school hallway had emptied. Outside, the branches trembled in the wind—small, stubborn gestures against the sky. He wasn’t sure why he had stayed. He had nothing to wait for, no one expecting him. But something about the quiet felt like an answer, even if he didn’t know the question.
He had been rushing all year. From class to practice, from practice to homework, from one expectation to the next. He wore motion like armor. As long as he kept going, he didn’t have to think too much. About the pressure. About how lost he sometimes felt, even when he was doing everything right.
But the bench was still. And for the first time in weeks, so was he.
He watched a leaf fall in a slow circle. He noticed the sound of the air vent. He felt the weight of his own thoughts settle—surprising, not heavy. There was no sudden breakthrough. No grand solution. Just the realization that maybe stopping wasn’t weakness. Maybe it was part of the way forward.
He didn’t need every answer right now. He didn’t have to outrun uncertainty. He just had to be willing to stay still long enough to hear his own voice again.
Jalen stood up—not with a plan, but with a little more clarity. He walked down the hallway with no rush this time. The wind outside hadn’t stopped. But it felt different. Not like something to fight—but something to move with.
Q1: What is the central theme of the passage?
Q2: What does the bench by the window symbolize in the story?
Q3: How does Jalen's view of motion change during the story?
Q4: What is the tone of the passage?
Q5: Which sentence best captures Jalen’s shift in mindset?
Q6: How does the author use imagery to support the theme?
Printable Comprehension Practice
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Q1: What is the central theme of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: Jalen's moment of stillness helps him reconnect with his thoughts and sense of direction, showing how reflection fosters growth.
Q2: What does the bench by the window symbolize in the story?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The bench represents a break in Jalen’s constant motion, allowing space for quiet insight and transformation.
Q3: How does Jalen's view of motion change during the story?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: Jalen initially uses motion to protect himself but begins to see stillness as necessary for real understanding.
Q4: What is the tone of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The tone is calm and thoughtful, guiding the reader through Jalen’s internal shift with gentle reflection.
Q5: Which sentence best captures Jalen’s shift in mindset?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: This moment marks Jalen’s realization that slowing down is not a flaw but a meaningful part of growth.
Q6: How does the author use imagery to support the theme?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The imagery of branches, leaves, and wind mirrors Jalen’s shift from resistance to quiet alignment with himself.