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.
Printable Comprehension Practice
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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.
Printable Comprehension Practice
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