The Shaky Start
Lexile: 800 | Grade: 5
Passage
Maya tapped her pencil nervously against her notebook. It was the first day of the school science fair, and her project sat on the table in front of her: a working model of a wind turbine made from recycled materials.
All week, Maya had worried something would go wrong. What if it didn’t spin? What if the light bulb didn’t turn on? She glanced at the other projects around her—volcanoes bubbling, robots moving, even one that made cotton candy. Hers looked simple in comparison.
As the judges walked closer, Maya’s heart pounded. She flipped the switch. The small fan blades turned slowly, then faster. The light bulb flickered... and stayed off.
Maya’s face turned red. She tried again. Nothing. One of the judges smiled kindly. 'Can you explain how it’s supposed to work?'
Maya took a deep breath. She explained how wind turns the blades, which spin a small motor to make electricity. She described the steps she took and the problems she faced while building it.
When she finished, the judges nodded and moved on. Maya slumped in her chair. She felt like she had failed.
Later that day, the principal took the microphone. 'This year, we’re adding a special award for creativity and effort,' he said. 'It goes to Maya, for her thoughtful design and problem-solving.'
Maya’s eyes widened. As she walked to the front of the gym, she smiled—not because everything went perfectly, but because she had tried her best, even when things didn’t work the way she planned.
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Questions
Q1: Which sentence best describes what this story is mostly about?
- A. Maya wins first place at the science fair.
- B. Maya creates a robot that makes cotton candy.
- C. Maya learns that effort and problem-solving matter more than perfection.
- D. Maya forgets to build her science project.
Q2: Why was Maya nervous at the beginning of the story?
- A. She didn’t want to present in front of judges.
- B. She was afraid her project might not work.
- C. She forgot how wind turbines work.
- D. She didn’t finish her project in time.
Q3: What is the meaning of the word 'flickered' in this sentence: 'The light bulb flickered... and stayed off'?
- A. Shined brightly for a long time
- B. Turned completely dark
- C. Flashed briefly or unsteadily
- D. Exploded loudly
Q4: How does Maya respond when the judges ask her to explain her project?
- A. She runs out of the room in embarrassment.
- B. She refuses to speak because she’s upset.
- C. She calmly explains how her wind turbine is supposed to work.
- D. She asks the judges to come back later.
Q5: What message does the story teach readers?
- A. Only high-tech projects win prizes.
- B. Trying your best and being creative is something to be proud of.
- C. Science fairs are not important.
- D. Judges only care if your project works perfectly.
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Answers & Reasoning
Q1: Which sentence best describes what this story is mostly about?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The story focuses on Maya’s struggle and how her effort is recognized, even though her project didn’t work perfectly.
Q2: Why was Maya nervous at the beginning of the story?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage says Maya worried all week that her turbine might not spin or light up, showing her fear of failure.
Q3: What is the meaning of the word 'flickered' in this sentence: 'The light bulb flickered... and stayed off'?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: In this context, 'flickered' means the light flashed for a moment but didn’t stay on.
Q4: How does Maya respond when the judges ask her to explain her project?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: Despite her disappointment, Maya explains the science and the process clearly.
Q5: What message does the story teach readers?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The story shows that Maya is recognized for her effort, even though her project didn’t fully succeed.
Printable Comprehension Practice
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