The Door That Appeared
Lexile: 1170 | Grade: 10
Passage
It had not been there yesterday.
Lena stood in the hallway of her school, staring at the narrow wooden door between the lockers. It had no handle, no sign. Just a faint shimmer around the edges, like breath on glass.
She wasn’t the kind of person who imagined things. But the door was real—at least as real as the fear curling in her stomach. She glanced behind her. The hallway was empty. Class had ended. No footsteps. No explanations.
Some part of her—quiet, insistent—told her the door was meant for her. Not because she was special, but because she was searching. Not for escape, exactly. For something else. For the strength to move through things instead of around them.
She pressed her palm to the wood. It was warm. With a soft click, the door opened inward.
On the other side was not a hallway or a room, but a forest at dusk. The trees were tall and glowing faintly, as if lit from within. The sky above them shimmered with constellations she didn’t recognize. And at the base of the trees—paths. Dozens of them. Winding in different directions, each lined with different stones: rough, smooth, glowing, cracked.
A quiet voice—not from outside, but inside her—asked a question without words: *Which one will you walk?*
She took a step forward. Not because she knew the answer. But because she wanted to find out who she’d become if she dared to walk without one.
Behind her, the door disappeared.
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Questions
Q1: What theme is best expressed in the story?
- A. People should avoid unfamiliar situations.
- B. Only special people get second chances.
- C. Growth begins when we step into the unknown without certainty.
- D. Fantasy worlds distract people from reality.
Q2: What does the mysterious door most likely symbolize?
- A. A trap set by others
- B. A boundary between reality and dreams
- C. An opportunity for self-discovery and courageous change
- D. A place where rules are enforced
Q3: Why does Lena choose to enter the forest despite not knowing where the paths lead?
- A. She is bored and looking for adventure
- B. She wants to run away from her real life
- C. She is curious about the magical world
- D. She is searching for strength and clarity, even in uncertainty
Q4: What tone does the author use throughout the passage?
- A. Humorous and ironic
- B. Skeptical and tense
- C. Mystical and inspiring
- D. Harsh and dramatic
Q5: What can the forest with glowing trees and many paths represent?
- A. A confusing dream Lena must wake up from
- B. The many possible versions of Lena’s future, shaped by her choices
- C. A magical reward for finishing her homework
- D. A trick to test her memory
Q6: What lesson does the final sentence convey?
- A. The forest was only an illusion
- B. Lena cannot return to her former life
- C. Once you begin growing through action, there's no going back to who you were
- D. The door was a trick to trap her
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Answers & Reasoning
Q1: What theme is best expressed in the story?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: Lena’s journey begins not with answers, but with the willingness to explore despite uncertainty.
Q2: What does the mysterious door most likely symbolize?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The door represents a transition into choice, transformation, and the unknown challenges of personal growth.
Q3: Why does Lena choose to enter the forest despite not knowing where the paths lead?
✅ Correct Answer: D
💡 Reasoning: Her choice reflects a desire to grow, to move forward without needing all the answers up front.
Q4: What tone does the author use throughout the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The story blends magical imagery with reflective internal shifts, creating a tone of quiet awe and personal empowerment.
Q5: What can the forest with glowing trees and many paths represent?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: Each path symbolizes possibility; the story emphasizes that identity is shaped by the paths we choose to walk.
Q6: What lesson does the final sentence convey?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The vanishing door suggests that once she stepped into growth, there was no need to return to old fears or hesitation.
Printable Comprehension Practice
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