The Science Fair Surprise
Lexile: 840 | Grade: 7
Passage
Ethan didn’t think he was good at science. Whenever his teacher explained something, he nodded along but never really understood. So when his class was assigned a science fair project, he felt nervous and unprepared.
His best friend, Mia, was excited. She already had an idea for an experiment about how plants grow in different kinds of light. Ethan just stared at his empty notebook, hoping for inspiration.
Later that evening, while helping his younger brother build a paper airplane, Ethan had an idea. What if he tested which design made a paper airplane fly the farthest? It wasn’t as fancy as Mia’s project, but it felt like something he could actually do.
Over the next few days, Ethan built five different plane models. He tested them over and over in the school gym, carefully measuring the distance each one flew. At first, the results were all over the place, but he kept trying, making small changes and recording what happened.
When the science fair finally arrived, Ethan set up his display with pictures, charts, and his planes. He felt proud—more proud than he expected. Students and teachers stopped by, asking questions. One of them was the principal, who smiled and said, 'I love seeing real curiosity at work.'
Ethan didn’t win first prize, but he earned something better—confidence. He realized he didn’t have to be perfect to enjoy learning. All it took was a question, a bit of effort, and the courage to try something new.
Printable Comprehension Practice
Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.
Questions
Q1: What challenge did Ethan face at the start of the story?
- A. He had never been to a science fair before.
- B. He didn’t think he was good at science.
- C. He couldn’t find materials for his project.
- D. He was afraid to talk to his teacher.
Q2: What inspired Ethan’s science fair project?
- A. A conversation with his teacher
- B. A book about airplanes
- C. Helping his brother build a paper airplane
- D. Seeing Mia’s project on plants
Q3: What did Ethan do to prepare for the science fair?
- A. Memorized science facts
- B. Practiced his speech in front of a mirror
- C. Built several plane models and recorded flight distances
- D. Read books about plant growth
Q4: How did Ethan most likely feel after the science fair?
- A. Angry that he didn’t win
- B. Proud and more confident
- C. Jealous of Mia
- D. Confused about science
Q5: What does the word 'curiosity' most likely mean in the sentence: 'I love seeing real curiosity at work'?
- A. A funny mistake
- B. A strong desire to learn
- C. A type of project
- D. A secret plan
Printable Comprehension Practice
Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.
Answers & Reasoning
Q1: What challenge did Ethan face at the start of the story?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage begins with Ethan doubting his abilities in science, which sets up the story's central challenge.
Q2: What inspired Ethan’s science fair project?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: Ethan got the idea while helping his brother, showing how everyday experiences can spark creativity.
Q3: What did Ethan do to prepare for the science fair?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage describes Ethan building and testing different airplane designs to gather data for his project.
Q4: How did Ethan most likely feel after the science fair?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: Although he didn’t win, Ethan gained confidence and felt proud of his effort.
Q5: What does the word 'curiosity' most likely mean in the sentence: 'I love seeing real curiosity at work'?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: In context, the principal is complimenting Ethan’s interest and effort in exploring a question.
Printable Comprehension Practice
Visit us at https://readbuddies.com to practice interactively, track your progress, and explore more comprehension passages.