The Wind in Her Pocket

Lexile: 830 | Grade: 4

Passage

Mira didn’t speak much at school. She listened. She watched. She carried her thoughts like tiny notes folded inside her mind.

When other kids rushed to answer questions or shout across the playground, Mira stayed still. Not because she was scared. Not because she didn’t know. But because her thoughts took longer to land—like paper birds that needed extra wind.

She kept a little stone in her pocket. Not for luck. For grounding. When her heart felt wobbly, she pressed it and reminded herself: *You don’t have to be loud to be strong.*

One afternoon, during art class, the teacher gave them a challenge: draw something invisible. Most kids hesitated. But Mira’s pencil moved slowly and surely. She drew wind—curves and shadows across sky-blue paper. No faces. No voices. Just movement.

When the teacher held up her drawing, no one laughed. They stared. 'It’s what I carry,' Mira said, soft but certain. 'Even if you don’t see it, it’s real.'

And that day, Mira didn’t need to speak louder. She had already been heard.

Questions

Q1: What is the main idea of the story?

  • A. Everyone should try to speak as much as possible.
  • B. Being quiet doesn’t mean you are weak or unimportant.
  • C. You have to be loud to be creative.
  • D. Art class is the best part of school.

Q2: Why does Mira keep a stone in her pocket?

  • A. For luck before tests
  • B. To trade with her classmates
  • C. To help her feel calm and remind her she’s strong
  • D. Because it’s part of a game

Q3: What does Mira’s drawing of the wind represent?

  • A. Something she made up
  • B. Her quiet thoughts and feelings that are real even if invisible
  • C. A storm she saw on vacation
  • D. A new art technique

Q4: How does Mira change by the end of the story?

  • A. She becomes loud and popular
  • B. She wins a prize in art class
  • C. She feels proud and seen, even without raising her voice
  • D. She decides to stop speaking altogether

Q5: What does the story teach about communication?

  • A. You must always be the first to talk.
  • B. Silence means you don’t know the answer.
  • C. People can express themselves in different ways, like through art or action.
  • D. Speaking softly means you’re not confident.

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the main idea of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: Mira’s story shows that inner strength and thoughtful actions can be just as powerful as loud voices.

Q2: Why does Mira keep a stone in her pocket?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The stone helps Mira feel grounded and confident when she’s feeling unsure.

Q3: What does Mira’s drawing of the wind represent?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: Her drawing of invisible wind reflects how her quiet strength and emotions are just as real as spoken words.

Q4: How does Mira change by the end of the story?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: Mira expresses herself through her art and feels understood without needing to change who she is.

Q5: What does the story teach about communication?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The story shows that communication can happen through creativity and presence, not only through words.